Junior Legion takes second at Boise

Team Rudi lost the championship game to Nampa 9-6. The Diamondbacks also won the tournament sportsmanship award.

Team Rudi opened the three-day tournament with an 11-1 win over Kuna, Idaho. The Diamondbacks then defeated North Boise 15-9, lost 4-3 to East Boise, then rebounded to bury East Boise 24-0 in a rematch to reach the title game.

“The kids played hard and hit the ball well,” said Team Rudi coach Dave Richards.

Team Rudi 11, Kuna 1

Tyler Talbot, Keifer Mespelt and Dillon Blankenship combined to shut Kuna down on one run.

“All three did a good job throwing strikes on the mound,” Richards said.

Colten Richards got Team Rudi’s scoring started with a three-run first-inning home run.

Alex Turner later added another homer, and Blankenship two hits including a double.

Team Rudi 15, North Boise 9

Richards hit his second home run to lead the Diamondbacks offense.

Mespelt added a pair of doubles, and Turner a pair of singles.

Mespelt picked up the win on the mound in relief of Kody Younger. Dustin Hull picked up the save.

“Our guys had some timely hits with runners in scoring position,” said Coach Richards.

East Boise 4, Team Rudi 3

Team Rudi couldn’t manage the clutch hit when it needed it.

“They threw a pitcher who was slow and methodical and we didn’t hit the ball well,” said Richards.

Anthony Shankle led Team Rudi by going 3-for-4 with a triple. Hull finished 2-for-4.

Mespelt threw four innings on the mound.

“He did a great job throwing strikes,” Richards said.

Team Rudi hit the ball fairly well, but lined into four double plays.

“We hit the ball right at someone, and had guys too far off base,” Richards said. “That really killed us.”

Team Rudi 24, East Boise 0

Team Rudi got a measure of revenge in the semi-final game that ended after four innings by the mercy rule.

“The kids just crushed the ball,” Richards said.

Hull finished 3-for-3 with a grand slam and six RBIs. Richards was 2-for-3 with his third homer, and Mespelt 2-for-4 with a homer. Shankle finished 3-for-4. Darren Dolby and Younger each added doubles.

Hull threw the first three innings.

“He didn’t allow anybody past second base in the first three innings,” Richards said.

Nampa 9, Team Rudi 6

Nampa jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first inning and didn’t allow Team Rudi to catch up.

“We came out flat and just could not recuperate,” Richards said.

Hull started on the mound and lasted just 2/3 of an inning. Shankle came on in relief and kept Team Rudi in the game.

“He did a fantastic job,” Richards said. “He throws with more velocity than most kids his age are used to seeing.”

Team Rudi began chipping away at the deficit.

Turner’s sacrifice fly and Hull’s RBI single pulled the Diamondbacks to within 6-2 in the third.

Blankenship’s RBI double, an RBI by Richards, and a sacrifice fly by Hull added three runs in the fifth.

Dolby, Sam Averett and Blankenship hit back-to-back singles in the sixth with Blankenship’s driving home the Diamondback’s final run.

Team Rudi travels to La Grande for a doubleheader Tuesday beginning at 3 p.m.