The heavy and frequent rains from Tropical Storm Debby held off long enough on Saturday for all four games to be played as scheduled and luckily enough for organizers when the rains did come on Sunday and washed away any further action there was a week built in between districts and state to allow the tournament to be completed this coming weekend.
On Friday, the Ormond Beach All-Stars had remained in the Winner’s Bracket with an 11-1 victory over New Smyrna Beach, while the South Daytona All-Stars did likewise, easing past host Sanford, 15-3.
In the Loser’s Bracket game, Flagler Beach kept its hopes alive with a 15-2 defeat of the Daytona Beach All-Stars.
Saturday morning, the hosts remained alive by eliminating Port Orange, 11-5, and the Flagler Beach All-Stars also stayed in the running, surviving a pitcher’s duel with New Smyrna Beach, 1-0.
The South Daytona All-Stars then continued to be the dominant team so far as they blanked Ormond Beach, 10-0, in the Winner’s Bracket Final.
Then came the game of the tournament as Sanford and Flagler Beach battled tooth-and-nail, taking turns holding leads until the contest went to the sixth and final inning of regulation tied at 12-12.
The Flagler Falcons appeared to have the victory in hand when they used some timely and well-placed hits to plate five runs and take a 17-12 lead.
But the hosts were not ready to give up so easily and came storming back to tie the game at 17-17 with no outs and the potential winning run standing on third base.
Giovanni Lopez then lived every baseball player’s dream, laying down a perfect bunt single down the first base line to give Sanford a walk off, 18-17, victory and a spot in the Loser’s Bracket final.
The Loser’s Bracket Final (semifinal) will pit the hosts against Port Orange at 10 a.m. this Saturday on Field 1.
The survivor of that contest will advance to the Championship Game to face unbeaten South Daytona at noon on Field 1.
If the Sanford/Ormond Beach winner should win that game, giving both remaining teams a loss, the winner-take-all “If Necessary” Game would be played on Sunday at 10 a.m. on Field 1 with the winner advancing to the State Tournament.
All games will be played at the Herbert H. “Whitey” Eckstein Youth Sports Complex at Chase Park on Celery Avenue, just East of Mellonville Avenue.
There are no admission fees to these games so come on out and enjoy.
Here are the results and the rest of the schedule.
12-UNDER 46/60 CAL RIPKEN LEAGUE
DISTRICT 13 TOURNAMENT
at Herbert “Whitey” Eckstein Youth Sports Complex at Chase Park
THURSDAY, JUNE 21
Game 1 _ Ormond Beach 16, Port Orange 1
Game 2 _ South Daytona 10, Flagler Beach 0
Game 3 _ Sanford 17, Daytona Beach 0
FRIDAY, JUNE 22
Game 4 _ Winners Bracket: Ormond Beach 11, New Smyrna Beach 1
Game 5 _ Winners Bracket: South Daytona 15, Sanford 3
Game 6 _ Losers Bracket: Flagler Beach 12, Daytona Beach 2
SATURDAY, JUNE 23
Game 7 _ Losers Bracket: Sanford 11, Port Orange 5
Game 8 _ Losers Bracket: Flagler Beach 1, New Smyrna Beach 0
Game 9 _ Winners Bracket Final: South Daytona 10, Ormond Beach 0
Game 10 _ Losers Bracket: Sanford 18, Flagler Beach 17
SUNDAY, JUNE 24
All games all rained out. Because of all the bad weather expected this week from Tropical Storm Debby the Sunday games are being reschedule for Saturday, June 30.
SATURDAY, JUNE 30
Game 11 _ Losers Bracket Final: Sanford versus Ormond Beach, 10 a.m., Field 1
Game 12 _ CHAMPIONSHIP: South Daytona versus Game 11 winner, 12 p.m., Field 1
SUNDAY, JULY 1
Game 13 _ IF NECESSARY: If Game 9 winner loses Game 12, 10 a.m., Field 1