The Mahaska American 9 & 10 year old All-Star team wrapped up the District 4 championship last week and will advance to the State championship July 25 – August 1 in Davenport. The team ended up with an 8-0 record in district play.
On Monday, the 6th, they travelled to Lynnville-Sully and won 20-2. Lynnville-Sully’s pitchers struggled, giving up 18 walks in the game. American had five hits in the game, paced by Trey Miller’s single and double. Kamden Criss and Braxton George also had doubles and Luke Fynaardt had a single to round out the attack. Braxton George pitched 3 innings of no-hit ball to pick up the win. He had no walks and struck out two. Cael Butler gave up one hit in one inning of work to close out the game.
After a bye on Tuesday, the team travelled to Newton. The game would end up being played as the championship game, as neither team had lost in pool play and no other teams could catch the winner. The game was a classic pitcher’s duel between American’s Braxton George and Newton’s Turner
Williams. The two teams traded runs in the first, with American’s run coming via Logan Hoskinson scoring on a wild pitch. Newton struck next in the top of the 4th, scoring a run on a walk followed by a two out single from Luke Thomason. The game remained 2-1 until the bottom of the 5th, when American finally broke into the scoring column again. With one out, Kamden Criss drew a walk.
After a foul out to the catcher, Logan Hoskinson drew another walk. With Williams reaching his pitch limit, Brody Bauer was brought in to pitch to Braxton George. George flared a single just out of the reach of the shortstop to bring home both runners for a 3-2 lead. Logan Hoskinson came in a got the final three outs for the save.
George pitched 5 innings, giving up 5 hits and two walks while striking out 4. His two run base hit ended up being the only hit for American, to go along with 6 walks.
The team now advances to Davenport for a week long stay for the State tournament. If anyone would like to help support the team financially, please contact either Chris Fynaardt at 295-4354 or T.J. Criss at 660-9402.
Story Provided By The Oskaloosa Harold
