Cardinals take Martinez-Evans Major League Championship
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Cardinals head coach Tommy Starnes is drenched by the team Tuesday after winning the Martinez/Evans Major League Championship at Kelly Field.
Photo by Chris Thelen
Blake Ross took the mound Tuesday night at Kelly Field with a mission.
He wanted the win the Martinez-Evans Major League Championship for his Cardinals.
His mission wasn't far-fetched.
Ross, 12, entered the game having pitched 69 innings this season and only allowing one earned run.
His mission experienced took a detour when he allowed a run in the second inning of the title game against the defending champion Braves.
However, Ross made sure it was a temporary setback when he launched a three-run home run in the top of the third to give the Cardinals a 3-1 lead.
Cardinals pitcher Blake Ross delivers a pitch to a Braves batter Tuesday June 15, 2004 during the Martinez/Evans Major League Championship at Kelley Park.
CHRIS THELEN/STAFF
CHRIS THELEN
He and the rest of the Cardinals never looked back.
Tommy Wesse and Alex Faircloth had RBI singles in the fourth and Spencer Starnes hit a solo home run in the sixth to put the icing on a 6-1 championship victory.
"We knew there would be a time in the game where things wouldn't go our way," said Cardinals' coach Tommy Starnes about the early inning trouble. "A true championship team plays through a mistake and comes back."
The 12-year-old ace didn't seem bothered by the early run. Ten of his 11 strikeouts came after the run scored.
Braves pitcher Kip Custer delivers to a Cardinals batter Tuesday during the Martinez/Evans Major League Championship at Kelley Park.
Photo by Chris Thelen
"Coach (Starnes) told me that we would get the runs back," Ross said. "That gave me a lot of confidence."
The Cardinals, who had six new players this season, capped off an undefeated season in league play with the championship win.
"We lost a game in a city tournament mid-way through the year," Tommy said. "It was a wake up call for the team. It kept them motivated to come back to league play."
The Cardinals also got a measure of revenge on the Braves, the team that beat them in the championship game a season ago.
"We were right there last year with them and they beat us," Tommy said. "We had an excellent year last year and we didn't play our best."
Ross, Spencer Starnes and Bradley Parrish played their final games in Cardinal uniforms, but the team returns 10 other players.
"It is tough to lose the guys we will lose, but we will be good next season," Tommy said.
Tough might not be a fitting word to describe the loss of the team's ace and leadoff hitter.
Spencer set the pace all season for the Cardinals and added some pop in his bat for his championship game home run, the first of his life.
"(Spencer) is more of a singles and doubles guy," said Tommy, his father. "He's always hit for average. We were tickled with his home run."
Spencer Starnes leaps onto home plate Tuesday after
hitting his first home run of the year during the Martinez/Evans Major League Championship at Kelley Park.
Photo by Chris Thelen
The loss of Ross might be the hardest obstacle to overcome.
Not only was he an unbelievable pitcher, Ross also had seven home runs on the season and might have hit his eighth but was intentionally walked in Tuesday's game.
"I wanted to hit another home run," Ross said about the intentional walk "I had a goal to hit eight home runs this season. It's OK, though, because we won."
To add to the team's jubilation, nine of the 12 Cardinals were selected to the four of the MELL Major League All Star teams that will begin play Friday.
2004 Martinez-Evans Major League All Star Teams
American League:
Joseph Boatright
Nick Cerasoulo
Christian Croft
Kip Custer
T.D. Davis
Brant Herzwurm
Wil Hogan
Austin Metz
William Oellerich
Andy Pringle
Scott Reeder
Josh Sneeder
National League:
Xavier Clark
Rex Davis
Seth Dymeck
Alex Faircloth
John Jimenez
Caleb Johnson
Dylon Lyons
Jared Mason
Blake Ross
Spencer Starnes
Kyler Timmerman
Wesley Turner