Arlington 14U Babe Ruth All Stars Defeat Manassas, Crowned State Champions

MANASSAS — The Arlington 14U Babe Ruth All Stars surrendered four first-inning runs then clamped down the defense and defeated the Manassas All Stars 12-6 to win the Virginia State Babe Ruth 14U championship Monday.

Arlington got five gutsy innings from starter and winning pitcher Arthur Speck, who struck out three and picked off a Manassas base stealer. Alex Saenz was brilliant in the sixth inning, throwing only six pitches and finishing Manassas in the seventh.

Offensively, things looked bleak with one out in the home fifth and visiting Manassas leading 6-2. Parker Denny's single started a nine-run rally and his second single of the inning plated the sixth and seventh runs. He scored both times and Arlington sent 13 men to the plate.

TR Sheehy, catching his first tournament game, gunned down a Manassas base runner and had four hits, including two doubles. Harry Spitz, JJ Ricchetti and Saenz each had two knocks to help pace the Arlington attack.

Shortstop Will Burgess was named tournament Most Valuable Player and Arlington now moves on to the Southeast Regional Babe Ruth Tournament in Purcellville, Va.

Their next game is 11 a.m. Aug. 3. 

[Click here for the tournament bracket.]

Arlington Throttles Greater Manassas 13-7 Sunday

Trailing 2-1, James Levenberg singled twice in the fourth inning, first to ignite the eight-run rally and then driving in the final two runs to spark the Arlington 14U Babe Ruth All Stars past Greater Manassas 13-7 in semi-final action of the Virginia State Babe Ruth Tournament in Manassas on Sunday.

TR Sheehy and Alex Saenz each had three hits while Will Burgess was on base all five times with a single, a monster triple — his third in three games — and three runs scored.

Teddy Herbert pitched the first three innings, allowing two runs on three hits and gave way to Burgess for the fourth and fifth and then to Saenz for the close-out sixth and seventh innings. Herbert's eight-pitch first inning was topped by Saenz's five-pitch sixth, which shut down Manassas and moved Arlington into the state championship game at 2 p.m. Monday.

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