Baseball: Lower Columbia teams advance to regionals

Published 4:54 pm Sunday, July 16, 2023

It’s been another successful summer for Lower Columbia All-Star baseball, as the 10U, 11U and 12U teams all made it to the championship games of the Oregon state tournament the weekend of July 7-July 9. The 9U team advanced to the semifinals.

The 10U and 11U teams survived state and have been invited to their respective regional tournaments, July 21-July 23.

Comprised of players from Astoria, Warrenton and Knappa, as well as Long Beach and Naselle, Washington, the Lower Columbia 10U and 11U teams both took second in their respective state tournaments.

The 10U All-Stars were 4-2 at the tournament in Sandy, advancing to the championship game with a 12-0 win over Lakeridge in the semifinals before a loss to West Linn in the title game.

At the 11U state tournament in West Linn, the Lower Columbians went 4-1, with the only loss to West Linn in the championship game.

Coached by Bobby Beresh, Matt Starley and Bruce Hazen, the 10U All-Stars include Easton Bartlett, Beckam Beresh, Oskar Haggren, Huxley Hazen, Justin Johnson, Nehemiah Kancharla, Sam Luysterborghs, Jed Maher, Brody Meyers, Max Rathfon, Paul Schacher and Paxton Starley.

The 11U All-Stars are coached by Olaf Pearson, Aaron Barendse, Benji Latham and Barry Burgher, and include Tomas Banuelos, Cutter Barendse, Carter Burd, Fischer Burgher, Weston Collier, Hunter Cutting, Flynt Goin, Parker Gorr, Atticus Latham, Jordan Miethe, James Morrison and Dane Pearson.

After opening ceremonies Wednesday in Longview, Washington, the 10U All-Stars will compete in the Pacific Northwest Cal Ripken Regionals at John Null Park in Longview, with pool play set to begin Thursday. The 11U regionals will be in Eugene, with opening ceremonies Wednesday at Ted Norman Baseball Complex.