Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008

Kennewick falls to Kentucky at Ripken World Series

By the Herald staff

MARTIN, Tenn. -- Kennewick American fell to South Lexington, Ky., 8-7 in its second game of pool play at the Cal Ripken 12-year-old World Series on Saturday in Martin, Tenn.

Ryan Reese hit a two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to give South Lexington the victory.

"The enthusiasm was there early on but flattened out in the middle of the game," Kennewick coach Lenny Ayres said. "We had a tough time getting the enthusiasm back."

Kennewick jumped out to a 6-0 lead, scoring three runs in the first inning. Mitchel Mueller singled, Clayten Ayres hit a ground-rule double, and Larry DeWitt followed with a three-run home run.

Kennewick added two runs in the second and another in the third, as Colton Plew hit a solo homer.

But in the fourth inning, South Lexington finally touched Kennewick starter Mark Driver for three runs to start its comeback. The Kentuckians added two more in the fifth, and they entered the bottom of the sixth trailing Kennewick 7-5.

That's when they were able to score three runs, ending with Ryan's game-winner.

Blake Rose led the Kentucky team with three hits. Mueller paced the Kennewick offense with three hits, while Clayten Ayres and Plew added two each.

Ayres took the loss in relief, while Ryan earned the complete-game victory, scattering 11 hits over the six innings.

Kennewick dropped to 1-1 in pool play. South Lexington is 3-0 in pool play.

"This win probably means Lexington wins the pool," Lenny Ayres said. "Three teams advance, so it's not a fatal blow."

Ayres said the team handled the loss well.

"It's not too heartbreaking," he said. "The boys did well, and we've been in this situation before. We were in it in the regional tournament. We just have to take care of business from here on out."

Kennewick continues pool play at 1:30 p.m. today with a game against Tennessee state champion Lake County, which fell to 0-3 in pool play Saturday after a 3-2 loss in seven innings to Arlington, Mass.

"We win that game and we're in the driver's seat," Ayres said.

The top three teams in each division after pool play is done advance to the single-elimination portion of the tournament.

Kennewick 321 001 -- 7 11 1

So.Lexington. 000 323 -- 8 10 0

Mark Driver, Austin Forsyth (4), Clayten Ayres (6) and Justin Hancock; Reese Ryan, Logan Mullins (4) and Graham Carmack. Highlights--Mitchel Mueller 3x3; Ayres 2x3; Larry DeWitt HR, 3 RBI; Driver 8K; Colton Plew 2x3, HR.

Saturday's scores

South Lexington, Ky. 8, Kennewick 7; Visalia, Calif. 18, Bemidji, Minn. 0 (4); Bear, Del. 12, Martin, Tenn. 2 (4); Arlington, Mass 3, Lake Co., Tenn. 2 (7)

Division standings

American -- South Daytona, Fla. 2-0; Bear, Del. 2-0; Visalia, Calif. 1-1; Bemidj, Minn. 1-2; Martin, Tenn. 0-3.

National -- South Lexington, Ky., 3-0; Kennewick 1-1; Hamburg, Ark. 1-1; Arlington, Mass. 1-1; Lake County, Tenn. 0-3.