Published: July 22, 2008 11:30 pm      

Russell-Flatwoods in state semis

Two area All-Star teams advanced to the final four in their respective age divisions in Little League and Babe Ruth state tournaments.

Russell-Flatwoods continues semifinal play today in the 10- and-11-year-old tournament while Ashland was eliminated from the 15-year-old East Kentucky State Babe Ruth tournament.

Warren County shutout Russell-Flatwoods 8-0 to open the tournament Saturday morning in Louisville. However, Russell-Flatwoods bounced back with a 6-3 win over South Oldham and a 5-3 win over Western National, finishing pool play 2-1.

Russell-Flatwoods advanced to the state semifinals and will play South London today at 5:30 p.m. The winner advances to an 8 p.m. championship game to face the winner of the Warren County-Valley Sport matchup.

Russell-Flatwoods batted around with each player in the lineup getting a hit in a six-run inning against South Oldham. That proved to be all the runs Russell-Flatwoods need to get its first win of the tournament in a game that was halted because of rain Saturday night and finished Sunday morning.

Conner Messer started the game on the mound and Bronson Korzep closed for Russell-Flatwoods.

Tuesday’s game against Western was tied at 3-all going into the bottom of the sixth where Sammy Smith led off with a long double just short of clearing the fence. Logan Suman followed with a two-run walk-off home run to claim the win.

Bobby May pitched a complete game on 76 pitches for Russell-Flatwoods.

“It was an all-around team effort,” manager Jason May said. “Bobby only struck out about five or six batters so that tells you what kind of defense we have behind him.”

Ashland fell to Harrison County 9-5 Tuesday and was eliminated from the Babe Ruth East Kentucky State Tournament in Georgetown.

Ashland lost its first game of the tournament but then won three straight in the losers bracket to stay alive.

“There hadn’t been an (Ashland) team advance that far in quiet a while so we’re very proud of them,” manager Gary Robinson said. “For them to be in the final four with an opportunity to keep advancing, they had nothing to hang their heads about.”

Jacob Mullen had three hits and Billy Certain drove in a pair of runs with a double to lead the offense.

“Harrison County was just very athletic,” Robinson said. “They turned four double plays on us and played an exceptionally good game. (Pitching) was sort of our downfall. That was our fourth game in three days and our pitching was sort of tired.”

Ryan Hackworth opened the game on the mound and C.J. Suttles threw an inning in relief. Mullen closed for Ashland.

Ashland was awarded the spirit award for its fan support throughout the tournament.