Submitted photo – The Lost Coast Legends players and coaches celebrate their recent tournament win.

A group of young local baseball players showed a lot of determination and character on their way to winning the 2025 Spring Classic tournament in Medford earlier this month.

The Lost Coast Legends 10U players won all four tournament games on their way to the championship, but had to overcome late deficits in two of their games, including a walk-off 10-9 victory over North Jackson in extra innings in the championship game.

“It was ultimately a lot of grit shown by the kids to come back in three games,” head coach Ryan Plotz said. “They showed a lot of no-quit attitude the whole weekend and everybody contributed in a meaningful way.

“It truly was a total team effort.”

The Legends opened pool play with a 14-2 win over Boss Baseball Blue out of Bend, and then rallied to beat Central Oregon Crush 5-4 in their second pool game.

They advanced to the tournament final with a 9-4 win over the Junior Tornadoes on Sunday, before winning the title in dramatic fashion.

Several players had big weekends for the team, including Blake Smith, who hit a big home run in the sixth inning of Sunday morning’s game to break a late tie in a showdown they needed to win to advance to the championship.

“Blake Smith had one of the biggest moments of the weekend, hitting a bomb over the fence, dead center,” Plotz said. “That homer sparked a five-run sixth inning for us.”

Nine-year-old Dawson Morgan also had a big weekend for the team in the lead-off spot and led his teammates with a .556 average at the plate.

“He set the tone for our offense all weekend long,” the head coach said of Morgan, who also led the young Legends in on-base percentage (.692).

Carter Conrad also impressed at the plate for the team and provided some power with a triple and three doubles among his six hits.

The young Conrad also drove in nine runs and pitched a gem in the championship game, going five innings in relief to close the game and giving up just one earned run, while striking out five.

“He was so clutch all weekend long,” Plotz said. “But his performance in the championship game against a great offense was a huge part of our success.”

Jameson Tyson and Matthew Plotz both also impressed for the local travel team.

Tyson hit a walk-off championship-clinching double in extra innings in the final before being swarmed by his teammates.

“It was a clutch opposite-field gap shot in a big situation,” the head coach said. “He was consistent all weekend long at the plate and pitched great, giving up only three hits over six-plus innings.”

The young Plotz, meanwhile, turned in one of the best pitching performances of the weekend in a must-win game on Saturday afternoon, throwing three perfect innings in relief and striking out eight.

He also had a big two-RBI double.

“The kid was on fire, and his hot streak continued through Sunday bracket-play games,” the head coach said.

Logan Mayberry also had a had a big clutch hit for the team in the seventh inning of the championship game. 

With the score tied 9-9, the young Mayberry hit a lead-off triple to the right-center gap and would score the championship-clinching run just moments later on Tyson’s walk-off hit.

The versatile Jace Johnson also played a key role on the way to the tournament title and “was a force all weekend long,” according to his coach.

“He was our true utility guy,” Ryan Plotz said. “He caught, pitched and held down centerfield with his speed and aggression.”

Johnson also had some big hits over the four games.

Playing in his first tournament of the year with the team, Bryson Barreto held down the catcher’s spot and looked like a seasoned pro behind the plate.

“He just knows what he’s doing behind the plate with both his pitch and location selection,” the coach said. “It was fun to watch.”

Barreto also hit a big RBI triple in the championship game.

Another nine-year-old, Beckston Fisher, also enjoyed a big weekend with the team and was “an animal on the bases,” according to Ryan Plotz.

The speedy Fisher finished the weekend with seven stolen bases and added a clutch RBI hit in the championship game.

Dean Rasmussen and Jesse Bestul also made some big plays over the two days.

The clutch Rasmussen had three huge hits at critical moments and held down the middle of the lineup, while Bestul contributed to the team’s success both on and off the field.  

“Jesse nearly walked it off in the bottom of the sixth in the championship game when she smoked a ball down the first baseline with a runner on third, only to be robbed by a great snag by the first baseman,” Ryan Plotz said. “She also kept the team in check during difficult times with her positive, never-say-die attitude.”

Overall, the young Legends look like they have a big future in the game.

“It’s a new team, but there are a lot of talented baseball players on the team,” the head coach added. “Our offense and pitching really shined, and our defense was solid consistently.

“We made the routine plays, which is what you’ve got to do to win a championship.”