NEA East All Stars win state title

The NEA East All Stars went 3-0 for the weekend in Osceola to win the 12 year Old Cal Ripken Major 60' State Championship.

They defeated Osceola 7-2 Saturday Morning. Drew Dogan got the win while giving up 2 runs over 3 innings.

In the second game NEA won 7-4 over Mountain Home. Jake Baltimore pitched a complete game giving up 0 earned runs and 4 hits. Dustin Clark broke a 3-3 tie in the 4th with a 3 run homer over the center field wall.

NEA beat Mountain Home again Sunday in the State Championship Game 8-1 behind Daxton Davison who pitched a complete game giving up 0 earned runs and only 2 hits.

Coach Jason Baltimore was very proud of the effort.

"This was the first tournament that we had all these kids together," Baltimore said. "The 12 year old All Star team has players from Manila, Leachville, Monette, Caraway, and Lake City. Talent wise this may be the most talented team I have ever coached and I have coached some very talented teams through the years. We have some very good 12 year old hitters in our lineup. I looked at our lineup card before the game Saturday morning and thought to myself I would hate to be the opposing pitcher. From 1 to 10 there is no easy outs and then you look at the bench and there are a few kids that would be starters for almost any other team."

Players on the NEA East are Caleb Suiter, Jaron Burrow, Alex Rangel, Dustin Clark, Daxton Davison, Drew Dogan, Jake Baltimore, Quin Bradford, Nathan Brinkley, Jackson Roddy, Grant Cossey, Caden Howard, Trea Barnes, and Eastin Hatch.

Coaches are Jason Baltimore, Chris Davison. Jeremy Dogan, Matt Rolland, and Troy Burrow.

Next up for the NEA East is a trip to Mountain Home for the Cal Ripken 12 year old Major 60' Southwest Regional on July 14th.

The state finalist from Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana will be invited to the tournament. The winner of the regional will go on to the World Series in Ocala, Fl.