Summit all-stars take 2nd in state

FRISCO - You could make a case that the proverbial One Shining Moment in the remarkable postseason run enjoyed by the Summit County Junior Division (13-14) Little League all-star team took place Sunday, in an elimination game against Colorado Springs.

And it lasted longer than just a moment.

Going into the seventh and final inning, Summit was down four runs to C-Springs, which had already beaten the tournament hosts with ease Friday, 15-5. The end of the season was perilously close for the upstarts in green and white.

Yet instead of folding, Summit unleased what head coach Tom Looby later called the most "exciting, clutch rally" he'd seen in his 20 years around baseball.

The local kids strung together a 10-run outburst on their way to a 15-12 win that sent C-Springs home, and sent Summit on to face Westminster for the state championship Monday.

Alas, Westminster prevailed in that contest, 10-5, so Summit settled for second place in the state of Colorado - no small feat for a mountain community where baseball rarely takes precedence over anything.

"I think the kids felt like if they'd played a little better they might've won, but I think they're pretty proud that they're the runner-up state champions," Looby said Tuesday. "I think they accomplished a lot more than they anticipated at the beginning of the tournament."

As for that memorable rally: "It helped them appreciate more than ever to never give up until the final out's been made."

Playing in front of a large crowd of local supporters all weekend long, Summit was led by hitters Taylor Gillis, Landon Longenecker, Blaze Walker, Tucker Limbruner, Gordon Ferris, Mike Daigle and Ian Rivard - all of whom hit over .300 for the tournament, Looby said. In Sunday's season-saving win, Daigle went 4-for-5, Walker went 3-for-5 and Charlie Whittaker had a 2-for-4 day.

Daigle also made a number of stellar plays at second base, Looby said.

On the mound, Walker, Longenecker and Limbruner combined to help Summit earn their lone state-tournament victory, and Gillis and Longenecker both went 2-for-3 in the title game while sharing the duties on the hill.

As the state champion, Westminster advanced to the Southwest Region tournament in Grand Junction in two weeks.



Devon O'Neil can be contacted at (970) 668-4633, or at doneil@summitdaily.com.