Submitted photo – The Redwood Giants players and coaches celebrate their tournament championship in Medford.

After coming close to winning tournaments on a few occasions this year, the Redwood Giants 10U Orange travel baseball team enjoyed a breakthrough victory over the weekend.

The Giants traveled to Medford to play in the Bash to School tournament and came back with the championship pennant in their bracket.

The young Giants won all four of their games in tournament play, including an impressive 8-0 win in the championship game over the Lost Coast Legends, who had beaten them in the final of the recent Rumble in the Redwoods during the summer.

And the Giants won with some outstanding defense, something the coaches have been working closely with the players on in practice.

“Our defense was ridiculously good,” coach Luke Rea said.

The stats would appear to back that up.

The Giants outscored their two opponents in pool play by a combined 30-0 and had three shutout victories over the weekend.

Several players stood out and stepped up for the occasion, including twin brothers Jaxon and Travis Gray.

Jaxon played catcher all weekend and was  “unbelievable,” according to the coach, while Travis led the way on the mound and also played some outstanding defense at shortstop and second base.

“He was lights out pitching this weekend,” Rea said of the latter.

Kohl Rea also impressed and was “awesome at first base,” according to his coach, while Jameson Kozlowski helped set the tone for his teammates both at the plate and on the mound.

“He is a team leader,” the coach said of Kozlowski, who hit a home run in the opener and got the shutout win on the hill in the championship game. “He dominated the Legends lineup.”

Jace Price Lewis also had a big weekend at the plate, as well making his presence felt at third base.

Nine-year-old Reece Killingsworth, who is one of the Giants’ youngest players, also traveled this weekend and made his debut with the team, impressing his coaches both running the bases and in center field.

The versatile Wesley Ask, whom Luke Rea describes as “one of the best fielders on the team,” also impressed in a variety of roles.

Rounding out a big weekend for the team, Reid Wibenhorst, Brodi Maniachi and Silas Beers each also contributed on the way to the championship.

Wibenhorst had some clutch hits and played well in the outfield, while Maniachi and Beers had an immediate impact in their first tournament with the team.

“We couldn’t have done it without them,” Luke Rea added.

As a group, the Giants have impressed their coaches both on and off the field of competition.

“(What impresses me the most) is their attitude and sportsmanship towards other teams and umpires,” Luke Rea said. “We’re not just training boys to win games, we’re trying boys to win life.”

Johnny Kozlowski and Nate Ask also coached the team.