11 YEAR OLDS WIN TWICE TO TAKE SECTION 1 TOURNAMENT TITLE
The Washington County 11 Year Old Boys went into Thursday needing two victories to advance to the State Little League Tournament, and they got them! Washington County won the opener 7-5, and then took the second game 4-3 to win the Section 1 Championship.
WASHINGTON COUNTY 7 LUFKIN 5
Jackson Burch reached on a single, and came around to score on an RBI single by Hunter Knesek. Knesek later scored on an RBI single by Will Hefferly to give Washington County the early 2-0 lead in the first inning.
During the top of the third inning, Burch would reach on a fielder's choice, and then score his second run of the game on an error to make it 3-0. Lufkin scored a run in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 3-1.
Washington County tacked on two more runs in the top of the fifth. Austin Smith led it off with a double, and Will Hefferly was hit by a pitch. Callen Schulte reached on an error that scored Smith. Hefferly then scored on an RBI groundout by Ayden Cunningham to make it 5-1.
Lufkin scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the Washington County lead to 5-3.
Washington County added two more runs in the top of the sixth. Levi Duran reached on a fielder's choice. Knesek followed with a single, and Tyler Hecker walked. Hudson Frank was then safe on a third strike wild pitch, which also allowed Duran to score. Smith then drew a bases loaded walk to score Knesek to make it 7-3.
Lufkin closed the gap to 7-5 with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, but that would be as close as they would get.
Will Hefferly got the win on the mound for Washington County, while Jackson Burch came on to get the final five outs to pick up the save.
WASHINGTON COUNTY 4 LUFKIN 3
Jackson Burch got it started once again with a leadoff single. He would then come around to score on an sacrifice fly by Hunter Knesek to make it 1-0.
Lufkin scored the tying run in the top of the third inning to make it 1-1. They would then get a run in the fifth inning to take their first lead of the day 2-1.
Washington County tied it 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth. Austin Smith doubled, and scored on a bases loaded walk to Blaine Carmeans.
Lufkin retook the lead with a run in the sixth to make it 3-2.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Wes Warschak led it off with a single, and later came around to score the tying run. Levi Duran singled, and then scored the game winning run on a sacrifice fly by Hudson Frank.
The celebration was then on.
Washington County now moves on to the State Tournament in Tyler, which begins on Saturday, July 15, at 5pm at Faulkner Park in Tyler.