Little League Tournament Update

Little League Tournament Update

By MELISA BURNSED

It was a fast and furious start for the District Eleven Little League softball and baseball tournaments, this past weekend. North Florida All-Star squads didn’t let afternoon thunderstorms put a damper on their diamond fever.

There are nine different brackets being contested, with winners in each age division earning district titles and berths in the sectional tournaments in three weeks.

Baker County Little League is hosting all four divisions of play in the girl’s bracket and the local squad didn’t disappoint a large crowd that turned out Saturday to cheer them on. The Major team, consisting of the leagues top 11 and 12 year olds, won a mercy rule shortened game 10 to 0, over the Callahan All-Stars. Next up for them is a 7pm, Tuesday night showdown with the team from Saint Augustine, which also won their opening game over Yulee by a final score of 16 to 0. Callahan and Yulee will battle Monday night at 8 pm, to stay alive in the double elimination bracket.

The 9/10 tournament got underway Saturday morning, with Navy Ortega League (NOL) falling to Saint Augustine in a high scoring 17 to 19 game. Yulee bumped Callahan from the winner’s bracket by a final score of 17 to 7. Callahan and NOL try to extend their tournament run Monday night at 8 pm.

With a host team bye in the first round, Baker County’s youngest girl team will take the field Monday night at 6 pm against Saint Augustine. The winner of that contest will advance to face Yulee on Tuesday night at 6 pm.

The boys baseball is being played all around North Florida. The 9/10 games are being hosted by Highlands, on Jacksonville’s Northside. Action began on Thursday evening, but had to be delayed when heavy rains flooded the fields. On Friday Arlington put 14 runs on the scoreboard to claim victory over San Mateo, who only managed to bring one run across the plate. Baker County’s team #1 boys claimed a tight 6 to 2 win over Callahan’s team #1.

Also on Friday, Saint Augustine bested Callahan’s team #2 by a final score of 16 to 1, and NOL #2 bounced Baker team #2 to the losers bracket with a score of 9 to 4.

Saturday was steaming hot, both in the stands and on the diamond as the exciting game action continued in the winners brackets. Arlington squeezed by Yulee 13 to 12 and NOL #1 pulled out another close win over Baker County #1 4 to 3. Saint Augustine scored 6 to take their games against Mill Creek, which scored 4. Highlands fell to NOL #2 by a final score of 9 to 7.

Games for Monday will feature teams fighting to evade elimination. They include Callahan #2 versus Yulee at 6pm, along with Baker County team #1 and #2 going head to head. At 8 pm San Mateo will take on Mill Creek and Callahan #1 will face off with Highlands.

The winners bracket action will resume on Tuesday with Arlington against NOL #1 and NOL #2 against Saint Augustine.

In the Major League Bracket, being played at NOL, Saturdays game winners included Callahan over San Mateo 11 to 2, Saint Augustine over Baker County 6 to 4, Yulee over Highlands 11 to 1 and Arlington over NOL 1 to 0.

The winners will play on Monday with Callahan taking on Saint Augustine at 6 pm and Yulee against Arlington at 8 pm. The losers bracket will be played on Tuesday. San Mateo will battle Baker County at 6 pm and Highlands will take on NOL at 8 pm.

Saint Augustine is hosting the Junior Division (13/14). Saturday the Baker County boys beat Callahan 5 to 0, while San Mateo beat Yulee 10 to 0. Baker moves on to play Highlands Monday night at 6 pm and San Mateo will play Saint Augustine at 8:30 pm. Callahan and Yulee will play Monday night’s two losing teams, in elimination games on Tuesday night.