The Franklinton All-Stars 12U team captured the United States Specialty Sports Association State Championship.
Franklinton won every game in the event and each victory was by at least eight runs.
“It’s a real honor for us to bring home a state championship to Franklinton and to represent Franklinton and Washington Parish in such a respectful way,” Franklinton coach Moby Smith said.
The tournament, which took place at the Val Riess Recreation Complex in Chalmette on June 10-11, began pool play to determine seeding for Sunday’s bracket play. Games were either 90 minutes or six innings, whichever came first. The title game was 1 hour, 40 minutes or six innings.
Pool play games were June 10. Franklinton opened pool play in the eight-team tournament with a 13-0 victory over the LaRose Tarpins. The next contest was a 12-0 win against the St. Bernard All-Stars.
Bracket play was June 11.
Franklinton started bracket play by winning against the LaRose Tarpins, 15-1.
That put them in the semifinals where they advanced to the championship game by defeating the Bogalusa Young Guns, 9-1.
In the championship game, Franklinton was victorious over the Livingston Parish Recreation Bandits, 13-2.
Franklinton allowed just four runs over the five games.
Pine’s Chase Cooper hit four inside-the-park home runs during the tournament.
Cooper and Ben’s Ford Christian School’s Banyon Penton pitched in the championship game. Penton started and Cooper pitched in relief.
Bowling Green School’s Josh Sanford started the semifinal game with Franklinton Junior High School’s R.J. Burkhalter coming in from the bullpen.
Smith said that Ben’s Ford Christian School’s Nathan Parden pitched well in the first bracket game against the LaRose Tarpins.
Smith also said that Franklinton Junior High’s B.J. Corkern did an excellent job of pinch running.
The Bogalusa Young Guns split their pool play and bracket play games. They began with a 6-3 win over St. Bernard before coming up short to the Livingston Parish Recreation Bandits, 2-0.
In bracket play, Bogalusa was victorious over the Zachary All-Stars, 16-2.
The second game was the loss to Franklinton.
Up next is the USSSA World Series. Franklinton and Bogalusa both qualified for the event.
“All eight teams that are there earned their way there. They’re not there by chance and we’re going to see some exceptionally good baseball,” Smith said.
The USSSA World Series takes place June 28 through July 2 at the Sportsplex in Gulfport, Miss.