The Wizards 14U baseball team, which consists of many local players, participated in the 14U USSSA World Series in Lenexa, Kan., for five days, where they ultimately lost the championship game 3-0.
The Wizards started the series off in pool play with a 15-0 win against KC Blaze from Kansas, where they started off by scoring eight runs in the first three innings. Key for the Wizards was a single RBI by Nick Lock, who ultimately stole home, followed by a solo homerun by Austin Flippin in the first inning, and a double RBI by Jacob Crede in the second inning. Bryce Kempker racked up three hits and three RBI. The Wizards had a combined 12 hits and 12 RBI.
Nick Hammann held KC Blaze hitless over two innings, allowed no earned runs, walked none and struck out two. Garrett Wolfe recorded the win for the Wizards as he pitched two innings in which he struck out three, walked two and surrendered one hit.
The Wizards followed the 15-0 win against KC Blaze with a 21-5 win against the Kansas Diamondbacks in which they started off by scoring 15 runs in the first inning including three singles and four RBI by Lock; a single, a triple and three RBI by Kory Stephens; a triple, a double and two RBI by Kempker; a single, a double and two RBI by Wolken; a double and RBI by Flippin; a single and two RBI by Payton Bodenstab; and Crede and Garrett Wolfe each had a single and RBI.
The Wizards added five runs in the second inning. Cole Thiessen recorded a single, followed by a single by Wolfe that brought home Bodenstab and Crede. The Wizards ended up with 21 hits and 19 RBI.
Cole Schlup recorded the win with three strikeouts.
In the third game, seeded fourth in the bracket, the Wizards defeated the Kansas Diamondbacks once again, this time 7-6. After four lead changes, the Wizards grabbed the lead back with a strong seventh inning that included a solo homerun by Lock to secure the win. Lock and Kempker teamed up for five hits and three RBI for the Wizards.
Flippin pitched three innings and struckout six for the Wizards. Wolken got the win for the Wizards in relief, pitching one inning and allowing no runs.
The Wizards faced the Warrensburg Bulldogs in the fourth game and won 5-1. Bodenstab singled in the first and third innings. Wolken was in control on the mound as Warrensburg managed just one hit. Wolken allowed no earned runs, walked two and struck out four during his four innings of work.
The fifth game resulted in a 7-3 win for the Wizards, against the Missouri Talons. Crede drove a run home in the sixth inning to give the Wizards the lead.Â
Bodenstab pitched the win for the Wizards, where he gave up three hits, and struck out one in four innings.
In game six, the Stix baseball team from Illinois defeated the Wizards 7-5.
The Wizards went on to game seven to defeat the St. Joe Vipers 17-2 in five innings. The Wizards scored nine runs in the third inning including a single and RBI by Wolfe, a two-run triple by Lock, a double and RBI by Stephens, a double and RBI by Kempker, and a two-run triple by Flippin. Lock racked up four RBI on three hits for Wizards.
Schlup was at the mound for the Wizards and held St Joe hitless over two innings, allowing no earned runs, walking one and striking out one.
The Wizards tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning. A clutch sacrifice fly scored Bodenstab to open scoring, followed by a single by Lock that plated Crede. The Wizards added seven runs in the fifth inning. A steal of home scored Kempker for the inning's first run, followed by a single by Schlup that scored Flippin.
The Wizards ended up with 15 hits and 14 RBI and advanced to the championship game of the series, where they ultimately suffered a tough 3-0 loss to Stix to finish the series in second place.
Stix baseball is ranked first in USSSA Power ranking in the nation, while the Wizards, who finished the season 48-14, are ranked second. Members of the team include Bryce Kempker, Wardsville; Kory Stephens, California; Cole Theissen, Jamestown; Jacob Crede, Jefferson City; Payton Bodenstab, Jefferson City; Nick Hammann, Fulton; Cole Schlup, California; Garrett Wolfe, Jamestown; Jacob Wolken, California; Nick Lock, Wardsville; and Austin Flippin, Jamestown. The Wizards are coached by Obie Wolfe, Jamestown; and Allen Green, Kevin Bishop and Ken Bishop, Russellville.