02 August 2011

The 11-12 Ashland Little League All Star team won the District 6 Championship Tournament in Medford for the first time since 2006. Representing District 6, the Ashland All Stars traveled to Bend, Oregon where they competed in the State Tournament - the winner of which would travel on to San Bernardino, California to compete against winners of the other states in the Northwest. The winner of the Northwest Regional Tournament would then travel to Williamsport, Pennsylvania to compete in the Little League World Series.

The Bend Tournament is a double elimination game meaning that once a team loses two games it is eliminated from the tournament. At this level, Ashland has never won more than two games in the 11-12 year old bracket. This year’s team lost the first game and then played and won five games over the next six days to earn a berth in the championship game. In total, the team played seven games in eight days, sometimes ending late at night and starting early the next day. It was a grueling schedule but the players never complained and, in fact, enjoyed the competition and were proud to be representing Ashland and District 6 Little League.

Many Thanks!

There are many people to thank who supported this team. The players canvassed door-to-door to help pay their way to the State Tournament. Many residents of Ashland gave money even though they had no player on the team. We thank them.

The same is true for all of the businesses that contributed to this team including the Ashland Shakespeare Festival, Electric Beach, State Farm and John Snowden, Yogurt Hut, Ashland Elks, Adroit Construction, Don Senestraro and the folks at the Ashland High School Baseball Program, and Paddy Brannan’s Irish Pub. Ashland Little League is very fortunate to have such local businesses and residents who want and do support all the youth sports but especially Little League.

Below are summaries of the games as described by Sean Gallagher and Chace Anderson in their nightly reports of the games.

Game 7: Saturday, July 30

After playing six games with only one loss and playing a three hour game Friday night, Ashland Little League's 11-12 All Stars woke at 6 am on Saturday July 30 to be at the field by 7:30 am to play the championship game against Bend South. Bend South was too much for the Ashland All Stars and they return home second best in the state Oregon. This team made history by going further than any other All Star team from Ashland. Our hats are off to the dogged work these players have done in this tournament. They played exceptional each and every day. As the President of District 5 said at the closing ceremonies, no team showed as much heart or played with such grit as the Ashland All Stars.

Ashland Little League would like to thank all of the players for their great efforts and memories that will last a life time: Lawson Anderson, Chris Buckley, Jesse Carroll, Tarquin Daily, Keller Edwards, Cole Gerken, Nate McLennan, Frankie Mora, Ty Mulholland, Jose Perez, Ben Quast, Justin Robinson, Nick Sanderson.

Additionally Ashland Little League would like to thank the volunteer managers and coaches who made this all possible: Sean Gallagher, Larry Sanderson and Melissa McMillan.

How it all went down...

Game 1: Saturday, July 23

Representing District 6 Little League, Ashland lost the first game to the Gresham Nationals on Saturday, July 23 by a score of 6 to 1. Only 3 of the total runs scored were earned. In this game Ashland gave up 2 homeruns, left 6 runners in scoring position and struck out 11 times.

Game 2: Sunday, July 24

Things turned around for Ashland on Sunday July 24 when they faced Rainer and won by a score of 10 to 4. Ashland had ten hits including a solo homerun by Nick Sanderson and a grandslam by Tarquin Daily. The winning pitcher was Jesse Carroll who threw 3 and 2/3rd innings, allowing only one earned run.

Game 3: Monday, July 25

The Ashland All Stars beat the Grants Pass All Star team representing Little League District 8 in a wild bottom of the sixth inning. Ashland led the game for 3 full innings by a score of 1 to 0 with Ben Quast throwing a solid three innings only giving up three hits. Ashland began to breakdown in the 4th after a pair of walks, a couple of infield errors and two base hits by Grants Pass resulting in Grants Pass taking a commanding lead. Ashland went into the bottom of the 5th with an 8 to 1 deficit. For the second time in two games Tarquin Daily ignited Ashland, this time with a solo home run to left center. Things looked bleak for Ashland after the leaving bases loaded in the bottom of the 5th. Grants Pass was forced to make a pitching change in the bottom of the 6th. The bottom of the 6th inning started with 4 consecutive walks leading to Nick Sanderson’s base hit to right center scoring two. Another walk loaded the bases for Jesse Carroll who hit a double clearing the bases and tying the game. Frankie Mora hit a double down the right field line that should have ended the game however the umpire ruled that the runner on second left early resulting in the runner going back to third base. With the score tied Ben Quast hit a hard ground ball to the shortstop giving Ashland the 9 to 8 victory.

Game 4: Wednesday, July 27

The Ashland All Stars eliminated District 7’s West Salem from the Little League State Tournament on Wednesday night. District 7 has won the state tournament three times since 2000. Ashland had 8 hits including two homeruns, a two run shot over the centerfield fence by Christopher Buckley and a solo shot by Nick Sanderson - his second of the tournament. Pitcher Jose Perez’s ability to paint the outside corner of the plate was the difference tonight. Perez struck out 6 batters through 5 innings allowing no earned runs. West Salem’s two runs came after Ashland had made 2 infield errors.

Game 5: Thursday, July 28

The Ashland All Stars won an elimination game against the champions of District 3 - Pendleton. Ashland had stellar defense throughout the game including two double plays beginning with the shortstop Ben Quast to second baseman Jose Perez to first baseman Lawson Anderson. Ashland scored in the first inning when Tarquin Daily walked, then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and was driven in by Nick Sanderson’s base hit to right centerfield. Ashland’s second score came when Cole Gerkin singled to shallow right field scoring Lawson Anderson who led off the inning with a ground rule double. At the top of five, Ashland trailed by a score of 3 to 2 and had two outs with players on second and third with Ben Quast at the plate. Quast singled to right field bringing in the tying and go ahead run. Nick Sanderson threw three strikeouts in the top of the sixth inning securing Ashland’s victory and advancing them to the semi-final round of the State Little League Tournament - pitting them in a rematch with Gresham on Friday to decide which plays in the championship.

Game 6: Friday, July 29 - And then there were two...

Ashland All Stars eliminated the Gresham Nationals, from District 2, in a stunning upset. The Ashland All Stars scored 8 runs in the bottom of the first inning only to have Gresham return the favor by scoring 7 runs in the top of the second inning and then scored 5 more runs over the next two inning giving them 13 runs to Ashland’s 8. Ashland scored 1 run in the 4th inning making it 13 to 9. In the bottom of the 5th Ashland scored 3 runs making it 13 to 12. In the bottom of the 6th Ashland scored the tying and winning runs to close out the 3 hour slug fest.

Nick Sanderson had the winning hit and a 3 run homer in the 5th that went not just out of the baseball outfield fence but also the park fence out onto the residential street.

Ty Mulholland earned the win by shutting down Gresham’s offense over the last 2 and 2/3s innings of the game.

Tarquin Daily hit his 3rd homerun in four games with a shot over centerfield.

In the top of the 5th the Ashland All Stars turned another double play going from short to second to first.

This win put Ashland in a position to face the Bend South All Star team from District 5 Saturday, July 30. This game was broadcast over the Bend local radio station and streamed online. Ashland had to win the early game in order to play Bend a second time at noon on the same day. Ashland has an uphill battle in the championship and are considered the underdogs.

Click here to view a slideshow of the All Stars on the A.L.L. site.

Mail Tribune Posts Ashland Little League Slideshow

Lastly, The Mail tribune posted some great pictures of the team practicing at Hunter Park. Click here to check it out >