Southwest Region next up for ORWALL National Big Leaguers

CROCKETT, Texas – With the Texas East State championship safely secured in their back pocket, the Oak Ridge/Woodlands Area Little League All-Stars are looking forward to another run in the Big League Southwest Regional Tournament beginning Friday at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, La.

“After our squeaker over an impressive Lavernia squad, we all started to loosen up and it was all systems go,” said ORWALL National Big League All-Star coach Doug Sarant of the team’s sweep of the recent state tournament. “We've played three games together now and we feel we are ready for the Regional. All aspects of our game are solid.”

ORWALL National punctuated the Texas East State Tournament with a 15-0 run-rule win over Crockett in the finals. The team sandwiched an eight-run fourth inning in between three-run innings to extend a 1-0 first-inning lead and end the game early.

Oak Ridge High School standout Cody Althouse set off the fireworks with a three-run blast and The Woodlands High School star Andrew Godail ignited the fourth-inning explosion with a two-run homer, scoring Connor Sarant, who opened the frame with a single.

Althouse, Sarant, College Park High School standout Kevin Barnes, and Oak Ridge High School talent Blake Stoehr collected two hits each in the 11-hit attack.

Oak Ridge High School moundsman Josh Smith threw a complete-game two-hitter, striking out four.

“The Texas East Championship experience was excellent,” Doug Sarant said. “Tournament Directors Jesse Stephens and Mike Farrell did an excellent job as everything was set up perfectly. Next to the Louisiana Regional last year, this is the most organized tournament we've ever been to.”

Orwall National now has its sights set on Ruston, La. for regional competition that includes two teams from Louisiana, two from Texas and one each from New Mexico and Colorado. The Regional winner advances to the Big League World Series in Easley, SC.

ORWALL National opens tournament play at 4 p.m. Friday against Colorado. The winner moves on to the quarterfinals at 1 p.m. Saturday game against Louisiana while the loser plays again at 7 p.m. Sunday and must win games on three consecutive games to get to the tournament finals. The championship game is set for 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 20. A second championship game, if necessary, would follow immediately.

ORWALL reached the tournament finals last season.