Despite finishing just short in the Baseball Players Association World Series July 24 in Michigan City, IN, the MidState Dirt Dawgs did themselves proud.
The Dirt Dawgs, a U14 travel baseball team which features six players from Goodrich, advanced to the championship game of the tournament before falling 4-3 to the BP Bombers of Mokena, IL.
The game was the last of five the DirtDawgs played that day, with temperatures surpassing 100 degrees with the heat index.
The DirtDawgs started out in the tournament with a win against Harris Gold Rush July 21 before losing the following day at the hands of the Valpo Patriots. They rallied to defeat Michigan City later that day and Crashgear on July 23 before embarking on their winning streak July 24.
Overall, the Dirt Dawgs have a record of 42-14-1, and finished in first place in the Midwest Alliance Travel Baseball League with a 13-2 record.
The Dirt Dawgs won three tournaments this year: the NFWB Cobra Summer Classic, the Triple Crown Qualifier, and the GLTB Grand Slam Luau.
In addition to the BPA World Series, the team also finished runners-up in three other tournaments: the GLTB Cinco De Mayo, Liberty Park Invitational USSSA, and Mayor’s Invitational.
Goodrich residents on the Dirt Dawgs are: Nathan Bila, Luke Harrison, Steve Hughes, Caleb Jones, Bobby Short, and Joey Zito. The team is coached by Dan Hughes.