10U Erie Outlaws White Take "The Battle for the Axe" from Barbarians

 

 

Erie Outlaws 10U White won the Battle for the Axe Tournament in Meadville, PA. In pool play they defeated the Conneaut Steel Rays 13-5 and the Greenville Diamond Dawgs 6-4. 

In the Semi Finals, they faced the Sharpsville Blue Devils. Justice Laird gave up 2 runs (1 earned) in 3 lights out innings. In the first inning Calvin Hiltabidel smashed a 2 run home run to give the Outlaws a 2-0 lead. In the 3rd inning with base runners on Parker Berk twice threw from deep center to home to save 2 different runs. In the bottom of the 3rd inning Calvin hit his second 2 run home run of the game giving the Outlaws a 3 run lead. In the 4th inning in a tight game Rocco Almonte caught a steaming line drive and tagged first to force an unassisted double play to save a run and end the inning. With the game tied 10-10 in the bottom of the 5th, Nolan Lackey knocked in Rocco Almonte for the go ahead run. In the top of the 6th inning with 2 outs DiamondDawgs stole home to tie the game. In the bottom of the 6th inning with the game tied 11-11 Jack Lewis leads off with a double. The next batter, Ethan Bliley, was hit by a pitch followed by a walk off double by Rob Watson to win the game. 

In the Championship game, they faced the Meadville Barbarians. Both teams came into the game as Pool #1 seeds and undefeated. Justice Laird again pitched 3 lights out innings giving up just 1 run. Between the semi finals and championship, Justice struck out 7 batters. Calvin Hiltabidel pitched the final 3 innings giving up only 3 more (only 1 earned). Logan Hammer had two amazing catches in the outfield and hit a 3-Run home run to seal the deal in the bottom of the 5th as the Outlaws rolled to a 10-4 win in the Championship game, claiming the AXE!