After two disappointing losses in pool play, the Southwest Missouri Warriors, comprised of players from Seneca, Diamond, Carthage and Riverton, Kan., fought their way back with six consecutive victories to capture the USSSA AA 13-year-old state title in Nevada on Sunday, June 20.
In the championship, the Warriors, despite a depleted pitching rotation and scorching heat, knocked off the Bootheal Thunder, 12-5, for the title. The Warriors, ironically, opened up pool play with a loss to the Thunder on Thursday, June 18.
The Warriors, who played eight games in four days, outscored their opponents by a margin of 64-26.
After opening the tournament, which featured 41 teams, with a pair of losses to Bootheal and Columbia, the Warriors garnered the No. 32 seed and a daunting pool to play through.
On Friday, the Warriors came back with new life, shutting out the BS Titans, 8-0, setting up a showdown with the Lebanon Yellowjackets, the No. 1 seed.
The Warriors, in a huge upset, came away with an 8-5 victory over Lebanon, earning a spot on Sunday’s championship schedule.
The Warriors, who began the day at 8 a.m., needed to win four single-elimination games in bracket play for a shot at the title.
Southwest downed the Kansas City Bandits, 12-2, before shutting out the Swingbuilder Saints for a 5-0 victory.
The Warriors, who managed to fight their way to the Final Four, faced the Smithville Warriors in the semifinal. The Warriors advanced to the finals after coming away with an 11-3 victory over Smithville.
In 63 games this season, the Warriors have scored a total of 434 runs against 172 allowed. Next up, the Warriors will compete in the World Series in Bentonville, Ark., slated to begin July 18.
