The Worthington 13-14 little league all-stars registered 11 hits in their final game against Dubois last Friday, but lost to the eventual-state champion and did not qualify for championship play during the past weekend. The 15-16 year old team was also represented at the state championship tournament in Cranberry Township, but also were outside the Top 4. (KP File Photo)
by Jonathan Weaver
The two Worthington Little League teams representing the area in the state tournament last week did not make it to the championship round.
The Worthington 13-14 and 15-16 year old teams both represented the West after they won their respective District 7 championships three weeks ago, but did not make it through pool play.
Both Worthington teams represented Section 4 and needed to crack one of the top two records in the East to make Sunday’s championship pool.
Coach Vinson Santelmo’s 13-14 year olds lost three games in three consecutive days - against Potter-McKean (from Potter County) 5-2, West Point (in Greensburg) 11-1 and eventual state champion Dubois 12-5.
Dubois represented Section 1.
Santelmo said the first game was 2-1 before some fifth-inning errors, the second after a seven-run inning and a six-running inning to Dubois.
“It was a good learning experience for them – they did well,” Santelmo said. “It was a lot of fun.
“(Players) were kind-of nervous because they had never played at that level before. I think if we played again, some of the games would have a different outcome. We had a pretty talented group.”
Most of the players will advance to the 15-16 age group next season due to age.
On the other hand, Santelmo said there will be a majority of 13 year olds next summer that will have to adapt to a larger field.
Worthington 15-16 year old won their second game of the tournament 7-0 against West Point, but lost the last game in the West grouping –also to Dubois - , 2-1, to fall to a 1-2 record.
Coach Randy Doms praised Pitcher Logan Slagle for his play in the last game. Slagle allowed no runs, hits or walks until the sixth inning.
“We were 1-0 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, and unfortunately we had a couple calls that did not go our way that we feel should’ve and (Dubois) ended up scoring two runs,” Doms said.
The 15-16 age group finished 5th overall out of the eight teams – third in the West – mere percentage points behind Montoursville (who beat Worthington 10-0 the first game) due to overall runs scored.
“It was that close that they had to get the calculators out to see who was moving on and who was going home,” Doms said. “For a lot of (our players) it was the last game they would every play, so it was tough on all of them.
“It was a great time, the kids would’ve liked to go further, but it just wasn’t in the cards for us this time.”
Doms also praised his team and predicted most of the 16 year old players would be trying out for the Kittanning Sr. High Wildcats.
The 15-16 state championship was won by Kennett Square – a Eastern-based squad out of Chester County.
The state championship tournament was hosted by Cranberry Area Little League in Seneca, Venango County.