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Over the Fourth of July weekend, the KMC Red Tails overcame adversity and persevered to beat Germany’s NRW in a hard-fought two out of three series to win the German Little League National Championship and advance to the European Regional Tournament as Germany’s representative.
The Germans overpowered the Red Tails on July 5, winning 6-1 behind a dominant pitching performance by their star pitcher, who threw a two-hit complete game, striking out 15 batters.
The Red Tails’ only hits were a solo home run by pitcher Ry Yates and a perfectly placed bunt by first baseman Andrew Smyth. Yates and reliever Joshua Yosfan gave the Red Tails an opportunity by keeping the game close, combining for nine strikeouts, but the lack of offense kept the game out of reach.
With their backs against the wall July 6, the Red Tails turned to their ace left-hander, Smyth, who responded with a dominant performance of his own, holding NRW to three runs over four innings, while striking out eight. The Red Tails’ offense put on their own Fourth of July fireworks display as eight hitters combined for 19 hits, 17 RBIs and 25 runs scored.
An explosive 13 run sixth inning put the game safely away as the Red Tails batted around the lineup twice, featuring a sac fly by Cody Schwope, a two-run double by Damon Nelson, an RBI by Terry White, a RBI single by Jackson Leech, and a RBI single by Brandon Reynolds. Reliever Brett Parker closed out the final two innings, and KMC finished with a 25-4 victory.
The championship game of the tournament was highlighted by an all-around team effort as the Red Tails closed out the series with an 11-1 mercy rule shortened win. The bats stayed hot with a seven-run fourth inning, highlighted by a steal of home by Gabriel Falcon, an RBI single by Reynolds, a walk by Mason Peace, an RBI single by Ben Lenahan and a three-run triple by Bret Parker. Not to be outdone, the defense sparkled as catcher Cody Schwope and first baseman Smyth combined for a back-door pick-off of a runner at first — as a lunging Smyth dug out a slightly off-line throw, he fooled everyone into thinking he had missed the ball, drawing the diving runner back off the bag for the tag out — snuffing a potential German rally. Pitcher Reynolds kept the game out of reach for the Germans striking out six and allowing only one earned run on three hits.
With the series win, the Red Tails advanced to the regional tournament in Kutno, Poland, which ends Monday.
