WASHINGTON CITY — The Washington Little League U14 baseball team recently rallied to win the Utah state championship and they are hoping that there is a little more magic leftover.
After getting mercy-ruled by Enterprise in its first game last weekend at state in Cedar City, Washington dug deep and rallied with a win over Cedar in their second game.
Then Washington put up a thrilling 2-1 victory in the rematch against Enterprise and claimed the Utah state championship to advance to the Little League World Series regionals August 2-10 in Bend, Oregon.
“I think we lost 10-0 to that Enterprise team the first night,” Washington coach Josh Probst told St. George News after practice Friday night. “We’d been playing pretty well up until that point and we just kind of came out flat.”
The squad from Enterprise threw a good pitcher at them, Probst said, and the Washington hitters couldn’t really do anything in that first game.
“I think that was a big wake up call for the boys coming back the next day, beating Cedar,” Probst said. That win setup a rematch for the title against Enterprise.
“I told them, you know, it’s only one game,” Probst said, noting that tournament rules were changed this year. “We don’t have to beat them twice. It’s one game for all the marbles. Let’s go out and get it done, all the pressure is on them.”
Catcher Tyler Myers handled duties behind the plate in the championship game, working with battery-mate Jaxton Probst.
“It was like my buddy said, it was like a movie,” Myers said. “We got mercy-ruled real, real bad and then came back to win it. It was perfect. Jaxton brought the best pitching performance ever, and I got a front row seat behind the plate.”
Outfielder Jace Dutson made a fantastic play to get the last out and seal Washington’s dramatic victory.
“We all came together at the last second,” Myers said. “And Jace’s catch at the end, that was awesome.”
Dutson said that playing the short Little League season so far has been “pretty fun.”
“This team is just people all having fun, just out there playing ball,” Dutson said. “Doing what they love.”
Jaxton Probst goes to Bend for the second time while Dutson will be making his third appearance at regionals. Coach Probst said that their veteran leadership should make a difference.
“So we got two of them returning,” coach Probst said. “It’s a really tough tournament. There’s some really good teams, but there’s also some teams we can compete with. We’re looking to just play our best and get a couple of wins.
“It’s just a fun time,” he added. “Even to make it to regionals, we’re super happy to be there and super excited.”
Players, coaches and their families all take pride in representing Utah in the regional tournament that features teams like California and Hawaii, teams that make yearly appearances at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
“It’s something special,” coach Probst said. “To represent the state of Utah, to get those jerseys that say ‘Utah’ across the front and those hats with a ‘U’, it’s special. For these boys it’s a unique opportunity, a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Kimberly Dutson, Jace’s mom, spends all of her summer time at the ballpark as each of her three boys played Little League baseball.
“It’s been so fun,” she said. “It takes a lot of time and effort and energy and support for them to be able to excel in their dream, and be able to reach that next level and work hard for it.
“We’ve loved being part of the Washington Little League community,” she added. “The parents here are the best anywhere. And these kids are just great kids, respectful and kind. This team particularly this year, the team unity is the best that I’ve ever seen.”
A fundraiser for the team is scheduled Wednesday, July 26 at Roctaco Freestyle Tacos in St. George from 5-9 p.m.
The team will also appear in Monday’s Pioneer Day Parade in Washington City, where fans can get information from coach Probst about supporting the team through Venmo.
Washington Little League team roster: Jace Dutson, Brett Turner, Caleb Henry, Drake Dudleston, Ian Herd, Jaxton Probst, Karston Torres, Koufax Rindlisbacher, Kyler Bundy, Quade Gibson, Ryan Kerlin, Tyler Myers
Coaches: Josh Probst, Bill Dudleston, Kurt Rindlisbacher
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