| Mark Huber photos
2008 St. Marys National Little League Champions VFW Royals: Matt Douglas, Jay Montague, Tristen Hoffmaster, Brandon Zumbroegel, Ryan Minnich, Isaac Fitzgerald, Jordan Fisher, Zack Wilker, Kyle Tompkins. Manager: Bob Fitzgerald. Coaches: Bob Wilker and Rob Montague. Scorekeeper: James Everage. |
ST. MARYS, OHIO -- The VFW Royals capped an undefeated season by defeating the Kiwanis Braves to win the St. Marys National Little League Tournament Championship Monday evening at KC Geiger Park. The Royals, managed by Bob Fitzgerald, finish the 2008 Little League year at 17-0. The Braves, managed by Merny Gross, finished second in the league season and second in the tournament by compiling a 12-5 overall record. Three of those losses were to the Royals.
The Braves out-hit the Royals 9-7, but gave up 6 walks to the Royals' one and committed 4 costly errors while the Royals made only two.
Isaac Fitzgerald was the winning pitcher, racking up eleven strikeouts and walking only one. He pitched to all but the very last Braves batter, as Matt Douglas took the mound in relief to strike out the only batter he faced to end the game.
Marcus Wagner, Collin Burke and Trent Wale split the pitching duties for the Braves. Burke recorded three strikeouts and Wale struck out two Royals.
Josh Young led the Braves at the plate with a triple and two doubles. Mason Gross had three hits including a triple. Tate Carlin cracked a double while Ryan Slife and Marcus Wagner both singled.
For the Royals, Zach Wilker hit two singles, Tristen Hoffmaster hit a triple, Brandon Zumbroegel and Jay Montague both doubled, and Jordan Fisher and Ryan Minnich added singles.
Umpires for the game were Scott Laman at home plate and Chad Laman on the basepaths.
Following the game, the St. Marys National Little League distributed trophies to the teams for First Place and Runners-Up in the Tournament, and First and Second Place finishes in the regular season.
| TEAM |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
R |
H |
E |
| Kiwanis Braves |
1 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
9 |
4 |
| VFW Royals |
4 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
0 |
- |
11 |
7 |
2 |
|
2008 St. Marys National Little League Runners-Up Kiwanis Braves: Brandon Oakes, Taylor Mihm, David Slife, Trent Wale, John Krebs, Marcus Wagner, Ryan Slife, Josh Young, Tate Carlin, Mason Gross, Collin Burke. Manager: Merny Gross. Coach: Dan Burke.
