First National Bank pulled off a sweep of the two titles in the boys 13-15-year-old Babe Ruth league on Thursday.
First National, the regular-season champion, defeated Rotary Club 6-5 to claim the tournament title on Edley Newman Field.
Chase Hillis brought in the game-winning run with a sacrifice in the fifth inning and Dustyn Kilgore battled out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh to pick up a crucial save in the championship.
Rotary Club picked up an early 3-0 lead with a run in the first, second and fourth innings, but First National Bank used a five-run fourth to move out front.
Hillis’ sacrifice to bring in Charles Calvert in the fifth made it 6-3, but Rotary Club closed to within one in the sixth after Ethan Fliss stole home on a passed ball and Adrian Lusk knocked in a run with a single.
Everything rested on the arm of Kilgore in the top of the seventh. Trying to protect a one-run lead, Kilgore quickly picked up two outs to begin the seventh inning.
A two-out walk to Brayden Neal gave Rotary new life. Noah Kuykendall followed with a single, moving the tying run into scoring position.
Another single by Christian Barrett loaded the bases for Fliss, Rotary’s clean-up batter and one of the top hitters in the league.
Kilgore battled to a full count with Fliss as the pressure mounted after each pitch. Having to throw a strike or let the tying run score on a walk, Kilgore got Fliss to strike out swinging to end the game.
First National’s win wouldn’t have happened without the offense waking up the fourth inning. Austin Wright ignited the rally with a lead-off single, then stole second base. Wright would score on a double by Glen Llewellyn to put First National on the board.
A walk to Kilgore was followed by two infield fly balls, which nearly ended the rally. Austin Melton was able to come up with a clutch hit though, as his two-run double tied the game at three.
A.D. Majors would keep the ball rolling with a single, followed by another single by Sweeton which scored Melton. Majors would put the final touches on the five-run inning by stealing home on a passed ball.
Sweeton turned over the game to Kilgore after pitching five solid innings.
Sweeton allowed only three hits over five innings to pick up the win in the championship.
Rotary built its early lead by using small ball. In the first inning, Barrett brought in Neal with a sacrifice ground out. In the second, Brody Fernandez made it 2-0 by stealing three bases after a walk.
Rotary’s final run off a Sweeton came in the fourth when Fernandez lead off the inning with a triple and scored on a sacrifice by Lusk.
Lusk would end up taking the loss for Rotary. Lusk relieved Barrett in the third inning and allowed six runs on seven hits. Barrett pitched the first two innings, striking out four while allowing one hit and no runs.
Sweeton, Wright, Llewellyn, Calvert, Melton, Majors and Bradley Stewart each had hits in the victory for First National Bank.
Izzy McDonnell led Rotary with two hits in the championship. Neal, Kuykendall, Barrett, Fernandez, Lusk and Jordan Bonner had one hit apiece.