All-Stars team is new, but not without experience | World Series

BREMERTON — The Kitsap County All-Stars began playing baseball together as a whole less than six months ago. That doesn't mean the All-Stars are without their accomplishments.

Leading up to the 13-year-old Babe Ruth League World Series, which begins Aug. 15 at the Kitsap Fairgrounds, the team participated in four tournaments in preparation.

The All-Stars made their debut as a team at the BPA Basin Bash April 21-22, taking first.

Following the tournament victory, head coach Russel Shiplet said the team just needed "fine-tuning." The team, he said, has an ample number of pitchers and he was immediately pleased with depth at the plate.

The All-Stars are the World Series host team. They are one of 10 from around the country participating in the tournament. The All-Stars play their first game of the tournament at 7:30 p.m. opening day at the Gene Lobe Fields against

Bryant, Ark. The game follows the opening ceremony at 6 p.m.

The host team is comprised of north and central Kitsap ball players. Though they did not allplay together until April of this year, all the players come from various teams around the county. When it comes down to it, they're no stranger to baseball.

The team's familiarity to the game showed in its second tournament May 12-13. The All-Stars took first at the Lynden Spring Fling.

Two third-place finishes at the King of the NW and the NW Championships wrapped up the All-Stars' pre- World Series play.

After the team's opening day game, the All-Stars will play Aug. 16 at 7 p.m. against Waite Park, Minn.; Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. against Westfield, Mass.; and Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. against Meridian, Idaho.

The tournament becomes single-elimination Aug. 20, when the second- and third-place finishers in pool play in the two divisions (American and National) face off. The All-Stars play in the National Division. First-place finishers in pool play automatically advance to the semi-finals.

The championship game is Aug. 22.

Roster

Tyler Aerne - 2B, Catcher, PitcherMiles Brundage - Pitcher, 3B, 1BAndy Crawford - Pitcher, 1B, OFMel Crowley - Pitcher, OFJerald DeLaFuente - OFDesmond Heath - OF, SSCody Kanouse - 1BJake Kriebel - Pitcher, 3B, 1BDawson Krog - 3B, PitcherNick Loeffelholz - Catcher, OFDJ Logan - Catcher, OFTyler Meek - SS, OF, PitcherHarrison Sandy - 2B, PitcherHayden Trull - Pitcher, SS, OFDylan Zuber - SS, Pitcher, OF

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