The Goshen 15U team’s run at a World Series championship came to a close this weekend after finishing pool play in second place in Independence, Louisiana.

Goshen finished pool play 2-1 record after falling to Rosepine to kick off the tournament. They bounced back to get a 9-2 win over Havana and a 9-7 win over Parkwood, Tennessee.

“After we lost the first game, I thought we came back and played well,” said head coach Justin Sanders.  “I feel like if we could have kept playing we would have a shot at it. I don’t like pool play, and it put us out of it.”

Goshen opened the tournament with a hard-fought 5-4 loss to Rosepine on a walk-off a base hit.

“They bounced back really well,” Sanders said. “They knew they were good enough not to lose another game. That is how they played; they played like they knew they were going to win. They kept a good attitude the whole week.”

Goshen went into the final game still with a chance to earn a spot in the final four with Rosepine still to play later that afternoon. To have any chance they needed to get by Parkwood Tennessee.

“They were a really fast team and they hit the ball well,” Sanders said.

Goshen did some hitting of their own and cruised to the victory. Goshen finished with 15 hits in the win led by Stanley who went 3-3. Preston Owens, Caleb Gamble, Holt Steed and Payne Griffin each had two hits.

Payne Griffin got the start for Goshen before McGuire Stanley finished it off.

Goshen found out their summer came to an end when Rosepine defeated Havana 14-0.

“We had a good time all year,” Sanders said. “We started gelling as a team probably at the state tournament. We just played really good ball and had a good team.”

For the players this summer was an opportunity to play more baseball and fine-tune their game.

“I think this let them know that they are just as good as anyone in the state or the country,” Sanders said. “I think this gives them a lot of confidence.”