Boys 9/10

State Park's 9 & 10 Baseball Tournament team suffered their first loss at the State Tournament in extra innings Saturday, to Warren Township Little League, 4-3.

State Park Pitching once again held tight ground, however the offense stumbled, striking out 12 times against Warren's staff. The boys played hard for all seven innings, and represented State Park well in defeat.

State Park is 2-1 in Pool B, in great position to advance to the Semi-Final segment of the tournament on Monday. Next up for SPLL is Ireland Little League, Sunday, 4:00 PM.

9/10 Boys All Stars

The 9 & 10 State Park Tournament team wins their second game at State, 5-4 over New Albany. State Park is 2-0 in Pool play, the only undefeated team left in Pool B.

A five run rally in the bottom of the fifth pulled this one out of the fire for State Park.

Next up is Warren Township,Saturday, 12:00 South Bend time.

Thanks again to everyone who has been coming to the games, the boys really appreciate your support. They are having fun and representing very well.

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STATE PARK WINS STATE OPENER

Chet Waggoner Little League, South Bend- State Park Little League’s 9 & 10 Tournament Team (All-Stars) defeated Decatur Central Little League (District 7) 3-1 in the opening round of pool play, at the Indiana State Tournament. Chet Waggoner Little League, South Bend- State Park Little League’s 9 & 10 Tournament Team (All-Stars) defeated Decatur Central Little League (District 7) 3-1 in the opening round of pool play, at the Indiana State Tournament.

Chet Waggoner Little League, South Bend- State Park Little League’s 9 & 10 Tournament Team (All-Stars) defeated Decatur Central Little League (District 7) 3-1 in the opening round of pool play, at the Indiana State Tournament.

Zach Burris, started on the mound and picked up the win for State Park, pitching one-hit shut out ball into the fourth inning, before giving way to Patrick Arndt in relief. Arndt picked up where Burris left off, throwing three innings of one hit, one run ball. Johnny Dujmovich came on in the sixth inning to close it out, and pick up the save.

Arndt figured in all three of State Park’s runs, driving Alec Emmons in with a sacrifice fly in the first, stealing home on a passed ball in the fourth, and knocking Nick Andert home in the fifth on an error. Decatur’s second baseman Blake Bippus couldn’t handle Arndt’s line shot; Andert scored, Arndt safe at first. Shawn Charlson and Dujmovich had two hits apiece to lead State Park.

Pitching, aggressive baserunning, and defense were again the foundation for State Park’s win. Andert stole extra bases from Decatur’s Ronnie Diggs, tracking down a deep fly, ending in a tumbling catch in the fourth, while Ethan Conway stabbed a line shot to third with the tying runs on base to end a Decatur rally in the fifth.

State Park is competing in the State Tournament after winning the District One championship July 18, defeating Lakefront Michigan City 5-4 to take the crown and end up 5-1 in the District.Tournament.

The July 24 – 29 State Tournament, hosted by Chet Waggoner Little League, South Bend, is comprised of 14 Indiana District winners, each competing to be among 8 teams chosen for the single elimination phase on Monday and Tuesday.

State Park is slated to play New Albany Little League (District 5) on Friday, Warren Township Little League (District 11) on Saturday and Ireland Little League (District 13) on Sunday in Pool Play of the team qualifier segment of the tournament.

State Park 9/10 Boys win District 1 Championship

State Park Little League Claims 9 & 10 District Crown

After splitting their first two contests, State Park and Lakefront (Michigan City) met for the third time in four days to decide the District One Little League 9 & 10 year old tournament. They did not disappoint the rain-soaked fans, taking the excitement to the bottom of the sixth inning, when State Park scored on a bases loaded two-out hit by Alec Emmons, to defeat Lakefront, 5-4.

Johnny Dujmovich started on the mound for State Park, holding the power-hitting Lakefront team to three runs over four innings. Nick Perez came on in relief for State Park in the fifth inning, allowing a run in the top of the sixth to knot the game at four.

Dujmovich led off the bottom of the first with a triple, scoring on an Alec Emmons groundout. Patrick Arndt walked and scored all the way from first on a wild pick-off attempt by Lakefront.to take the early 2-0 lead. Lakefront took the lead, 3-2 in the third inning, while State Park struggled at the plate, striking out six times in a row over three innings.

State Park regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Patrick Arndt stole home on the back end of a double steal started by Ethan Conway.

Lakefront tied the game at four in the top of the sixth, with Perez closing it out to avoid a last inning meltdown like the night before.

The bottom of the sixth started off with a fantastic running catch by Lakefront’s left fielder to rob Isaac Shook. Shawn Charlson then drove a single up the middle, and was lifted for pinch-runner Nick Andert. Rhett Rondinelli followed with a single to right, and Lucas Rhed was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Dujmovich then lifted a long fly to left, again, chased down by the left fielder, bringing Emmons to the plate; bases loaded two out. With a 1-1 count, Emmons popped a fly to short leftfield. The third time was a charm, as the left fielder charged in, dove and could not hold the ball in the glove after colliding with the shortstop. Andert scampered home with the fifth and final run of the game, bringing home the 2008 District Championship.

"Amazing!" said catcher Charlson. " I mean, there are no words, it is just amazing"

"It is all about teamwork" said Manager Rich Arndt. "We win as a team, we lose as a team. This is a great group of kids, they really believe in themselves and their teammates. They want to have fun and play baseball. I have been managing Little League a long time, seen a lot of teams, and I am the lucky one, able to ride on their bandwagon to the State Tournament: Everything they have achieved, they earned; their practice and work ethic is unbelievable."

"We play hard. No one gets down on each other, we play like we are one. Coach (Sergio) Perez always tells us, ‘thirteen as one’, that’s what we are. I can’t wait to go to State!" said Patrick Arndt..

Next up for State Park is the State Tournament, held at Chet Waggoner Little League in South Bend, July 24-29.