Rays clinch BHC Little League Minors title

The Rays finished the Big Horn County Little League Minors season with first-place medals on Saturday after the interleague championship game 9-2 victory over the Braves.

Pool play took place earlier in the week in Lovell, but the bracket play was held in Powell on Wednesday through Saturday.

All three Lovell teams advanced to the semi-final round after the Twins defeated the Powell Trash Pandas 9-4, the Braves swept Greybull 13-3 and the Rays topped the Brawlers 11-5.

The first-round wins forced the Twins to face off against the Rays for a trip to the championship.

The Rays proved to be too much for the Twins to handle and cruised to a 17-1 win.

To determine the final spot in Saturday’s game, the Braves had to get by the Rockhounds.

The Braves handled them with ease and hit their way to a 13-3 advantage to survive and advance.

The Braves and Rays have been familiar foes all season with the Braves handing the Rays their only loss in the regular season.

But the Rays were seeking revenge and did just that by winning 9-2 in the final game Saturday and ending with an overall 18-1 record.

They jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead after the first inning and never looked back.

The Braves tried to get a rally going in the second inning, but the two runs they managed were the only ones plated during the game.

Hayden Harshman got the W on the mound for the Rays as the right-handed hurler struck out nine batters in four innings of work and only walked three batters.

Hawk Hecker came in in relief the final two innings and got all six outs via strikeout and walked none in the frame.

Harshman, Hecker and Grayson Walker also led the offensive charge for the Rays, collecting two hits at the plate each.

Taysom Butler, Cayden Dickerson and Lincoln Miller added a hit apiece including a long shot to deep centerfield for a triple by Butler in the top of the fourth.

The duo of Jace Jameson and James Henderson took the hill for the Braves and combined for seven strikeouts and five walks.

Jamen Crosby, Patrick Jameson and Canyon Weinand were the only three Braves to get hits against the Rays’ solid pitching and defensive play.

Patrick Jameson and Asher Leonhardt were the lone Braves runners to cross home plate.

Both teams congratulated one another at the conclusion of the game, and each squad was presented with gold or silver medals for their efforts.

The tournament concluded the season for the Rays, Braves and Twins.