U14 Babe Ruth baseball: Kalispell All-Stars ready for Pacific Northwest Regional
The record speaks for itself regarding the Kalispell U14 All-Stars, who will be competing in the Pacific Northwest Babe Ruth Regional baseball tournament this week in Columbia Falls and Whitefish.
— The All-Stars bring a 21-1 overall record into play. That includes a 20-game winning streak.
— They are the current Montana state champions, having also won earlier tournament titles at Father’s Day, Bitterroot and Firecracker events.
— A handful of players on the team competed at regionals as 11-year-olds.
“I think we’ll be able to compete with everybody,” Kalispell head coach Russell McCarvel said.
Also competing at the tournament is the host squad — Glacier — along with teams from Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming and Alberta, Canada.
“When teams come from that far away, it’s hard to know what they will bring,” McCarvel said of the tournament field.
“But if we play good fundamental baseball, we’ll be OK.”
Kalispell opens tournament action Wednesday with two games in National Division pool play — noon in Whitefish at Memorial Field versus Wood River, Idaho, and 6 p.m. in Columbia Falls at Sapa Johnsrud Field in Columbia Falls versus Riverton, Wyo.
Pool play action continues Thursday and Friday with championship action (top two in each division) playing semifinal games followed by the title game on Saturday.
Kalispell is coming off a 9-1 victory over Glacier at the state tournament. Glacier handed Kalispell its lone loss in the first championship game of the double-elimination tournament. Dawson Smith then threw a 7-inning 1-hitter in the second title contest. He has seven saves on the season.
“We have three guys who have done a great job for us,” McCarvel said of the pitching staff.
“Dawson has been our closer.”
McCarvel said Sam Elliott (7-0) will pitch the first game with Brady Peiffer (6-1) on the mound for the second game.
Center fielder/pitcher Jackson Pepe, who hits in the No. 3 slot in the lineup, is sporting a batting average over .500. He leads the team in RBIs and runs scored.
Second baseman Conor McCarvel, who bats in the leadoff position, is hitting over .400. He is second on the team in runs scored and total hits.
Third baseman/outfielder/pitcher Johan Freundenburg and Elliott, who also plays third, are both hitting over .400 as are catchers Keaden Morisaki and Clayton Jaques.
“We have been a pretty good hitting team,” McCarvel said.
“Defensively, we have been solid.”
The defense has been led by shortstop Eric Seaman and outfielders Jaryon Venturini, Ryan Symmes and Tyler Kitch.
“Everybody does well,” McCarvel said.
“Everyone has had their great games along the way and contributions.”
Assisting McCarvel with the coaching are Wayne Elliott and Chad Smith.
Ticket prices are: $70 for a tournament family pass (two adults and three children), $30 for adults and $20 for seniors (55-and-older) and children (17-and-under); $10 for adult daily admission and $6 for seniors and children.
The tournament winner advances to the 14-year-old World Series in Ocala, Fla. Aug. 15-22.
Pacific Northwest Babe Ruth Regional U14 baseball tournament
American Division
Glacier; Twins Cities, Wash.; Moses Lake, Wash; Calgary, Alberta; West Linn, Ore.
National Division
Kalispell; Wood River, Idaho; Klamath Falls, Ore.; Spokane Inland Select, Wash.; Riverton, Wyo.
Schedule
Wednesday
Pool Play
At Whitefish
9 a.m. — Klamath Falls vs. Riverton
Noon — Kalispell vs. Wood River
3 p.m. — Klamath Falls vs. Spokane Inland Select
6 p.m. — West Linn vs. Glacier
At Columbia Falls
9 a.m. — Moses Lake vs. West Linn
Noon — Glacier vs. Twins Cities
3 p.m. — Moses Lake vs. Calgary
6 p.m. — Riverton vs. Kalispell
Thursday
At Whitefish
Noon — Calgary vs. West Linn
4 p.m. — Twin Cities vs. Moses Lake
7 p.m. — Kalispell vs. Spokane Inland Select
At Columbia Falls
Noon — Spokane Inland Select vs. Riverton
4 p.m. — Wood River vs. Klamath Falls
7 p.m. — Glacier vs. Calgary
Friday
At Whitefish
2 p.m. — Twin Cities vs. Calgary
5 p.m. — Glacier vs. Moses Lake
8 p.m. — Wood River vs. Riverton
At Columbia Falls
2 p.m. — Moses Lake vs. Wood River
5 p.m. — Kalispell vs. Klamath Falls
8 p.m. — Twin Cities vs. West Linn
Saturday
Championship Play
Noon — National Division No. 1 vs. American Division No. 2
3 p.m. — American Division No. 1 vs. National Division No. 2
7 p.m. — Championship game