In the championship game of the District 14 All-Stars Junior Division Thursday, the Warsaw squad could only hang with Middlebury for a couple innings.
Playing at Warsaw Little League Park, the squads entered the third inning tied at 0-0, but then Middlebury ran away with the title.Sending 11 batters to the plate in the top of the third, Middlebury scored seven runs, blowing the game open, eventually winning 12-1.
"I told these kids not to hang their heads," Warsaw coach Wade Frantz said. "These kids played a lot better than we have in previous years."
Warsaw entered the championship game at 4-0, having already defeated Middlebury 4-3 on July 9 in Middlebury.
"Baseball is a crazy game," Frantz said. "They should not be ashamed. They should all be proud of how they fought to the end."
Another reason not to be ashamed is the fact that following their loss to Warsaw, Middlebury went on to defeat Osolo, Edwardsburg and Baugo by a combined score of 46-6.
Highlights for Warsaw were a 2-for-2 day by Taylor Berelsman and a seventh-inning home run by Peter Shepherd, preventing the shutout.
However, facing a team loaded with players looking ready for high school ball, Warsaw couldn't keep up.
In a look at possible future Northern Lakes Conference players, Middlebury's Brock Logan went 2 for 3 with three RBIs and a home run, Drew Burgess had a 3-for-4 day with three RBIs and Caleb Strayton went 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Middlebury starting pitcher Judah Zickafoose also looked impressive, giving up one hit and striking out three in only 2-1/3 innings. Relief pitcher Austin Moniot went 4-2/3 innings, striking out six.
Middlebury will now play in the sectional at the Middlebury Little League Park beginning July 24.
The Warsaw team is now done playing, but with the team comprised of 13 and 14-year-olds, they still have plenty of baseball in their futures.
"They're young and still have bright futures ahead of them," Frantz said of his guys. "They persevered. They could have given up, but they never did."
