The Bellefontaine Chiefs 13U baseball team put together an impressive weekend run at the Mad River RBI Tournament, finishing as tournament runner-up after advancing to the championship game Sunday.
The Chiefs opened tournament play Friday night with a dominant 10-0 shutout win over UC Tigers 13U Hoffman.
Bellefontaine’s offense got rolling early, with Parker Artis, Caleb Palmer, JuJu Anderson, Will Robb, Tovan Benton Jr., and Brentlee Bach all crossing the plate in the victory.
Later Friday night, the Chiefs stayed hot in another shutout performance, defeating USA Prime Central Ohio Navy 13U by a 10-0 score.
Brentlee Bach paced the offense with two hits while scoring in both plate appearances. Parker Artis, JuJu Anderson, and Briar Barber also helped fuel the attack with multiple runs scored as Bellefontaine completed its second shutout of the day.
After earning the No. 2 seed entering Sunday’s bracket play, the Chiefs opened elimination play against Plain City Pioneers 13U Black.
Bellefontaine battled back for a 9-6 win, taking the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning behind key singles from Brentlee Bach and Will Robb. Strong defensive play from the Chiefs’ outfield also helped spark the comeback effort.
The Chiefs then faced UC Tigers 13U Hoffman for the second time in the tournament and again came away with a decisive win, this time 15-3.
JuJu Anderson, Tovan Benton Jr., Briar Barber, Will Robb, Sawyer Vermillion, and Brentlee Bach all recorded hits in the semifinal victory.
Bellefontaine advanced to Sunday’s championship game against USA Prime Central Ohio Red 13U, but ran into a tough opponent in the title matchup.
The Chiefs were held hitless in the championship contest and fell 13-0. Jax Flemming and Parker Artis handled pitching duties for Bellefontaine in the final game.
Despite the loss, the Chiefs finished the weekend with a 4-1 record and a second-place tournament finish.
The Bellefontaine 11U travel baseball team also put together an impressive weekend run at the Mad River RBI Tournament, battling their way to a runner-up finish against strong regional competition.
Bellefontaine opened the tournament with a statement win over the Marion Night Hawks 11U, showcasing both disciplined hitting and solid defensive play. The team controlled the pace early, capitalizing on timely hits and aggressive baserunning to secure the victory and advance through the bracket.
In the title game, Bellefontaine squared off against a tough Ohio Bison 11U squad. Despite a determined effort and flashes of strong play, Bellefontaine ultimately fell short, finishing as tournament finalists. The championship matchup highlighted the team’s grit, as they competed hard until the final out against one of the top teams in the field.
The team is led by coaches Chris Lowe, Nate Smith, Ryan Brown, and Mark Fissel, whose leadership and preparation were evident throughout the weekend. Their emphasis on fundamentals and teamwork played a key role in the team’s deep tournament run.
With the runner-up finish, Bellefontaine 11U continues to build momentum this season, proving they can compete with top-tier teams while gaining valuable experience along the way.
