Kingston 12U Softball Team Placed 10th in Babe Ruth World Series
The Kingston Babe Ruth 12U softball team finished 10th out of 19 teams in the 2019 12U Babe Ruth Softball World Series.
The Babe Ruth Softball World Series was a tournament that included 19 teams from 13 different states. The tournament took place between July 27 and August 3 in Treasure Coast, Fla. Egg Harbor Township Tornadoes (N.J.) won the tournament with a 5–3 victory over Buffalo (N.Y.). The tournament was double elimination.
In Kingston’s six games they went 2–4. Kingston won their first game 10–0 over Auburn (N.Y.). In their second game they lost to Clermont (Fla.) 12–3. Then they lost a nail-biter to Berkshire Force (Mass.), 6–5. In the fourth game they defeated Glen Allen in a high scoring game 13–9. They matched up against Clermont for a second time and lost 5–2. In their final game of the tournament they were bested by Los Altos (Calif.) 15–5.
Although the stakes were high, the girls were not fazed. To them it was just another game. Just like all of the games that they played leading up to the Babe Ruth World Series. “It was like normal games, they didn’t feel any different” Mia Chambers said. This is the second year that this team has played together so they have been able to build chemistry during their time together this past year. Chris Turzik was one of the parents that was able to make the trip down to Florida. “You’re representing your state and your town being there. They knew they were representing but they were confident in themselves. I don’t think they really felt the pressure. They know wins and losses but I don’t think they felt pressure” Turzik said.
Allisyn Kipp was named to the All-World Series Team as she scored six times and drove in another four runs. Players that received player of the game honors included Amelia Blazek, Mia Chambers, Sophia Escobar, Kipp and Ayla Terpening.
One of Kingston’s games was a salute to service game to honor military and first responders. It was a special moment for the players. “Two of our coaches got to throw out the first pitches and we had nice uniforms” Chambers said. Head coach Gary Short,Town Of Ulster Police Department, and Allen Stokes, Kingston and Port Ewen Fire Department, were selected to throw out the game’s first pitches. During the game the players got to wear a special USA themed jersey that was a combination or navy blue and red with stars scattered throughout the jersey.
One moment that assistant coach Eric Chambers, father of Cali and Mia Chambers, will remember from his time down in Florida was how well they played in their first game when they were able to shut Auburn with a 10–0 victory. “That [game] showed that we belonged and can play with anyone,” Chambers said.
The Kingston softball team got invited to the World Series after they defeated Highland 13–0 to win the South Eastern State Title, which gave them an automatic berth into the World Series. This is the second year in a row that this team has won their district championship but the first year that they went to the World Series. The team then began to can shake, do raffles, ask businesses to donate and set up a go fund me to help fund their trip down to Florida.
Emily Beichert’s father, Joe, was a part of the last Kingston team to go to a World Series in 1993.
Four younger girls in the program were moved up to play in the World Series. Those players included Amelia Blazek, Cali Chambers, Alexis Meyer and Isabella Turzik.
When the girls had some off time and were not playing games they would spend most of their time in the hotel pool. The team also celebrated Cali’s 10th birthday down in Florida with a pool party.
