Published: July 18, 2008 10:16 pm            

River Bats capture AABC 11-12 state title

WORTHINGTON — The Worthington River Bats captured the American Amateur Baseball Congress 11- and 12-year-old state championship on Sunday.

The River Bats went undefeated in the pool play style tournament and improved to 45-10 on the season.

Worthington defeated the Greenup Diamondbacks 5-1 in Sunday’s championship game, following up a 9-4 win over the same group earlier in the tournament.

In championship action, Worthington’s Tyler Morris threw a one-hitter and fanned 14 batters to notch the win in the seven-inning affair. Teammate Trent Woods led the offense with a pair of singles; Seth Boyle and Alec Risner each doubled.

Zane Sammons struck out eight batters for Greenup. Justin Fraley recorded the Diamondbacks’ only hit and later scored on a passed ball for the lone run that gave Greenup an early lead.

Kyle Morris threw a three-hitter with five strikeouts in the River Bats’ 9-4 win over the Diamondbacks.

The River Bats eliminated the Kentucky Mudcats 9-3 in the semifinals and also defeated the Mudcats 14-4 in pool play. Worthington downed the Boyd County Astros 14-6 on July 11 to open the tournament.

Boyle batted just over .500 for the River Bats throughout the tournament, going 11-for-20 from the plate. Kyle Morris and Risner each smacked a home run during the pool play games.

The River Bats advance to the East Central Regional Tournament. The double-elimination style tournament begins July 24 in Oregon, Ohio, near Toledo. The East Central winner will advance to play a tournament in Puerto Rico.

        

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