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Runs ends for McLean/Great Falls in Alabama
The McLean/Great Falls 14-year-old Babe Ruth baseball team saw its run in the Southeast Regional Tournament end Sunday with an 11-8 loss to West Alabama. After losing its opening game Saturday, 6-1, to host Cottage Hill, Ala., McLean/Great Falls beat Charleston, S.C., 2-1, later that evening.In what coach Dave Roffman described as a slugfest, McLean/Great Falls had the bases loaded with two outs in the seventh inning against West Alabama Sunday morning, but Brock Hunter's deep drive to right field was run down to end the game and the team's season.
"It was an exciting game," Roffman said. "We just had a great time."
McLean/Great Falls advanced to region play despite losing in the Virginia state final when state champion Eastern Loudoun made a team decision not to travel to Alabama. The All-Stars arrived in Alabama July 30, but saw inclement weather push their first game back from Thursday to Saturday.
"They were ready to go, they wanted to play ball," said Roffman, who took his players bowling, to the movies and to visit the USS Alabama. "It was getting frustrating. We tried to keep them occupied."
McLean/Great Falls' first game did not end well, but Nate Flagg (4 innings) and Hunter (2 innings) combined to throw a no-hitter Saturday evening in the team's only victory. The South Carolina team scored its run without recording a hit.
Despite the short stay in Alabama – the team returned at 3 a.m. Monday – it was a great experience for Roffman, who has been coaching McLean/Great Falls since 1995 but had never advanced to the region tournament.
"It was an eye-opener," he said. "There were a lot of big boys down there. It's also an expensive proposition and a major commitment for the kids. You've got to be proud of them for sticking with it."
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