Going back to the World Series

Seven Camas-Washougal Babe Ruth baseball players are going back to the World Series.

Kolby Broadbent, Jackson Gibbs, Beau Kearsey, Logan Kearsey, Gideon Malychewski, Drew Ott and Evan Stott led Camas-Washougal to a 12-2 victory against Calgary, Canada, in the 13- to 15-year-old Pacific Northwest Regional Babe Ruth championship game Saturday, at Rister Stadium in Kelso.

The Babe Ruth World Series takes place Aug. 10-17, in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. These seven boys went to the World Series when they were 13.

“Feels like heaven. We’re loving it. We’re looking forward to it,” Stott said. “All of us dreamed about getting back there. It still feels unreal.”

Other players on the Camas-Washougal team are Lucas Barbier, Bradley Carter, Clint French, Isaac Hanley, Skylar Kelsey, Josh Mansur, Taylor Shega and Braden Zook. Andrew Ott is the manager, and Bob Gibbs and Joel Shega are the coaches.

“For this group of boys to get back to the World Series, and for some of them to get to the World Series for the first time, is just a thrill for me,” Ott said.

“If we go out and just play the kind of game we can, I think we can compete with anyone,” he added. “But there’s nerves and it’s a different environment. We’ll see how it plays out.”

Calgary defeated Camas-Washougal 5-4 in the second round of pool play. It was sweet revenge for the C-W boys Saturday, as they scored seven times in the third inning and 10-runned the Canadians in six.

“We really connected in that game,” Stott said. “We had some doubts, but seven runs in one inning can really put a team down. And that put us up. It just solidified the win for us.”

Malychewski pitched a complete game, gave up only three hits and struck out five batters. He also went 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI double.

Stott finished 3-for-3 with two doubles and 2 RBI. Shega delivered three hits, including an RBI triple, and scored three runs.

Camas-Washougal beat tournament host Kelso 6-1 in the semifinals Saturday morning. Mansur allowed one hit in six innings pitched and earned five strikeouts. Beau Kearsey shut the door with two strikeouts in the seventh. Shega drove in two runs, and Logan Kearsey and Mansur also had an RBI.

The goal for Camas-Washougal is to win every pitch, every inning and as many games as possible at the World Series.

The team has set up a Gofundme account to help pay for travel expenses.

To make a donation, visit www.gofundme.com/cwbr-babe-ruth-world-series-bound.

“They’re all outstanding boys. I think they are really going to represent Camas-Washougal Babe Ruth and our community well,” Ott said. “When we go places, we hear nothing but good things from the umpires and the fans. They’re really respectful of the game.”