Tallahassee-Leon Babe Ruth Baseball is looking to add to its rich postseason history this month.
The organization’s 14U and 13U All-Star teams have advanced to World Series play, with the 14U team traveling to Hot Springs, Arkansas, and the 13U team heading to Jamestown, New York.
The 14U team opens its 15-team tournament Aug. 9, while 13U starts its 10-team tourney Aug. 16.
Both tourneys feature regional and international representatives. Teams are guaranteed four games in pool play, with the top seeds advancing into single-elimination rounds.
“This team has a lot of fight and resiliency,” said 14U head coach Bruce Williams, who is making his third World Series appearance with a pair of second-place finishes. “I think our pitching can keep us in every game. It’s one of the best teams I have been part of.
“Now we just need to go out and prove it.”
TLBR has captured six World Series championships across the 13-15 age brackets, starting with the 15U team in 1984 that featured future Major League Baseball players Dean Palmer and Reggie Jefferson.
“The competition was incredible,” said Palmer, an All-Star selection in 1998 with the Kansas City Royals and a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner with the Royals and Detroit Tigers.
“All the local teams were stacked with talent. There wasn’t travel ball back then, so all the advanced players in town played Babe Ruth. Winning the World Series in ’84 was one of the best memories of my life. We were loaded with talent and were a very close group. We had a lot of fun together traveling around to the tournaments.
“It was the first time most of us ever flew on a plane. Great memories.”
TLBR All-Star teams roar through state, regional play
The 14U team recently hosted and won the Southeast Regional at Lincoln High School, where it went undefeated in six games and beat North Carolina 10-2 in the title game.
The team outscored its opponents 51-8, allowing two runs per game.
Six players are hitting above .400 in the postseason, led by Liam LaFuria (15-for-25, .600). The list also includes Fisher Stewart (.545), Wiley Barfield (.522), Lucas Kane (.455), R.J. Watson (.429) and Canaan Volpe (.429). Tucker Yeary has thrown a team-high 11 innings with 14 strikeouts over three starts.
Williams’ coaching staff also features TLBR coaching veteran Paul Mauck and his son Taylor Mauck. Paul is making his 10th World Series appearance. Many players on the team were members of last year’s 13U team that placed second in the World Series.
The 13U team, managed by veteran Mike Harrison, has roared through the postseason at 8-0. It won the state title in Daytona Beach and the regional title in Fredericksburg, Virginia, outscoring opponents 103-7.
“Our pitching depth is what makes our team click,” Harrison said.
“We play very good defense up the middle and at this age group, if you can throw strikes pick it up and throw it to first consistently you have a pretty good chance to be successful.”
Parker Pennington, named the Southeast Regional MVP by local officials, and Parker Rudd are each hitting .667. Other plays hitting above .500 include Dylan Daughtry (.556) and Preston Cooksey (.529). Trevor Hanks (11 innings and 12 strikeouts) and lefty Connor Bishop (10.1 innings and 16 strikeouts) anchor the starting rotation.
Harrison’s coaching staff also includes Tallahassee State College pitching coach Jim Hage, who is making his seventh World Series appearance, former FAMU pitcher Grant Harrison and Kip West.
“Players have worked hard, done everything we’ve asked them to do and I believe they are as ready as they’re going to be,” Harrison said.
TLBR 14U All-Stars
Players: Fisher Stewart, Blaise Latimer, Bryce Ravenel, RJ Watson, Lucas Kane, Wiley Barfield, Brycen Parker, Liam LaFuria, Tyler Wilson, Tucker Yeary, Canaan Volpe, Brayden Grice, Hunter Cosper, Will Lizotte. Coaches: Bruce Williams (manager), Paul Mauck, Taylor Mauck.
TLBR 13U All-Stars
Players: Ethan Sapiera, Harrison Shoaf, Michael Volpe, Nicholas Volpe, Parker Pennington, Parker Rudd, Preston Cooksey, Trevor Hanks, A.J. Henry, Easton Hyde, Asher Brock, Bryce Bedonie, Cooper Bishop, David Augilar, Dylan Daughtry. Coaches: Mike Harrison (manager), Jim Hage, Grant Harrison, Kip West.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: The 14U and 13U Tallahassee-Leon Babe Ruth All-Star teams eye World Series championships
Reporting by Jim Henry, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
