The Alpena 15U baseball team recently competed in the Ohio Valley Babe Ruth Regional Championship in Crown Point, Indiana.

Alpena opened the tournament against Highland Park, Illinois. Alpena scored one run in the second inning off of a single by Anthony Berg and had multiple chances throughout the game to add to their lead. The game remained this way until the sixth inning when Chris DeRocher hit a double that scored two runs to help Alpena cruise to a 3-0 victory. Bruz Copping picked up the victory giving up three hits and striking out five in five innings of work. Lucas Crosby retired all six batters in the final two innings to pick up the save.

In game two, Alpena took on the eventual runner-up in Scott County, Kentucky and struggled throughout this game in a 10-0 loss. Kyle VanDusen led the way offensively with two hits and Colby Plowman added a hit for the only hits of the game.

In the final game of pool play, Alpena did battle with Elkins, West Virginia. Alpena scored one run in the first and sixth innings of a 2-0 victory. Clay Donajkowski, Colin Donajkowski, and VanDusen led the team with two hits each and Owen Limback, Logan Guthrie and Copping chipped in with hits as well. Crosby picked up the win allowing just three hits to West Virginia.

Alpena earned the fifth seed and faced off against Downers Grove, Illinois to see who would advance to the quarterfinals. Downers Grove eventually held on for a 9-7 victory. In a game played in extreme heat, each team made several errors in an up and down battle. Alpena had the bases loaded in the sixth inning, but were unable to score. Guthrie led the way offensively with a double and a single. Aidan Goike, Clay Donajkowski, Colin Donajkowski, Riley Arlt, Limback and DeRocher all collected a hit a piece.

“We were either really on or really off in our games. Giving up five runs against Downers Grove in the third inning was tough to come back from, but we had chances in the final two innings to take the lead.”Manager Jim DeRocher said. “All 12 teams could have easily won the championship this year with everyone being fairly equal.”

Eau Claire Wisconsin went on to win the championship with a 4-2 victory over Scott County, Kentucky.