ROCKLEDGE WINS 2012 JUNIOR LEAGUE WORLD SERIES TITLE

By  //  August 18, 2012

World Champions Celebrate

The Rockledge All-Stars are the champions of the 2012 Junior League Baseball World Series. (Image courtesy Mike Spinneweber)

TAYLOR, MICHIGAN – Rockledge’s amazing run in All-Stars baseball culminated with an extra-inning victory in the Junior League Baseball World Series here Saturday afternoon.

Mason Studstill had a three-run homer for Rockledge in the championship game of the Junior League Baseball World Series on Saturday in Taylor, Mich. Rockledge defeated Aruba to win the World Series title. (Image by Larry Kinker)

Rockledge defeated Aruba to 12 -10 in eight innings in the World Series championship game at Heritage Park in Taylor, Mich. and before a worldwide television audience tuned in on ESPN 2.

After building a 9-4 lead through five innings, Rockledge gave up four runs in the sixth inning to Aruba which cut the lead to just 9-8 entering the seventh.

Drew Parrish doubled for Rockledge to open the seventh inning and scored on Kevin Clanton RBI- double to center field to make it a 10-8 game.

But Aruba came right back and scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on three hits off Rockledge pitcher Michael Hall and a hit batter to tie it at 10-10 and force the championship game into extra innings.

In the eighth and decisive inning, Trveor Payne walked, reached second on Justin Robedeau’s sacrifice, and took third on Justin Parker’s single. Clanton then hit a single which scored Payne and with the bases loaded, Hall walked to drive in Rockledge’s final run.

Blake Beyel then recorded the final three outs as Rockledge held on for a tough 12-10 win over a resilient Aruba squad.

Earlier in the game, Mason Studstill belted a two-out three-run homer over the centerfield fence in the fourth inning off Aruba pitcher Gillian Wernet and that put Rockledge up 5-2, snapping a 2-2 tie.

Rockledge had jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning three singles and a walk. Drew Parrish drove in one of the runs with a two-out single.

Aruba knotted the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the second inning off Rockledge pitcher Kevin Clanton on two singles and a walk.

Kevin Clanton pitches for Rockledge against Aruba in the Junior League World Series championship game Saturday in Taylor, Mich. Rockledge won 12-10 to win the World Series title. (Image by Ed Pierce)

Leading 7-2 Rockledge surrendered two more runs to Aruba in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it 7-4, but Studstill’s second homer of the day in the top of the sixth gave Rockledge an 8-4 advantage.

Studstill’s six homers in the Junior League World Series tournament was an all-time record, breaking former major league star Gary Sheffield’s record of five that stood for almost three decades.

Rockledge was motivated and determined to win no matter what the circumstance.

In fact, the team never lost a game in All-Stars competition spanning a total of 50 games District 22, Section 3,  State of Florida, Southeastern Regional and World Series tournament play.

Playing for the new Junior League Baseball World Champion Rockledge  All-Stars were Drew Parrish; Kevin Clanton; Mason Studstill; Mike Hall; Gavin Spinneweber; Trevor Payne; Kasim Nabhan; Blake Beyel; Justin Robedeau; Brady Martello; and Jackson Parker.

Rockledge was managed by David Clanton. Team coaches were Robbie Robedeau, Tom Hall, Shane Parker and Dino Martello.

1 Comment

  1. Thank you for this article we are so proud of our son David and grandson Kevin…This team was special in that they really had each others back all through this season…. all parents grandparents friends and many others enjoyed this team and how they handled each game ..they where the CARIDAC KIDS the title fit…

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