By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- For the fourth time in the last five years the Niles 15-year-old All-Star team reached the championship game of the Babe Ruth State Tournament Sunday morning at Thomas Stadium.
But, for the third time in the same five years, the home team was unable to win the title as Grosse Pointe Woods Shores smothered the Niles All-Stars 20-3 to win the championship.
The Niles All-Stars reached the title game by rebounding from a 14-2 tournament-opening loss to Woods Shores for an 8-2 victory over Grosse Pointe South Saturday evening.
Woods Shores also beat South 9-4 on Saturday to take a 2-0 record into Sunday's title game.
G.P. Woods Shores….20
Niles All-Stars……………3
Woods Shores erupted for 18 hits in four innings and Niles pitchers Justin Henry, Bryce Coleman, Josh Atwood and Kevin Curran couldn't figure out how to stop the bleeding.
Niles committed three errors in the first inning but then had just one error the rest of the way.
The Niles All-Stars managed just one hit, a first-inning single by Andrew Mysliwiec.
Niles did not score until the fourth inning when it plated two runs to stop the 20-0 Woods Shores run.
Niles All-Stars….8
G.P. South………2
Tim Hardy gave up just seven hits and struck out six batters as he went the distance and the Niles All-Stars stayed alive in the state tournament and handed Grosse Pointe South its second loss.
Hardy also paced the All-Stars at the plate with three singles and one RBI. Andrew Mysliwiec and Josh Atwood each added two hits and each scored twice. D.J. Elrod, Bryce Coleman and Justin Henry each added a single for the Niles All-Stars.
G.P. Woods Shores….14
Niles All-Stars……………2
D.J. Elrod took the loss on the mound for the Niles All-Stars as he allowed 11 hits and struck out two batters in four innings of work.
Josh Atwood paced the All-Stars with a double which drove in one run. Tim Hardy and Ryan Laylin each singled once.