Game 1 vs Evansville, IN Spikes. L, 4-3 in 6 innings. The Redbird U9 squad opened the 48 team USSSA World Series in traditional fashion by scoring early and putting pressure on the opposing defense. Aaron Halligan led off the game with a bb and scored on a groundout from Brady Cartee. The boys tallied two more in the second with Terrill Clayburne and Nick Hirst scoring runs without the benefit of a base hit. However, Evansville showed they belonged as well by scoring two in the first without hitting a ball out of the infield and two more in the fourth after two were out on three consecutive doubles. On the mound, Matt Gosskopf and Terrill Clayburne kept the Spikes at bay and the boys had their chances in the fourth, fifth, and sixth as Joey Wescom, Tyler Broders, and Hayden Franks hit singles in each inning with less than two out. But Evansville’s defense turned it up a notch by turning a line drive into a double play in the fourth and throwing out Redbird runners trying to steal third in the fifth and sixth innings.

Game 2 vs Diamond Dawgs (MO). L, 14-0 in 4 innings. In the second game of pool play, the Redbirds faced the Missouri state champion. The Dawgs definitely brought out the hitting sticks as they jumped on the boys for three runs in the first and never looked back. Seemingly every ball they hit found an open spot on the diamond. The boys battled hard but just could not get anything going against the tough Dawg hurler who only allowed an infield hit from David Hill, a dropped third strike runner and one BB to Brady Cartee.

Game 3 vs Louisiana Rajun’ Cajuns. W, 9-1 in 5 innings. Facing what would turn out to be a “win or go home game” due to the wicked weather in St Louis, the boys shook off the Dawg game, shut the Rajun’ Cajuns down in the first highlighted by an unassisted double play on a line drive to Tyler Broders at short. The Redbirds then sent 7 men to the plate and tallied three runs in the bottom of the first. Aaron led off with a single, Brady moved him around on a perfect bunt and Tyler Broders knocked Aaron in with a single. Hayden knocked in Tyler with a single, Terrill moved him over with a fly ball and Matt drove Hayden for the third run of the inning. The Redbirds plated two more in the third without the benefit of a base hit. BBs to Hayden and Terrill were followed by a sac bunt from Matt and a passed ball to put the game out of reach. Base hits by Tyler, Hayden, and Terrill completed the scoring. On the mound, Terrill was a model of efficiency throwing only 49 pitches in 5 innings f or a complete game. The outfield defense helped him out with no errors, 3 fly balls caught, and AC throwing out a runner at first base a ground ball to right field.

With the victory the Redbirds ended pool play 1-2. Based on record and runs allowed they were seeded 27th of 28 teams for Championship play.

Championship Play, Winner’s Bracket vs Kansas City Cougars. W, 5-4 in 6 innings. Facing a top 10 seed for their opening round game the Redbirds and Cougars battled back and forth in an outstanding U9 baseball game. The Cougars drew first blood with a run in the first but the Redbirds took the lead with two runs in the second on a lead-off walk to Hayden, an rbi single by Matt and an rbi groundout from Nick. The Cougars then came right back after two were out in their half of the third and scored two runs to take a 3-2 lead. But the boys came right back to tie the game in the fourth on a lead-off single from Matt, a sac bunt from Drake Vanderpool to move him over and a perfect two-strike bunt from Nick to knock in Matt. The battle continued as the Cougars re-gained the lead in the fourth inning with three consecutive base hits. The Redbirds rallied to take the lead in fifth on a lead-off triple from Aaron, a game-tying rbi single from Brady, capped off by Tyler’s triple to knock in the eventual game winning run. Matt and Terrill scattered 6 hits, struck out four and walked three but pitched out of jams in all but the second inning so the Cougars could not get the big inning started.

Championship Play, Winner’s Bracket vs Macomb, MI Mudhens. L, 10-2 in 4 innings. In a game that was played over two days due to severe weather, the Redbirds just could not get much going against a very athletic Mudhen squad. Taking advantage of eight Redbird walks they jumped out to a 7-2 lead when play was suspended. The Birds only offense consisted of Brady knocking in Aaron twice, once on a groundout and the other on a single. The boys were rested and fired up when play resumed the next day, but just couldn’t get it together as they dropped into the loser’s bracket of Championship play.

Championship Play, Loser’s Bracket vs St Louis Sharks. W, 10-2 in 4 innings. In a game that would see one squad eliminated from the tournament, the Sharks and Redbirds battled to a 2-2 tie after 3 innings. Terrill got things going in the second with a single and Matt knocked him in with a groundout. In the third, David coaxed a walk and Aaron and Brady hit singles to knock him home. The boys broke open a close game in the fourth. A single from Matt, a bb to Nick and a perfect bunt single by Anfernee Crompton plated Matt. Aaron then knocked them both in with a two out, two run double. Aaron duplicated the effort in the sixth as he doubled again, knocking in AC and David, who had both walked. On the mound, Terrill scattered four hits, struck out three and walked none in his second complete game of the tournament. He only faced the minimum nine batters over the last three innings, helped out by Hayden, who gunned down a Shark runner trying to steal second in the last inning.

Championship Play, Loser’s Bracket vs Bomber Baseball Club (TX). L, 9-1 in 5 innings. Facing another elimination game, the Redbirds and Bombers stayed close and after 3 innings the score was 3-1 Bombers. But in the fourth the Bomber bats came alive and they scored 4 runs to put the game out of reach. The Redbirds battled hard in their fourth game of the day but could only muster a run from Aaron who had been knocked in on a ground out by Tyler and three other base hits from Drake, Brady, and Tyler.

With the loss, the Redbird season comes to an end. However, with a final record of 50-15, 5 first places finishes, including the USSSA U9 Iowa State Championship, a second, third, and fourth and finishing 15th of 48 teams at Nationals (#1 of three Iowa teams), the young men have every reason to be proud of their accomplishments. The best is yet to come.

Special thanks go to the Board of the Quad City Redbirds for running a world class operation, Coaches Jim, Scott, and Keith for their outstanding effort, team mom Kim for keeping us all in line, and all the wonderful support from the parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, etc in making this a truly memorable season.

See ya next year!