Kneeling (left to right): Austin Lilly, Keaton McDaniel, Dan Merrill, Nate Raper, Sam Replogle, Ben Replogle, Matt Merrill
Standing (left to right): Coach Darron Replogle, Josiah Lynn, Logan Stolz, Aaron Field, Will Grantham, Pat Castleberry, Coach Gene Lilly, Caleb Raper, Coach Greg Lynn and Coach Rick Castleberry
The NOAH 13U team traveled to Cedar Hill, Texas to compete in the 14 and under Class A World Series on June 23-26. The first day of activities was the skills and drills competition. Josiah Lynn finished 2nd place in the accuracy throw from centerfield to home plate. Caleb Raper finished in 3rd place in the velocity throw. Caleb was clocked at 67 mph. The winner was clocked at 69 mph, second place was 68 mph. Austin Lilly, Will Grantham, Ben Replogle, Pat Castleberry, Keaton McDaniel and Matt Merrill finished in 3rd place in the Around the Horn competition. The day ended with a parade for all teams.
The Jags started pool play on Thursday against Texas 14A State Champion White Settlement, TX Express. It was a close game 6-4 until the Express broke open the game to win 14-4. In the second pool play game, the Jags were outdueled 4-2 by the White Settlemen, TX Dodgers. The Jags last pool game was on Friday against Red Oak, Texas, the defending 13U 2010 World Series Champion. The Jags battled the whole game and with the game tied 8-8 with two outs, Josiah Lynn knocked in Austin Lilly with an RBI double to win the game. The Jags and Red Oak battled again the next day in double elimination bracket play. The Jags jumped out early and coasted to an 11-2 win over Red Oak. The Jags then played the undefeated #1 seed White Settlement, TX Mets. The Jags scored 5 runs in the first inning and took an 8-3 lead. The Mets battled back to within 8-6. The Mets then scored 4 runs to take a 10-8 lead into the last inning. With 2 outs, Logan Stolz hit an RBI single to score Aaron Field. Caleb Raper hit an RBI double to score Stolz to tie the game. Pat Castleberry hit a sharp grounder to second baseman who bobbled and made a low throw to first not in time for the out to allow Raper to score the go ahead run. Matt Merrill pitched the bottom half of the inning striking out 3 of the 4 batters faced to shut down the Mets.
The Jags faced the #2 seed Express in the winner's bracket game. The Jags jumped out early 3-0 but the Express roared back and won the game 11-3 in six innings. The Mets battled back through the loser's bracket to take on the Jags for a chance to play the Express in the Championship. The Jags held a 2-1 lead through three innings. A few miscues in the field lead to 7 runs of which only 3 were earned. The Mets held on to win 8-3. The 13U Jags finished in 3rd place in the 14U Class A World Series. The Jags held their own against bigger and older competition. Good job Jags!
