Blacksburg all-stars - simply the best

The Blacksburg All-Stars were as hot as the summer weather at the Cal Ripken League district tournament for ages 11 and 12. Blacksburg finished the tournament with a 4-mark, including a 7-2 victory over Boiling Springs in Monday's championship game at the Cherokee County Youth Sports Complex.

The team outscored its opposition by a combined 52-10.

Blacksburg advances to the state tournament in North Augusta on July 10.

"The most outstanding thing is that it was a total team effort," Blacksburg coach Jimmy Morgan said. "Everybody on the team contributed in every game."

History was on Blacksburg's side this time. Three years ago, the allstars finished third. Two years ago, the same group of players took second in the district tournament.

"And this year, we won it," Morgan said.

Unlike its previous games, Blacksburg had its hands full with Boiling Springs in the early going.

Things changed in the fourth inning when Blacksburg exploded for five runs to break a scoreless tie.

Brooke Hope lined a triple to score the team's first run. Tyler Cobb, Evan McCurry, Jake Morgan and Tyler Camp followed with run-scoring hits.

Boiling Springs answered with a solo homer in the bottom of the inning. But Blacksburg added two more runs in the fifth on RBIs by Alex Raines and Cobb.

Boiling Springs scored its other run in the sixth.

Brandon Scruggs started and struck out five of the seven batters he faced. McCurry went the rest of the way, striking out eight.

Morgan said the all-stars might just add a state championship to their list of accomplishments.

"They are as good as they want to be," Morgan said.

TOTAL DOMINATION

¦ The Blacksburg allstar team for 11 and 12 year olds outscored its opposition by a combined score 52-10 in breezing to the district tournament title.

¦ The all-stars advance to the state tournament in North Augusta on July 10.