No team in the Camp Verde Little League was better than the Camp Verde Angels for the first 14 games of their season.
But their last two games were what ultimately decided their place against other District 10 Majors, as the Cottonwood Giants, after ending the Angels’ undefeated season, also ended their time in the Tournament of Champions, 5-2, in the opener Saturday, June 6.
“They’re a solid team; they just beat us twice,” said Craig Reddell, the 62-year-old head coach of the Angels, who will retire following All-Star competition at the end of the month. “We came out short.”
Catcher Easton Bryant stole two bases, eventually coming home off a wild pitch to put the Angels ahead, 2-1, in the bottom of the fourth inning.
But the lead was short-lived, as pitcher Cole Gillespie allowed the Giants’ leadoff hitter to be singled home in the top of the fifth inning.
Wylie Howe moved to the mound from third base the next inning, but the top of the Giants order proved to be too much in a three-run seventh inning the Angels could not match.
“We went into that bottom of the sixth, the way our lineup was, I thought we had a chance to score a run and get out of here with the victory,” Reddell said. “Didn’t work. What can you say?”
First baseman Conner Dugan and right fielder Kayden Boggess were left stranded as Howe and left fielder Hunter Deming struck out to end the Angels’ hopes.
For more photos and the full story, please see the Wednesday, June 10, issue of the Camp Verde Journal.
