Whitefish Stars state champs

The Daily Inter Lake

The Whitefish All-Stars captured the Cal Ripken State Baseball Tournament for 11-year-olds on Sunday in Helena with a come-from-behind victory over the Helena All-Stars at Ryan Fields.

Whitefish trailed Helena 2-0 heading into the sixth, the final inning. But Whitefish tallied seven runs in the top half of the inning to pull it out.

After a walk by Shane Marcial, Nick LeGrandeur hit into a fielder's choice, Jace Kalbfleisch singled and Jake May followed with an RBI single.

An infield hit by Cooper Olson loaded the bases for Sean Janni, who was hit in the head by a pitch to force in the second run of the game and tie it up.

After Charlie Carpenter hit into a fielder's choice, Jake Slaybaugh drilled a two RBI single to finally put Whitefish on top 4-2.

Logan Harwood's infield bunt loaded the bases again and a passed ball brought Carpenter across the plate, putting Whitefish up 5-2.

Marcial then capped off the inning with a two RBI single.

Whitefish advanced to the title game by drilling Mission 13-8 in semifinal play earlier in the day.

Kalbfleisch and Nick LaGrandeur shared pitching duties, both going three innings in each game.

Whitefish, 12-2 on the season, finished tournament play 5-0 and outscored the opposition 59-18. The All-Stars advance to the Cal Ripken Regionals in Eugene, Ore., Aug. 1-6. That winner advances to nationals.