Published: July 13, 2008 01:16 am            

D-V Big League squad on verge of winning state title

The District V Big League All-Star baseball team is one win away from winning a state championship and qualifying for the regional.

District V, which are comprised of players ages 18 and under from Southern Indiana, won two games Friday in the double-elimination state tournament in East Chicago. District V defeated District X from Fort Wayne 4-3 in the completion of a suspended game, followed by a 7-3 victory over District I West from East Chicago.

District V played District I East in Saturday’s championship. Results from the game were not reported before press time. If District V won, it will play in the Central Region tournament later this week in Wayne, Mich. If District V lost, it will play in a second championship game tonight.

Trailing 3-1 against District X on Friday, District V rallied with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to collect the win. District V’s Steve Durham and L.J. Martin each smacked back-to-back RBI singles to tie the game at three. Then later in the frame, Durham came home during a rundown situation.

District V reliever Erik Winburn retired District X in order in the seventh to earn the save. District V’s John Hardin was the winning pitcher.

District V came from behind again in Friday’s second game. Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth, District V scored six runs to take a four-run lead and held on for the victory versus District I West.

Hardin and teammate Taylor Klein each had a double in the fifth. District V’s Zack Payne was the winning pitcher.

“We had gone all day without a lot of timely hitting and were stranding way too many runners,” District V coach George Rorrer said. “We should have gotten a few more runs in each game. But in both cases, one good inning was all it took.”

        

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