PHOTO PROVIDED West End’s 13-16 year old all-star team poses with the Babe Ruth Mid-Atlantic Regional championship banner after winning the title on Sunday. Kneeling in the front row are LJ Hill and Jaxson March. In the second row from left are coach Fred March, Wyatt Bair, Camden March, Trey Damschroder, Lucas Naughton, Briar Persing, Zane Rogers, Mason Hess and manager Marc Hess. In the back row from left are coach Jeremy Deitrick, Giovanni White, Camron Spangler, Cole Deitrick, Parker Bennett, James Carpenter and coach Bob Spangler.

West End fans, pack your bags. The 13-16 year old all-stars from Williamsport are headed to the Babe Ruth World Series. West End crushed Atlantic Shore, New Jersey in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship Game in Mifflin County on Sunday night, 10-0 in six innings, to advance to the World Series.

The Babe Ruth World Series will take place August 8-18 in Branson, Missouri.

“It means a lot to this group. I’ve coached and played against most of these kids since T-ball,” West End manager Marc Hess said. “And to see them all come together and accomplish their goal that they set out to achieve when this team was put together is amazing to see. I’m super proud of all these guys.”

A combination of excellent pitching and superior batting led West End to a 10-0 victory over Atlantic Shore. West End defeated Franklin Township of New Jersey 11-2 in the semifinals.

Briar Persing threw a great performance in the championship game that led West End to the World Series. He struck out 13 batters, allowed only two hits and walked none. He threw all six innings.

“I could see it in his eyes before the game, he was ready,” Hess said about Persing. “I think it’s great to have a guy like that in my team, who I can pass the ball to and who I know will come in handy in important games.”

At the plate, West End collected 13 hits, six of which went for extra bases. Cole Deitrick went 2 for 2 with a double, Giovanni White was 1 for 3 with a triple, RBI and two runs scored, Parker Bennett went 3 for 4 with a double, triple and run scored, Zane Rogers went 1 for 2 with a double and run scored and Lucas Naughton was 1 for 2 with a triple, RBI and two runs scored.

Camden March went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, James Carpenter was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a walk, Camron Spangler went 1-for-1 and Wyatt Bair had an RBI and also scored a run.

“Just like in the state tournament, coaches told me we hit the ball hard, Nos. 1-10, and even when our substitutes come in, you can count on them to be just as good at making clutch hits,” said Hess. “It’s great to have 14 kids who love to hit and who I can use anywhere in the lineup.”

As for the key to such a deep run, Hess noted that the team as a whole is the key, both in terms of pitching and hitting.

“Our pitchers throw strikes and get the job done,” said Hess. “And if we also score points right away with our offense, then our pitchers relax and they can continue to dominate the game.”

In the semifinal against Franklin Township, West End led only 2-1 after the first inning, but slowly built up the lead. West End would lead 5-2 after two innings and 6-2 after three. After a scoreless fourth inning, West End broke the game open with a four-run fifth inning to reach double figures.

West End outscored Franklin Township 12-4. Parker Bennett had a great day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored. Trey Damschroder added a 2-for-4 performance with an RBI. Persing also had two hits, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. White and Naughton both had doubles, as White was 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, Naughton went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored, Jaxson March went 1-for-1, Camden March went 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored and James Carpenter went 1-for-3 with an RBI and scored twice.

Deitrick pitched 4 2/3 innings, scattering three singles and striking out five batters with only three walks. L.J. Hill came in for him, pitching 2 1/3 innings to close out the game, allowing one hit in those final innings.

BABE RUTH MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL

West End 10, Atlantic Coast (NJ) 0

(6 ININGS)

(CHAMPIONSHIP GAME)

Atlantic coast 000 000 – 0 2 4

Westeinde 410 203 – 10 13 0

Briar Persing and Lucas Naughton. J. Maris, A. Gunzeleb, N. Antonicello (1) and M. Gohan. W: Pressing. L: Maros.

Best West End hitters: Parker Bennett 3-4, 2B, 3B, run; Giovanni White 1-3, 2B, 3B, RBI, 2 runs; Lucas Naughton 1-2, RBI, 3B, 2 runs; Briar Persing 1-4; Camden March 2-4, 2 runs; Cole Deitrick 2-2, RBI, run, 2 BB; James Carpenter 1-2, RBI, BB; Wyatt Bair, RBI, run, BB. Zane Rogers 1-2, 2B, run; Chase Spangler 1-1. Best Atlantic Shore (NJ) hitters: J. Fellows 1-2; A. Gunzeleb 1-2.

West End 11, Franklin Township (NJ) 2

(SEMI-FINALS)

Municipality of Franklin 110 000 0 – 2 4 6

Westeinde 231 041 x – 11 12 1

Cole Deitrick, LJ Hill (5) and Lucas Naughton, Jaxson March. S. Rooney, A. Mouton (3) and C. Jacas. W: Deitrick. L: Rooney.

Top Franklin Township (NJ) hitters: S. Rooney 1-4, RBI, run; C. Munoz 1-3, BB; D. Goreli 1-4; J. Glynn 1-2, run. Best West End hitters: Parker Bennett 3-4, 3B, 2 RBIs, 2 runs; Giovanni White 1-4, 2B, RBI, run; Lucas Naughton 1-2, 2B, RBI, BB; Jaxson March 1-1; Briar Persing 2-3, RBI; Camden March 1-3, BB, 2 runs; Trey Damschroder 2-4, RBI, 2 runs; James Carpenter 1-3, RBI, 2 runs.