Tigers 12U Ingram Roll to AABC Regional Championship – Next Stop, Puerto Rico!
The Dallas Tigers 12U Ingram claimed the top spot in the AABC South Plains Regional tournament in Farmington, New Mexico. The team qualified for the event by going 16-0 in BBI league play in Mesquite. Coached by Linty Ingram, the 12U Tigers team brought their A-game to Farmington and rolled to a 6-0 record, with a cumulative victory margin of 130-9.
The Tigers made it to the finals along with the Santa Fe Orioles as the only two undefeated teams remaining. On Saturday evening in the first game between the undefeated teams, the Orioles jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. It was all Tigers from there, as the team scored 20 unanswered runs on the way to a 20-2 win. The Tigers’ bats were very active, and the defense cruised behind a pitching performance that accounted for 14K’s out of 15 total outs.
The teams met again Sunday morning, and this time the Tigers drew the visitor’s spot. Despite facing a hard throwing pitcher from the Orioles, the Tigers jumped ahead early, including a well executed steal of home plate to take a 3-0 lead. From there the Tigers never looked back – keeping the accelerator on with active bats and smart base running, complemented by strong pitching and solid defense across the board. Final score – Tigers 22-1 over the Orioles to claim the AABC South Plains Regional championship. Soon after the final out, Coach Ingram (being a great sport) was “surprised” by a cold shower from the water cooler, hoisted by a group of players who shall remain anonymous. The six wins in the tournament bring the team’s record for the year to 67-15-3.
Next up for the Tigers is a trip to Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, for the AABC World Series. The Tigers will face off against other AABC regional champions in the 8-team double elimination tournament. The pressure will be on to represent Dallas well, as the D-Bat Mustangs took home the AABC 12U World Series title last year. Play begins on Thursday, August 4, with the championship game played on the evening of August 7. The team flies to San Juan on August 3rd and will be staying together in the Dorado Beach area, near Toa Baja, the site of the AABC World Series. Several tournament games will be televised in Puerto Rico, and the team expects to play in front of large crowds of locals who are very enthusiastic about baseball. While it is sure to be a very memorable experience for the boys, as always Coach Ingram will ensure the team is ready and focused on the task at hand.
Good luck to all the players and coaches as they prepare to head out and represent the Tigers organization, and the Dallas area, in the AABC World Series. Let’s bring home the trophy!