YOUNGSVILLE, LOUISIANA – The 6U Taylor Ducks youth baseball team capped off a season to remember July 19-22 at the 2023 South Zone Shetland World Series held in Louisiana as the team went 2-4 against great competition.
TAYLOR 23, NVYAA 21
Azekiel Hargis hit two home runs and drove in five runs on July 19 as Taylor defeated North Vermilion Youth Athletic Association 23-21 in their second game of the World Series. Taylor collected 30 hits and NVYAA had 32 in the high-scoring affair.
In the bottom of the first inning, Taylor completely turned the game around by scoring five runs on six hits, tying it up 5-5. The most significant hit of the inning was a two-run insidethe- park home run by Cameron Ness.
In the bottom of the second, Taylor broke up the tie when Hargis hit a three-run inside-the-park home run followed by an RBI single by Hudson Jahn to extend the lead to 9-5.
After NVYAA responded to take a 10-9 lead in the top of the third, the Ducks turned it around by scoring five runs on five hits to take the lead 14-10. A single from Joseph Lichtor that drove in two runs was the most impactful hit of the inning.
Following a five-run lead from NVYAA, the Ducks turned it up in the bottom of the fourth scoring five runs of their own on seven hits to take a 19-15 lead. The biggest blow in the inning was a triple by Gavin Martinez that drove in two runs.
Tavlor Ducks 6U teeball accumulated 30 hits in the game. Jahn and Martinez were a force together in the lineup, as they each collected four hits apiece. Brooks Hlton, Bryson Anderson, Ness, Lichtor, Ayden Kolb and Calan Washington each collected multiple hits for the Ducks.
“I’m absolutely thrilled that our team has gotten a win in the World Series,” coach Jeremy Lopez said after the game. “Our hard work and dedication throughout the season have truly paid off. I’m confident that we’ll continue to dominate in the games. Let’s keep up the momentum, Ducks!”
TAYLOR 24, YOUNGSVILLE NATIONAL 19
Ness drove in four runs on three hits to lead the 6U Ducks over Youngsville National 6U 24-19 on Saturday in the first game of the consolation bracket. Ness had an RBI double in the third inning and hit a threerun inside-the-park home run in the fourth inning to lead the way.
The bats blistered as Taylor collected 32 hits and Youngsville tallied 30 in the high-scoring game. Taylor scored five runs on six hits in the bottom of the second inning as Hargis hit a solo inside-the-park home run, Jahn had an RBI double, Washington hit a two-run single and Kane Lopez tacked on an RBI double.
After Youngsville extended their early lead, the Ducks flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the third inning when they scored five runs on six hits to take a 14-13 lead. The biggest blow in the inning was a tag-up by Brooks Hilton that drove in two.
Following Youngsville taking a 15-14 lead, the Ducks turned it up in the bottom of the fourth with five runs on five hits to take a 19-15 advantage. The biggest blow in the inning was an inside-the-park home run by Ness that drove in three.
Taylor scored five runs on eight hits in the bottom of the fifth inning. Kolb had an RBI single, Hargis hit an RBI triple, Anderson smacked an RBI double, Jahn hit an RBI single and Lopez had an RBI single of his own.
The Ducks amassed 32 hits in the game as Lopez and Martinez each collected four hits for Taylor. Zane Schwarz and Ness each drove in four runs for Taylor with Jahn, Hilton, Anderson, Hargis, Washington and Kolb each having multiple hits.
TAYLOR 13, RIO GRANDE CITY 16
Taylor Ducks 6U teeball fell 16-13 to Rio Grande City 6U All-Stars on Saturday despite outhitting them 28-24 in the semi-finals of the Pony World Series Silver Bracket.
Hargis collected three hits in three at-bats in the loss. He hit an insidethe- park home run in the fifth Inning, doubled in the fourth inning and singled in the second inning.
After Rio Grande City got on the board early, the Ducks scored five runs on nine hits in the top of the second inning. Hilton had an RBI single, Ness added an RBI single, Lichtor smacked an RBI double, Kolb hit an RBI single and Martinez tacked on an RBI single.
Rio Grande City made the score 9-5 in the bottom of the third inning but the Ducks tied the game in the top of the fourth thanks to a tagup by Lichtor, a single by Jahn, a single by Washington and a single by Lopez.
In the bottom of the fourth, Rio Grande City turned the game around by scoring five runs on seven hits to put them ahead 14-9.
The Ducks made the score 14-13 in the top of the fifth inning when hit a two-run triple, Kolb had an RBI groundout and Hargis hit a solo inside-the-park home run.
Taylor tallied 28 hits in the game with Ness and Kolb each driving in three runs. Anderson and Lichtor each collected multiple hits for Taylor and the Ducks turned one double play in the game.
“We are immensely proud of the boys’ achievements,” coach Louie Jahn said. “They have faced challenges, setbacks, and obstacles, but they have never given up. They have continued to push forward, to strive for excellence and to believe in themselves and each other. Because of that, they made it to the World Series. Let’s all congratulate them on a historic season!”
Taylor Ducks youth baseball players and coaches receive their medals on July 22 following the 2023 South Zone Shetland World Series.
