TOURNAMENT RESULTS: 14U ALABAMA STATE TOURNAMENT

The Alabama State Tournament pitted two of TravelBallSelect’s top ranked teams against one another and the rest of the field. 

Team Alabama (TBS ranked 5th) which is based out of Birmingham, AL and coached by the Bases Loaded Bombers instructors came out on top but not after a back and forth game(s) against the Alabama Storm (ranked 19th nationally by TBS) who are based in south Alabama. 

Between the two teams there are four players on TravelBallSelect’s Players to Watch list: David Dahl - Team Alabama, Addison Russell - Alabama Storm, Jordan Ebert - Alabama Storm, Russ Mosley - Alabama Storm and several others who have proven themselves worthy based on play thus far. However, as has been the issue for this season, the Storm was without a few players - three starters none the less - due to school ball (south Alabama high school coaches frown on travel ball and make it mandatory for players to participate in all school events, even in the summer).

The tournament was set up as a double elimination event.  On Saturday, Team Alabama wins 6 to 5 in the bottom of the 6th in the first of three meetings against the Storm.  TA takes advantage of the win and stays in the winner’s bracket while the Storm drops into the loser’s bracket and must win two elimination games on Sunday to face the undefeated Team Alabama out of the winner’s bracket. 

The two teams eventually do meet again and this time the Storm wins the “do-or-die” game with TA’s David Dahl on the mound by a score of 8 to 7. The Storm was leading the game at one point 7 to 2 and had to hold off a rally to make it to the title game.  The close win set up a true championship elimination game.

The final game saw the two teams tied at four going into the seventh -- what did you expect?.  In the bottom of the seventh, Dahl does what he does best, hits a one out triple.  The Storm intentionally loads the bases to force the out at home.  However, a throwing error to the plate ends the game with TA winning another one run game 5 to 4.

Next up for both teams is the Battle in the South (BITS) later this week and then more preparation for the Elite 24.  If both teams can wrestle their players away from their school teams long enough, they will show why TravelBallSelect has/had them in the Top 10 nationally.

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