Slidell Scrappers capture state title

The Slidell Scrappers, a 6-year old T-ball Slidell Bantam Baseball Association team, took home the United States Specialty Sports Association All-Star State Tournament after downing Livingston Parks Recreation 18-10 in Livingston Parish Sunday.

Eight teams competed in the six-year old age group and the squads play with a one-hour time limit.

In the first game of pool play, the Scrappers defeated the North Vermillion Little Patriots 21-1. Slidell scored seven runs each inning.

In the second game, the Scrappers were consistent, scoring seven runs each frame once again and posting a 21-4 victory over PAC River Bandits.

They got a No. 1 seed for bracket play.

In the opener of bracket play Sunday, the Scrappers registered an 18-10 win over the PAC River Bandits as the eight-run mercy rule was invoked after the fourth inning.

Slidell then topped the Central Lafourche Trojans 20-5 in a three-inning game to get to the finals.

In the finals, they played four innings and posted an 18-10 win.

Scrappers coach Mike Cahill said it was exciting for his club to get a state title at this point in their baseball career.

“These little guys are an offensively and defensively sound baseball team,” Cahill said.

The coach added that it was a total team effort.

“You can’t play defense by yourself and you can’t score runs by yourself,” Cahill said. “Everybody contributed to the victory.”

The Scrappers have been tough on opponents all year.

During the Firecracker Tournament earlier this summer, they shut out two straight teams.