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Bullock Creek’s players entered this year’s Junior League Baseball District 1 tournament in Shepherd determined not to settle for second-best. And they left absolutely nothing to chance.
Creek capped a dominant run through the tournament by beating Hemlock 11-0 in a five-inning championship game on Monday.
Since District 1 is hosting this year’s Central Region tournament, Creek receives an automatic berth into the regional, meaning it can bypass the upcoming state tournament.
“The core of this group has some second-place finishes (in multiple district tournaments), so I couldn’t be more proud of them or happy for them to get this,” said Creek manager T.J. Rhynard. “This is all about them. I couldn’t be happier for them and for all the work they’ve put in over the years.
“Now they know that the hard work will pay off, and I’m excited for them to see that,” he added.
Creek pitcher Mason Flowers was totally dominant on the mound, going five nearly-perfect innings. He allowed no hits and no walks, while striking out eight.
Hemlock’s lone baserunner came on an error in the second inning.
“He likes to work quickly, and he was very efficient today,” Rhynard said of Flowers. “He’s a lot of fun to watch out there.”
Flowers didn’t need much run support, but his teammates gave him plenty anyway, beginning in the bottom of the first inning, as Gannon McGuire was hit by a pitch, stole second, and came home on an RBI single to centerfield by Brady Williams.
Creek began the bottom of the second by loading the bases on walks to Tucker Rhynard and Henry Cresswell and a bunt single by Beckham Bula. Easton Johnson hit a bloop RBI single, Cresswell scored moments later on a wild pitch, and Declan Evans drove in a run with a ground-out, making it 4-0.
An inning later, Creek made it 7-0 after loading the bases on a single by Parker Forshee, a hit-batsman, and a walk to Flowers. Williams drilled another RBI single, Flowers came home on a wild pitch, and Aiden Frasle added an RBI single past third to cap the inning.
T.J. Rhynard was pleased with his team’s business-like approach.
“I think if we put our best stuff out there, we have a chance to get anybody, but we don’t take anybody for granted,” he noted. “We go out there, we try to execute everything we’ve practiced, and we let the chips fall where they fall.”
Creek continued to pour it on in the fourth.
After Axel Lewis walked and Rhynard singled, Lewis scored on a wild pitch. Following another hit-batsman, Johnson singled to leftfield to drive in a run, Cresswell scored on a wild pitch, and Forshee added an RBI single to centerfield to make it a four-run inning and an 11-0 lead.
Flowers then retired the side in order in the top of the fifth to activate the mercy rule.
“All week, we swung the bats when we needed to, and the pitchers did a great job on the mound,” said T.J. Rhynard. “We picked the ball up. Except for one inning, we didn’t have many miscues in the whole tournament. The baserunning was on-point. We really played complete ball all week. I’m proud of them.”
Johnson and Williams were both 2-for-2 with two runs batted in, while Forshee was 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Rhynard and Cresswell both scored twice.
Looking ahead to the Central Region tournament, which will be held at Northeast Little League from July 28-Aug. 2, Rhynard said he is excited to face state champions from around the Midwest in his hometown.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun. We’re going to go to work in practice and then go to that tournament and have some fun,” he said, adding that his players are not going to be happy just to show up.
“Every time we step on the field, we’re trying to take care of business,” he said.
