West U Seniors Competing in the World Championship

John Doxakis

The West U Senior League All-Star team, comprised of 15 and 16 year olds, is competing in the International Senior League World Series Tournament after winning the District 16, Section IV, Texas East, and U.S. Southwest Regional tournaments. The team advanced through pool play into the semi-finals with a record of 3-1, beating U.S. East from Bristol, Connecticut 10-0, U.S. central from Grand Rapids, Michigan 6-0, Europe-Africa from Emilia, Italy 11-3, but losing to Latin America from Willemstad, Curacao 2-4. They finished second in Pool B and played against Bangor East/West Little League out of Bangor, Maine in the semifinal on Aug. 15 where they won 7-0 and advanced to the championship game. The game will be nationally broadcast on ESPN U at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday, Aug. 16.

John Doxakis has been unstoppable on the mound throughout the World Series tournament collecting a 2-0 record, striking out 15, and only giving up 6 hits and 2 walks in 11.1 innings of work. Andrew Hoffman and Joe Gobillot have also had solid starts. Hoffman pitching 3 innings giving up only 2 hits and striking out 4 and Gobillot pitching 4.1 innings giving up only 2 hits and striking out 7. Michael Streitmann has pitched well with a 2.47 ERA over 5.2 innings pitched. Cameron Cash has also pitched solidly, striking out 1 in 1 inning of work. Owen Holt and Jimmy Winston have been tearing it up at the plate, hitting .500 and .444 respectively. William James, Jacob Millender, Aaron Cranfield, and John Doxakis are right behind them though each with a batting average above .300. Jullian Cranfield leads the team in runs scored and walks with 5 and 4. Carson Maxwell leads the team in a less desirable category, hit-by-pitch, being plunked twice in five games whereas only one other player on the team has been beaned. Jared Burch has been a speedster on the bases, scoring 3 times. Turner Gauntt has given the defense trouble, reaching base twice on errors using his speed and quickness. Mitchell Black has been efficient, scoring on every at-bat. The team will play the winner of the game between U.S. Southeast out of Dumfries, Virginia and Latin America whom they already lost to during pool play.

Whomever they play will make for an exciting game. Hopefully this year’s squad, managed by Clint Sauls and coached by Cape Bell and Parker Duffie, can resemble the 2009 world champion West U Seniors by bringing the banner back to West U and the city of Houston.