Tracy Press

Two of Tracy Babe Ruth's 11-12 teams will battle for the league championship Wednesday after the weekend's tournament games.

The 11-12 Nationals pitcher, Michael Motyka, delivers the ball in Monday’s Babe Ruth semifinal game at Monte Vista Middle School. Photo by Bob Brownne/Tracy Press.

The Mariners, who have gone undefeated in the league’s Tournament of Champions, secured their spot in the final game when they beat the Nationals 5-3 on Saturday morning.

Mariners pitcher Michael Gerber led his team with six strikeouts in three innings. Relief pitcher Christopher Bencoma drove in two runs for his team with a double, and Ryan Vares and Brandon Manchester also drove in runs for the Mariners.

The Braves have only lost once in five games in the TOC, and that was to the Mariners on June 10 in the second round. The Braves worked their way up through the consolation bracket and beat the Nationals 7-6 on Monday night to take the other spot in Wednesday’s championship match.

The Braves had a 7-0 lead by the second inning Monday, on hits by Brennan Bowman, Brett Lassiter, Zach Orr and Isaac Arrang and held on for the rest of the game. A base hit from the Nationals’ James Faile led a four-run surge in the fourth inning, and Maurice Barnes connected again in the fifth right before Nathan Scanlon smashed a two-run double.

The Nationals’ Brian Perrault successfully steals second base Monday as the Braves’ Brett Lassiter makes the late catch and Isaac Arrang provides backup. Photo by Bob Brownne/Tracy Press.

Babe Ruth play will continue later this week with the Cal Ripkin District 1 All-Star tournaments. The 8-and-under games begin Thursday at Castleburg Park in Riverbank, and the 10-year-old All-Stars play at Castleburg Park starting Saturday, with the championship game June 27.

Tracy will host the 12-year-old All-Star tournament, which begins June 28 at Monte Vista School, with the championship game to follow July 4.

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