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Despite loss, SYA East enjoys the ride
Bob Woodruff, head coach of the Southwestern Youth Association 9- and 10-year-old Little League All-Stars, knew his kids wouldn't drag a championship loss along for more than an hour.
“They're kids,” he said.
Woodruff, however, is hoping that his team's regional tournament experience -- which culminated in a 6-5 loss to Columbus American (Ga.) Wednesday night -- will stick around for slightly longer than 60 minutes.
“That whole experience out there was a great experience,” said Woodruff, referring to the Tournament of State Champions, held over the past five days in Ceredo-Kenova, W.Va. “Not just from the competition we played but also the surroundings.”
Wednesday's final certainly got off to a memorable start. After a hit batter and a misplayed bunt, No. 3 hitter Christian Leckert hit a three-run homer to produce 3-0 lead on only three pitches.
Columbus American answered with two runs in its half of the first, and that score held until the bottom of the fourth inning when a rainstorm produced what will perhaps be the memory most firmly burned in the players' young minds -- the dreaded rain delay.
As the rain poured down, players scampered into an SYA family's camper to relax, joke around and “do what 10-year-olds do,” as Woodruff put it.
The celebration was short-lived, though, as Columbus American used a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a one-run lead after the 80-minute delay.
With the bases loaded and Daniel Lachance at the plate, SYA East tied the score as Lanchance's shot up the middle glanced off the pitcher's glove to score a run. But a walkoff homer ended the team's hopes in the bottom of the sixth.
“The first hour or so was pretty hard on the boys, but by the time we left they were all running around the fields, throwing stuff around,” Woodruff said. “So I think within an hour they pretty much felt better about it.
“The stadium complex [in Ceredo-Kenova] was phenomenal and the atmosphere was great. I certainly hope that they all enjoyed it and can remember it for a long time.”
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