State June 29 through July 2 in St. Augustine
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The 11U Allstars include, front row from left, Owen Rothenberg, Brooks Shively, Miles Miller, Davis Barone, Ozzie Avila, Cory Hall; middle row, Davis Ross, Jacoby Arnold, Crosby Kotopka, Jamison Dubin, Gideon Wood, Hudsan Wands; and back row, assistant coach Keith Wands and head coach Ryan Kotopka. Submitted photo
The 11U Allstars captured the District 1 crown over the weekend, and the team will represent Fernandina Beach Babe Ruth baseball during the state tournament June 29 through July 2 in St. Augustine.
Davis Park in Ponte Vedra was the site of the 11U tournament. Fernandina, which drew a first-round bye, faced the winner of the Ponte Vedra-Fort Caroline. Fernandina Beach beat Ponte Vedra 6-1, “behind a great pitching performance by Hudson Wands,” head coach Ryan Kotopka said.
Wants went 3.2 innings,giving up one hit and striking out six. Jamison Dubin closed it out, throwing 1.2 innings with no hits. At the plate, Crosby Kotopka was 2-for-2, Wands went 2-for-3, and Owen Rotherberg was 2-for-2.
“Ponte Vedra and Fort Caroline played again as we sat waiting for the winner,” Ryan Kotopka said of the double-elimination tournament. “Ponte Vedra won in extra innings to play us again in the championship.”
In the championship game, Davis Barone pitched 4.2 innings, giving up five hits and three runs and striking out six. Dubin again came in and closed out the game, pitching 1.1 innings with one hit and no runs. Crosby Kotopka and Barone both went 2-for-3 at bat.
Crosby Kotopka had an .800 batting average for the tournament, with a double, three singles,two RBIs and five runs scored.
“We had some great pitching performances against Ponte Vedra from our starters and our closer, and we played great defense,” Ryan Kotopka said.
