Hazel Dell Metro captures regional crown

Each time the dream of playing in the Babe Ruth World Series became tenuous, the 14-year-old all-stars from Hazel Dell Metro got busy swinging.

The team from Vancouver rallied for a dramatic semifinal win, then followed with a 10-run win over the host team in the championship game Saturday at the Pacific Northwest Regional tournament in Lewiston, Idaho.

The regional title means this team will be the 17th from Hazel Dell Metro to play in a Babe Ruth World Series. The 14-year-old World Series will involve 10 teams and be played Aug. 21-28 in Loudon County, Va., near Washington, D.C.

After posting a 4-0 record in pool play at the regional, Metro needed a gutsy final at-bat to beat Casper, Wyo., 12-11. They followed with a 15-5 win over host Lewiston in the championship game.

Hazel Dell Metro took a 9-4 lead into the seventh inning against Casper. The Wyoming champions scored seven runs in the seventh to lead by two, forcing the Vancouver club to rally in the bottom of the seventh.

With the top of its batting order up, Metro won the game with four hits and a sacrifice bunt.

Jay Becker hit a leadoff single and scored on a double by Jake Lewis. Hayden Humphrey singled home Lewis, Justin Aspon bunted him to second, and Alec Dannat provided the game-winning hit.

“That’s what this group’s about. They don’t quit,” Metro manager Dennis Zyph said. He noted that his club also rallied to win the semifinals and finals at the Southern Washington state tournament. “They just keep swinging.”

Zyph said Dannat had control of the semifinal game as the starting pitcher until some defensive mistakes gave Casper extra outs in the sixth. The Wyoming club scored three in that inning, and Dannat’s pitch count passed 100 as a result.

“He threw masterfully,” Zyph said.

In the championship game, HDM scored six runs in the fifth and five in the sixth to claim the title. They outhit Lewiston 15-6 and were aided by five Idaho errors.

Backer had four hits and scored four runs, Lewis scored three times, Aspon had five RBI, and Humphrey added three RBI.

Hazel Dell Metro teams have won four Babe Ruth World Series championships in varying age groups and have finished second twice.

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Babe Ruth 14-year-old Pacific Northwest Regional at Lewiston, Idaho

HAZEL DELL METRO 12, CASPER (Wyo.) 11

Casper 001 003 7–11 7 1

HDM 230 202 3–12 11 3

1 out when winning run scored

Hazel Dell Metro

Pitchers — Alec Dannet 6-plus IP, 5 Ks, 3 hits; Kaiden Grotte 1/3 IP, 2 hits; Jay Becker 2/3 IP, 2 hits, 1 K, win. Hitting — Becker 3-4, 3 runs; Jake Lewis 4-5, 2-run 3B, DB, 3 RBI, 4 runs; Hayden Humphrey 1-2 RBI; Dannat 2-3, 3 RBI; Josh Wilkerson 1-2 RBI; Grotte 1-3.

Championship

HAZEL DELL METRO 15, LEWISTON 5

Lewiston 203 000 — 5 6 5

HDM 210 165 –15 15 1

1 out in the sixth when 10-run rule applied.

Hazel Dell Metro

Pitchers — Jake Lewis 3 IP, 5 H; Jay Becker 3 IP, 1 H, 2 Ks, win. Hitting — Becker 4-5, double RBI, 4 runs; Lewis 2-3 RBI, 3 runs; Hayden Humphrey 2-3, 3 RBI; Justin Aspon 2-2, 5 RBI; Alec Dannet 1-2; James Brooks 1-2; Brooks Hanson 1-4; Kaiden Grotte 2-4 RBI.