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All-Stars lose final game at World Series
By Staff Reports
Wednesday, August 26, 2009 | No comments posted.
The South Coast All-Stars lost their final game at the Babe Ruth 14-year-old World Series on Tuesday, falling 9-1 to the host team, Appleton, Wis.
The defeat wrapped up a disappointing run for the All-Stars, who were the first local Babe Ruth team to advance to the World Series since 1996.
“There was a lot of heartache realizing the season was over,” said coach John Qualman.
He hopes the players will be able to appreciate what they accomplished, being one of just 10 teams in the age group to reach the World Series this year.
“I don’t think it’s sunk into the kids the level of ball here and the competition,” Qualman said.
As with their previous two losses, the All-Stars could not generate enough offense against tough pitching. South Coast had six hits spread among five players, and scored its only run in the third inning on a two-out single by Matt Miranda. Miranda’s hit brought in Alex Snow.
Lucas Qualman had two hits for South Coast, while Ryan Smith, Duke Mitchell and Jake Thompson each had one hit.
Appleton had 12 hits and scored twice each in the first and second innings and four times in the fourth. Clark Eagan had three hits, two runs and two RBIs for the winners.
“The kids are disappointed, and we played pretty flat because we knew we couldn’t advance,” John Qualman said.
Appleton improved to 3-0 in the tournament, and is guaranteed one of the top two seeds from the National Division. Today, Appleton plays Fort Smith Church, Ariz., which also has not lost yet. They will be the top two seeds for the division when the tournament moves on to bracket play Thursday. The other qualifier from the division will be the winner of today’s other game, between Cranston, R.I., and Minnetonka, Minn.
South Coast did not win any games in the tournament. The All-Stars lost two games by one run, to Fort Smith Church and Cranston.
Qualman was hoping the players could at least get one win in the tournament.
“They really came in and played hard,” he said. “We as coaches certainly realize how hard the competition is. Hopefully, the kids realize that it takes the extra effort that we’ve been preaching for a long time.”
The biggest difference between the All-Stars and the other clubs was pitching, he said.
“We didn’t have, not only the depth, but the diversity of pitching these teams have,” Qualman said.
Now that the All-Stars are out of the tournament, he said, they are going to enjoy their time in Wisconsin before flying home Sunday morning.
Today, the players were traveling north to Green Bay to watch the Packers practice. They also plan a trip south to Milwaukee, to watch a Brewers game.
“Now we get to really enjoy it,” Qualman said. “They’ll have a chance to relax.”
Qualman also said some of the South Coast players already are looking forward to next summer and the chance of another big All-Star season. Most of the other teams in the World Series come from strong programs and are used to playing at that level.
“It really does show how important the whole program is from Little League on up,” he said.
The defeat wrapped up a disappointing run for the All-Stars, who were the first local Babe Ruth team to advance to the World Series since 1996.
“There was a lot of heartache realizing the season was over,” said coach John Qualman.
He hopes the players will be able to appreciate what they accomplished, being one of just 10 teams in the age group to reach the World Series this year.
“I don’t think it’s sunk into the kids the level of ball here and the competition,” Qualman said.
As with their previous two losses, the All-Stars could not generate enough offense against tough pitching. South Coast had six hits spread among five players, and scored its only run in the third inning on a two-out single by Matt Miranda. Miranda’s hit brought in Alex Snow.
Lucas Qualman had two hits for South Coast, while Ryan Smith, Duke Mitchell and Jake Thompson each had one hit.
Appleton had 12 hits and scored twice each in the first and second innings and four times in the fourth. Clark Eagan had three hits, two runs and two RBIs for the winners.
“The kids are disappointed, and we played pretty flat because we knew we couldn’t advance,” John Qualman said.
Appleton improved to 3-0 in the tournament, and is guaranteed one of the top two seeds from the National Division. Today, Appleton plays Fort Smith Church, Ariz., which also has not lost yet. They will be the top two seeds for the division when the tournament moves on to bracket play Thursday. The other qualifier from the division will be the winner of today’s other game, between Cranston, R.I., and Minnetonka, Minn.
South Coast did not win any games in the tournament. The All-Stars lost two games by one run, to Fort Smith Church and Cranston.
Qualman was hoping the players could at least get one win in the tournament.
“They really came in and played hard,” he said. “We as coaches certainly realize how hard the competition is. Hopefully, the kids realize that it takes the extra effort that we’ve been preaching for a long time.”
The biggest difference between the All-Stars and the other clubs was pitching, he said.
“We didn’t have, not only the depth, but the diversity of pitching these teams have,” Qualman said.
Now that the All-Stars are out of the tournament, he said, they are going to enjoy their time in Wisconsin before flying home Sunday morning.
Today, the players were traveling north to Green Bay to watch the Packers practice. They also plan a trip south to Milwaukee, to watch a Brewers game.
“Now we get to really enjoy it,” Qualman said. “They’ll have a chance to relax.”
Qualman also said some of the South Coast players already are looking forward to next summer and the chance of another big All-Star season. Most of the other teams in the World Series come from strong programs and are used to playing at that level.
“It really does show how important the whole program is from Little League on up,” he said.
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