PF Flyers 11U starts season with tourney championship

The PF Flyers 11U team started the season by going 4-0, enroute to winning the Tournaments for a Cause Fight for the Flag.

In the championship game, the Flyers rallied twice after falling behind, including battling back after trailing 7-6 in the top of the fourth to secure the win in the championship game against a team that had beaten the Flyers by run-rule two times in the past.

The Flyers gave up two runs in the top of the first before scoring five runs in the bottom of the inning. Colton Rash and Isaac Mahle each had two-run singles in the inning.

But the Cincinnati Digs rallied with two in the third and three in the fourth to take a 7-6 lead.

The Flyers tied the score in the bottom of the fourth after Tim Finley reached on an error and moved to second and third and eventually scored on passed balls.

In the bottom of the fifth, Rash led off with a single. After he stole second base, Max Roberts singled to give the Flyers the lead. Mahle put down a sacrifice bunt to push Roberts to second. Bronx Debert drove him in with an RBI double to center field.

That gave the Flyers a 9-7 lead. Finley allowed no hits in the top of the sixth to complete the victory and give the Flyers the championship.

Before the championship game, the Flyers outscored their opponents 33-2 in pool play and the semifinal.

Roberts and Chase Collins combined for a four-inning shutout on only 52 pitches in the first game of pool play, a 14-0 win. Roberts, Finley and Rash each had two hits.

Debert and Silas Lincoln went five innings in the second game of pool play. They allowed only two hits and one unearned run. Finley was 3-for-3 with a double, three runs scored and two RBI in the 13-1 win.

That sent the Flyers to the semifinal.

Ryan Edwards pitched a six-inning complete game in the semifinal on only 66 pitches. He allowed only two hits, one walk and one earned run.

The Flyers jumped ahead 1-0 in the first inning when Roberts walked with the bases loaded to score Edwards.

In the second inning, the Flyers added three more runs on a two-run single by Peyton Johnson and an RBI groundout by Finley. Johnson finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBI.

That was more than enough offense for Edwards. The Flyers held on for the 6-1 win.

Rash hit .800 in the tournament with five runs scored, five stolen bases and four RBI. Finley hit .500 with five RBI and six runs scored. Johnson hit .444 with five RBI and four runs scored.

Flyers pitchers combined for a 1.43 ERA and a .187 batting average against.

The Flyers return to action on Friday in the MVP Tournaments Easter Classic.