Southwest Cruising in Little League Tourney

Host will be playing Monday

July 20, 2008       Leave a Comment
By: Kevin Leahy

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Hayden Clements was the hero in game one with a grand slam in the eighth inning, he fouled this one off before lining one down the left field line for a double against Traverse City.
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Leahy)

Southwest Little League is on a roll but they are not taking anything for granted.

"Baseball is a funny game, you can run into a buzz saw of a pitcher anytime in a tournament like this," said coach Mike Freed.

These guys are the proud coach's of SWLL All Stars, Roger Phelps (left), Mike Freed and Brad Gorr, and they are as excited as the kids are to be playing in the State Tournament.
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Leahy)

After week-end play the team that played their regular season games on one of the Bay City host sites is 3-0 heading into tonight's 6:00PM battle against Birmingham.

Baseball is just a kid's game, but to win in baseball you have to have intensity and heart. The kids on the Southwest All Star team are cool as cucumbers with huge hearts and intense as Hulk Hogan on amphetamines, all the while having fun like their supposed to.

"The Boys of Summer," worn proudly by many of the SWLL supporters.
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Leahy)

The hero's and story lines change with each game but they keep on winning.

Scott Badour will never forget these three days for the rest of his life. After pitching 6 1/3 innings of scoreless ball Friday night to keep his team deadlocked with a very talented St. Clair team the game went into extra innings.

St. Clair ace Tyler Lozen allowed just two hits while striking out twelve through 5 1/3 innings and reached his pitch limit. Badour matched their ace pitch for pitch and managed three more outs before reaching his pitch limit.

Southwest stayed cool and patient until Seth Freed led off the eighth with a walk and then broke the seal on the scoring on a double from Brendan Taberski. Like a cobra after it's first strike, Southwest jumped all over their opponent. Walks to Badour and Jacob Alarie loaded the bases when Hayden Clements stepped to the plate. In All-Star fashion Clements connected with a power "L" swing that would have made Reggie Jackson proud as the ball sailed deep over the center field fence for a grand slam.



Once the celebration quieted just a bit, Justin Gorr felt the energy and doubled and Andy Wall brought him home with an RBI single and Southwest owned a 6-0 lead.

St. Clair added one in the bottom of the eighth but SW reliever Taylor Schepper shut them down to preserve the victory.

Taylor Schepper gets another hit against Traverse City Sunday night on their way to a 12-2 win.
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Leahy)

Speed and determination kept SW in the win column in the bottom of the seventh inning, St. Clair had two outs and the winning run on third when Schepper threw a wild pitch to the backstop but catcher Seth Freed never hesitated and recovered the ball and threw to Schepper who made the tag at home to end the inning and send it into the fateful eighth.

Seth Freed shows his quick response to a wild pitch Sunday night. Freed saved the game Friday night with his inning ending put out on a wild pitch recovery tag out in the bottom of the seventh inning.
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Leahy)

The energy from their first district win that lasted late into the night carried over on Saturday morning as the runs kept coming with a lot less drama, Southwest pounded West Portage 19-4.

The new scoreboard at SWLL donated by Meier's and Coca-Cola has been rung up by the SWLL All Stars on many occasions.
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Leahy)

Brendon Taberski must not have liked the drama the night before, as he wasted no time breaking the ice in game two.

Taberski nailed a solo shot as the second batter of the game and that's all Southwest needed as they went on to score five more runs before West Portage came to bat.

Southwest continued there hitting clinic in the four inning mercy-ruled victory as they pounded out sixteen hits while sending seven or more batters to the plate in each inning.

Justin Gorr completed the game on the mound for Southwest allowing just six hits while striking out five. Gorr was also enjoying the game at the plate as he ripped two hits and accounted for six RBI's.

Hayden Clements' bat continued to be very lethal against opposing pitchers as he finished the second game with four hits and four RBI's.

The crowd was a little tight but not for long Sunday night when Southwest erupted for 10 runs in the first inning against Traverse City.
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Leahy)

The fun continued on Sunday for Southwest as they jumped all over Traverse City 10-0 in the first inning with Badour leading the charge as he crushed a grand slam and a two run single in the same inning to account for six RBI's.

After a long rain delay Southwest picked up where they left off scoring two more in the third to make it 12-2.



Brian Feinauer brings the smoke against Traverse City, He only allowed two runs in the mercy ruled victory.
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Leahy)

Traverse City pushed two runs across against Brian Feinauer in the bottom of the second but he held them there to preserve another mercy-ruled win.

Traverse City had their flash of offense in the second inning scoring twice but SWLL responded with two more to win another mercy rule game 12-2.
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Leahy)

Opposing pitchers are fearing that first run from Southwest because once they start, all the kids want in on the action.

"Coach Phelps and I practice two strike batting in practice and that forces the kids to swing at anything close and it seems to be working real well for us," said coach Freed.

Quarterfinal games begin at both Northeast and Southwest fields today Monday at 4:00PM with Southwest meeting Birmingham at 6:00PM at Southwest Kolb Field Complex. On Tuesday both semifinal games are at NELL field at 4:00PM and 6:00PM with the winner of Southwest/Birmingham meeting the winner of Georgetown/Marquette at 6:00PM.

The welcome banquet held at SVSU Thursday night for all teams parents, coach's and managers kicked off the State Tournament.
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Leahy)

Joan Weaver of SWLL and Randy Tomke of NELL were presented Bay City logo flags by Bay City's Mayor Charles Brunner at the banquet.
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Leahy)

A high carb, high energy meal was served to the huge crowd on hand for the 16 team State Tournament.
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Leahy)

Every kid at the banquet had their sights set on the authentic autographed Danny Inge jersey that was donated as a prize by former big leaguer Bay City's own Keith Miller who is Inge's agent.
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Leahy)

Tournament Jackets noting Bay City as host were also given away as door prizes.
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Leahy)

Key note speaker Mike Villano delivers his speech on the wonders and memories that baseball provides.

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Kevin Leahy
Kevin Leahy has an interest in all sports-related activities at the Local, State and National levels. Looking for the inside story? Leahy's got it . . . More from Kevin Leahy

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