Chiefland fares well in Babe Ruth tourney

Story and photo by Rick Burnham
Editor

TALLAHASSEE – Chiefland made a name for itself in Tallahassee over the weekend, finishing runnerup in the state Babe Ruth All-Stars Tournament for players 15 and under.

Chiefland won the first in impressive fashion, beating Fort Caroline, out of Jacksonville, 6-1. Brent Slaughter collected three hits in the game, including a home run over the left field fence on the second pitch of the game. Travis Wain followed with a two-run double moments later, and Chiefland led 3-0.

That would be more than enough for Chiefland starting pitcher Jacob Reidy, who confounded Fort Caroline hitters all game long. The right hander scattered a half dozen Fort Caroline hits and was never really in trouble until the final innings.

Chris Bobo doubled in the fifth and scored on a single by Jordon Flores his team’s only run. Fort Caroline threatened again in the seventh, but came up a few feet short. Alex Marin was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a walk to Brian Poag. Two outs later, Hunter Gray lined a single to left field, but Chiefland left fielder Kaleb Caplin’s throw to the plate nailed Marin to end the game.

Overall, it was a good game for Reidy, and a good tournament for Chiefland, said Head Coach Kyle Parnell.

“Jacob looked strong against Fort Caroline,” he said. “We had some really good defense behind him too. Slaughter (at shortstop) was all over the field. And Kaleb threw that runner out to end the game. So we played well in the field.”

Chiefland finished with a 3-2 record in the tournament, beating Fort Caroline, Wakulla and Lake City, but losing to eventual champion Tallahassee twice.

Battling stifling heat in the championship game Sunday, Chiefland found it could not overcome Tallahassee starting pitcher Miller Jones. Jones allowed just four hits and one run in five innings.

Still, Chiefland trailed 2-0 in the fifth inning, and cut the lead in half when Parrish Parnell drove home Alden Davis, who had doubled down the right field line.

But Tallahassee scored 10 times in the bottom of the inning to win going away. The champs recorded only one out in the inning, on a sacrifice bunt.

With the win, Tallahassee advanced to regional play in Leesburg, which begins July 30.