The Greater Savanna Youth Baseball league championship game came down to the final at bat on Tuesday, July 10, in Floodwood. Tamarack scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning to tie before Floodwood manufactured a run in the bottom of the inning for the win.
“It was a total team effort,” Floodwood coach Bubba Vance shared with his team after the game. “Everyone contributed. You guys went undefeated this year, and you should be proud of that.”
Bubba noted that his team showed great sportsmanship throughout the season, and he was very pleased with his older players. “The older players were excellent role models this season, and I hope the next group of players continue that.”
The championship game was one to remember. Floodwood got off to a good start by scoring two runs in the first inning and one run in the second, third, and fourth.
Floodwood didn’t score in the fifth inning, and Tamarack came back from a 5–1 deficit with four runs in the top of the sixth inning.
R.J. DeMenge started the rally with an infield single. Then back to back singles by Abby Hawkinson and Tony Killspotted scored two runs.
Floodwood became a little shaky in the field at this point, and the next batter reached on an error and another run came across. After a pair of strikeouts, Alx Johnson hit a clutch single, driving in the tieing run.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Floodwood pulled out the victory. Butch Sandstrom walked, stole second, and reached third base on a passed ball. Then with two outs, Shawn Anderson hit a fly ball to center that hit the glove and fell to the ground.
“It wasn’t our best defensive game,” said Bubba about the game. “However, we did have a tremendous defensive year.”
Bubba also noted the improvement in the Tamarack team. “They played super,” he said. “They came to play. They swung the bats well. The first time we played them that wasn’t there.”
