Back-to-back state champs: Fairfield all-stars advance

ALBIA ? The Fairfield 14-year-old all-star team claimed its second consecutive Babe Ruth state title Wednesday with a 5-0 shutout win over Boone in Albia.

Starting pitcher Robert Barker fired a one-hitter and fanned six in the championship game for Fairfield, which went unbeaten in four games during the double-elimination tournament.

The team, consisting of players from Fairfield, Van Buren and Pekin schools, has outscored its six opponents 69-8 in postseason play. The all-stars will represent Iowa at the Midwest Plains Regional Tournament Aug. 3-8 in Lamar, Colo.

Last season, the Fairfield 13-and-under all-star team consisting of the same players won the state title with a victory over Ottumwa. While representing Iowa at regionals, the squad placed third out of eight states and earned the award for sportsmanship.

Leading the Fairfield offense during the state tournament this year were Jordan Reid with eight hits and six RBI, Alex Crile totaling eight hits and three RBI, Barker with six hits and seven RBI and Keaton Winn finishing with six base knocks and five runs batted in.

Austin Bartholomew finished with four singles, Alex Christensen drove in two runs on a trio of hits, Ryan Swanson had three singles, and Tyson Sprouse and Tristan Ledger had two hits apiece. Giovanni Cingire provided a single and RBI.

To earn a spot in the championship game Wednesday, Fairfield won 10-4 vs. Ottumwa, blasted Albia 10-0 and downed Tri-County South 7-1.

Against Ottumwa, Sprouse fanned four over three frames and was the winning pitcher; Bartholomew was credited with a save. Barker tossed a one-hitter with two strikeouts vs. Albia. Winn struck out five batters in six innings vs. Tri-County; Bartholomew was again credited with a save.

The pitching staff allowed just five runs and 11 hits during the tournament.

The team is coached by Brian Reid, Bob Sprouse and Steve Crile.

Donations to help cover the team?s trip to Colorado are appreciated. Checks can be made payable to Fairfield Babe Ruth; call Reid at 641-233-0012 for information.