District Tournament
Home Site
Goodlettsville Little League
12U All-Stars Advance to State Tournament winning District Championship over Murfreesboro.
Game 1
Goodlettsville 14
McCabe 4
Game 2
Goodlettsville 3
Nolensville 0
Game 3
Goodlettsville 0
Murfreesboro 1
Game 4
Goodlettsville 7
Murfreesboro 3
State Tournament
Home Site
Clarksville Little League
Tournament Schedule
12U State Tournament
Home Site
Clarksville Little League
Game 1
Goodlettsville 18
Maryville 0
Game Recap
Ace in the Hole
Goodlettsville’s Ace Eschenburg opened the Tennessee Little League 12u State Tournament in impressive fashion leading the Goodlettsville all stars to an impressive 18-0 victory over Maryville. Eschenburg combined with Jackson White to No-Hit Maryville striking out six and walking one before giving way to White who struck out the final two batters for the combined no-hitter.
Johnny Cuthill led the Goodlettsville hitters with two hits from the Leadoff position
with eight more collecting one hit giving the team ten for the game.
Next Game
Sun. 7/14 10:00AM
vs. Columbia American
Game 2
Goodlettsville 8
Columbia American 0
Game Recap
Mase is the Ace for Goodlettsville
Mason Eakes impersonated Ace Eschenburg as well as possible in game two of the Tennessee Little League State Tournament shutting down the Columbia American all stars with a commanding no run one-hit performance before giving way to Armando “El Toro” DeDios and Johnny Cuthill who finished off the shutout allowing one extra hit. The trio combined to throw a two hit shutout leading Goodlettsville to a comfortable 8-0 victory.
Preston Pacurar had the hot bat for Goodlettsville collecting two hits and a homerun. Ace Eschenburg followed Pacurar’s Homerun with a line drive bullet over the center field fence for back-to-back jacks in the fifth pushing the lead to 8-0. Johnny Cuthill, Jackson White and Jayden Lee had one hit each.
Goodlettsville moves into the winners bracket finals Tuesday versus the winner between Morristown and Clarksville National.
Next Game
Sun. 7/16 6:00PM
vs. Morristown or Clarksville National
Game 3Goodlettsville 6
Clarksville 1
Game Recap
Goodlettsville Advances to the ShipOne game at a time, one at bat at a time, one pitch at a time or as some like to say, NEXT PLAY! The Goodlettsville 12u all-stars have been doing just that during the all-star season as they’ve focused on the game in front of them, the present at-bat and the next pitch on the mound. Looking ahead hasn’t been an option as the journey has been thick with sturdy competition. The first test was
Back-to-back-to-back Little League World Series participant Nolensville All-Stars followed by the Murfreesboro All-Stars in the district 7 tournament. Both teams had expectations of a run to the Little League World Series with all three games being filled with tension and huge plays by each team as thousands came to witness the action. Goodlettsville was up to the challenge limiting Nolensville and Murfreesboro to 4 runs combined in three games.
Tonight, the obstacle in their path was the Clarksville National Blue all-stars. Once again expectations were high as both teams squared off in the 2023 11u state championship game won by Goodlettsville by a single run. Goodlettsville was minus 6 of its top eleven-year-olds in that game as they played up on the 12u all-star team while Clarksville added several new pieces to an already solid crew setting the table for an epic evening in Clarksville, TN and the boys didn’t disappoint.
Goodlettsville lit the fireworks early as Ace Eschenburg launched a fastball deep into the neighborhood past the centerfield fence giving Goodlettsville an early 2-0 lead. Mason Eakes took the mound for Goodlettsville limiting Clarksville to one hit in the bottom half giving Goodlettsville 2-0 lead after one. Goodlettsville added to their lead in the second as Easton Spain drew a walk to lead off the inning, took second on a passed ball and advanced to third on a swinging bunt by Crew Campbell. Spain would take home on the throw as the ball careened off the wall in an attempt to throw out Campbell at first. The score remained 3-0 entering the fifth as Mason Eakes and Clarksville starting pitcher Luke Sundstrom battled pitch by pitch with each team’s defense backing them up with strong play in the field.
Clarksville broke through in the bottom of the fifth as a lead-off pop up over second base was misplayed by the Goodlettsville defense. A groundout by Brayden Claret moved the runner to third with Wesley Moore bringing him home with a solid single to right field closing the Goodlettsville advantage to 3-1 igniting the home crowd. Parker Wyatt singled two batters later to load the bases with one out further exciting the home fans as a late inning rally was taking shape. With the game hanging in the balance, Eakes buckled down striking out the next batter and getting the final out on a fielder’s choice to Johhny Cuthill at short as he calmly threw to Preston Pacurar at second for the final out maintaining Goodlettsville’s lead at 3-1 entering the final inning of play.
You could feel the momentum shifting as Eakes was tiring on the mound and the Clarksville bats were continuing to put pressure on the defense. But as all great teams do under pressure, they rise to the occasion. This time was no exception as the Goodlettsville bats went back to work in the top half of the sixth. Johnny Cuthill led off the inning with a walk followed by a run scoring double by Preston Pacurar. Ace Eschenburg followed with a hard single between third and shortstop scoring Pacurar extending the lead to 5-1. Jackson White would score moments later off the bat of Easton Spain who singled to right center field giving Goodlettsville a much needed 6-1 lead entering the bottom half of the inning.
Eakes went back to the mound for the final inning recording the first out on a hard grounder back to the pitcher’s mound. A single by Brody Wilkins and a walk issued to Luke Sundstrom ended Eakes’ day on the mound as he closed out his day allowing no earned runs on 5 hits. Armando “El Toro” DeDios came on in relief quickly closing out the game with a three-pitch strikeout and a fielder’s choice to short giving Goodlettsville a hard fought 6-1 victory to advance to the state championship game.
Ace Eschenburg led the Goodlettsville offense with two hits while Johnny Cuthill, Preston Pacurar, Easton Spain and Crew Campbell added one.
Clarksville National was led by Brody Wilkins, Luke Sundstrom, Brayden Claret, Wesley Moore and Parker Wyatt who had one hit each.
This game was “must see TV” as both teams proved they’re the best the tournament has to offer. Hats off to both on a game well played.
Clarksville will face Columbia American tonight with the winner facing Goodlettsville tomorrow for the state championship.
Goodlettsville 5
Clarksville National 0
Game Recap
EL TORO LEADS GOODLETTSVILE TO VICTORY ALONG THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD
The road to the Emerald City was a long one for Dorothy. The same can be said for the Goodlettsville 12u Little League All-Stars. As I sat and listened to the parents’ conversation at the teams’ celebration meal last night, the talk was about the Emerald City which for this team is Warner Robbins, GA but also the journey it took to get there. That journey began as small
four and five-year-olds chasing balls and playing in the dirt at Moss Wright Park.
Dorothy’s journey picked up friends along the way as she made her way to see the Wizard as this team has done on its journey as five-year-olds to smart baseball savvy twelve-year-olds. Players like Ace Eschenburg who came to the league this season with the dream of making the team and having a shot to reach the Emerald City. Players like Jeremiah Paye who watched from a distance in his early years at the park but continued to work hard every year until he was able to join the group on its journey. Then there’s THIS GUY! The player named in the headline of this write-up. Armando “El Toro” DeDios.
Armando is another player who watched from the forest a distance away from the yellow-brick road as the players passed by on their journey to the Emerald City silently following in the shadows. He too had dreams of one day being able to join the group on its enchanted journey. His dreams were granted this season and the team is much better for it. El Toro, Like Dorothy and her friends, handled the dangerous road with calm and poise as the obstacles that came the team’s way were thwarted by his magical arm. DeDios shut out one of the premier teams in the state of Tennessee in Clarksville National. A team that re-loaded this year with the goal of pushing Goodlettsville off that brick road and taking their place at the Emerald City but El Toro was having none of it as he pitched a strong 5 2/3 innings of one-hit no runs allowed baseball striking out an impressive eleven baters leading his team to a 5-0 victory. The team was surrounded by dangers as the fences surrounding the field were lined with opposing fans but El Toro the Bull kept on fighting with those horns, kept on shielding his team with strikeout after strikeout.
All the Tin-Man wanted was a heart. Dedios had that and much more. He had the heart to fight through the atmosphere surrounding him, the courage to master his emotions and execute under difficult conditions and the knowledge to know that he was meant for this moment and that he was the guy for the job. The one who watched from the shadows along that yellow brick road was now in the light shining brightly fighting with those horns leading the team to their first destination, the Emerald City.
All I can say is I am more than proud of this young man and the rest of his teammates for the hard work and dedication they put in to achieve their goal. The countless hours pitching at the fire station, hitting and fielding in the heat of the day at Moss Wright Park. Hours that were necessary as they traversed that yellow brick road.
I have said in the past; It takes a village and the village is strong with this group led by coach Kevin Spain who spent countless hours pounding ball after ball to these kids as they progressed through the ages at the park. Coaches like Chase Campbell, Brent Campbell, Marty White, John Robertson, Justin Smith, Brandon Kiser and many more. They know who they are. All I can say is I’m more than happy to have been asked to partake on this journey like EL Toro, Ace, Lil Baby and coach Brandon Kiser. It’s been a long journey down that yellow brick road but I’m sure those that have a personal connection to this team are shaking their head in agreement that it’s been more than worth the effort.
STATE CHAMPS BABY! GO, GO GOODLETTSVILLE! THE EMERALD CITY AWAITS!!!!