Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Action from Tuesday’s championship game.

By Ray Hamill — Pitching and defense led the way for the Redwood Empire 11-year-old All-Stars this week, as they shut out all three of their opponents on the way to claiming the District championship.

The RELL players traveled to Hiller Park in McKinleyville for this week’s tournament and defeated Eel River 3-0 in Tuesday evening’s championship game.

Redwood Empire, which also won last year’s District 11s tournament, got the better of Southern Humboldt in their tournament opener, before beating Eel River 5-0 to advance to the championship game.

But they had to battle all the way in Tuesday’s rematch with Eel River, in a game that was still scoreless going into the fifth inning.

The Eel River players, to their credit, never gave up the fight and threatened in the sixth inning, loading the bases with two outs before outfielder Derick Blackwell made the final out for RELL and the celebrations began.

Several players stepped up for both teams in tournament play, including Redwood Empire pitcher Jameson Tyson, who threw five strong innings in Tuesday’s decider.

Dean Rasmussen pitched the final inning to help see his team over the finish line.

Beckston Fisher had one of the biggest hits of the night when he blasted a triple to lead off the fifth, and he would break the deadlock just a few moments later on a Rasmussen RBI single.

Once they got going, the Redwood Empire bats were tough to stop and they would add two more runs before the end of the inning.

Chayce McGinnis helped set the tone at the plate all tournament and led the team with an .800 average and three doubles over the three games.

“That kid came alive for us,” RELL manager Bob Manchin said of McGinnis, who led the team with an .800 average over the three tournament games and hit three doubles. “It was good timing on his part.”

According to Manchin, the whole team came together well in tournament play.

“It’s a really good squad,” he said. “The kids have been working hard at practice and putting in the extra effort. They all get along great and they’re coming along well as a team.”

The team defense played well all tournament, with shortstop Dominic Robinette making several key plays in Tuesday’s final and helping to set the tone for his teammates.

The team catchers also impressed, with Jace Johnson getting the start behind the plate and Fisher closing out the game there.

Machin also praised the performance of Eel River catcher Reece Killingsworth.

“They never stopped,”Manchin said of Eel River. “They kept going hard.”

So too did Redwood Empire, a team that also includes Bentley Palmer, Joseph Bessette, Wyatt Kortsen, Dawson Morgan and Rocco Pearson.

The players came ready to play.

“They’re a pretty fun group,” Manchin said. “They joke around, but when it’s time to get serious they get down to business.”

Assistant coaches Mike Tyson and Darin Blackwell also played a key role.

“I couldn’t do it without my two coaches,” Manchin said. “I appreciate their time and effort.”

As District champs, the RELL players will now turn their attention to the upcoming Section tournament, which will take place in Chico in mid July.

Submitted photo