By Wayne Littrell

The Live Oak/Suwannee County Babe Ruth Baseball and Softball leagues concluded their regular seasons last week with final games being played for boys and girls ages 5-15. The Minor and Major league seasons concluded with their end of season tournament. The tournament championship games were played on Friday 5/19.

In the Minor League (9-10 year old Boys), third-seeded Jackson Farms won the championship, but they did so the hard way. Jackson squared-off against A.D.M. for the finale’, a team they had beaten earlier in the double-elimination format. Jackson built a 10-1 lead and looked like they would cruise to an easy victory, but A.D.M. had other ideas. A.D.M scored 15 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and went on to win the game 16-10 forcing a second championship game at First Federal Sportsplex, field #2. Cole Menhennett led the comeback with a towering home run. ADM recorded 10 base hits in the ballgame and Jackson pitchers issued 10 walks.

Things looked bleak for Jackson Farms in the nightcap as ADM built an 8-2 lead through the games first three innings. Jackson Farm’s bats began to come to life in the fourth. Brandon Furry reached first base and was followed by back to back doubles from Rhett Baldwin and Nate Owens. Jackson would score four times in the fourth to pull within two runs of the lead. They would add three more runs in the fifth and two in the sixth.

Joe Arrasola had the game clinching hit in the sixth inning. Furry, meanwhile shut down the A.D.M. attack with three solid innings of relief pitching. Jackson Farms won the ballgame 11-9 to claim the 2006 Minor League Championship.

In the Major League division (11-12 year old boys), top-seed Pournelle Construction claimed the title in an 11-10 victory over Lafayette State Bank. Pournelle went undefeated in the tournament, but had to come from behind to win twice, both times against Lafayette State Bank. Pournelle won both of those games with heroics in the bottom of the sixth inning. In the championship game Justin Martin led off the sixth with a single. Jeffery Clark and John Pournelle followed with base hits. The game winning run scored on a sacrifice-fly ball from Marshall Pitman that scored Mike Cronan.

The regular season may be in the record books, but there is still plenty of baseball for these kids to play. The Babe Ruth all-star season is beginning and the league has 11 teams on the tournament trail.

Seven-year old All-Stars play June 8 in Lake City for their district tournament. The state tournament will be in Palm Beach Gardens on June 29 through July 2.

Eight-year old All-Stars play their district tournament June 8 in Lake City and the state tournament is on June 29-July 2 in Palm Beach Gardens.

The nine-year old All-Stars play their district tournament on June 23 in Lake City. The state tournament is July 6-9 in Live Oak.

The 10-year old district All-Star tournament is in Lake City June 23-25 with the state tournament in Live Oak July 6-9.

The 11-year old All-Star district tournament is in Lake City June 23-25. The state tournament is in Fernandina Beach July 6-9.

For the 12-year old All-Stars the district tournament is in Lake City June 23-25 with the state tournament in Fernandina Beach July 6-9.

The 13-year old All-Star district tournament is in Lake City June 23-25 with the state tournament in Live Oak July 13-17.

The 14/15-year old All-Stars play the district tournament June 23-25 with the state tournament on July 13-17 in Tallahassee.

Softball All-Stars play their district games in Madison and state tournaments are all in Oviedo.

Eight and under play districts June 15-18 with the state on July 12-16.

Ten and under All-Star softball plays districts June 15-18 with the state tournament on July 12-16.

Fourteen and under All-Star softball districts are on June 15-18 with state July 12-16.