Patterson 10U All-Stars are regional runners-up

Patterson’s 10U All-Stars fell to host Magnolia, Arkansas, in the championship game Saturday ending the teams Cinderella-story comeback during the Babe Ruth Southwest Regional in Magnolia, Arkansas.
The Patterson team lost its first game in the tournament Thursday, but rallied from the losers’ bracket into Saturday’s championship game. That first game was also against host Magnolia, resulting in a 7-3 loss.
Magnolia, the Arkansas state champion and defending Southwest Regional Champion, pounded Patterson 17-2 in the 1 p.m. championship game during four innings of play. Patterson’s 10U All-Stars were forced to play back-to-back games in 100 degree temperatures after defeating Littlefield, Texas, during an 11 a.m. game also on Saturday.
The upstart stars made a big impression in the tournament scoring 51 points in the losers’ bracket and being presented with the Mike Bertsch Memorial Sportsmanship Award.
In Friday’s afternoon game, Patterson pummeled Broken Bow, Oklahoma, 18-7. Broken Bow jumped out to an early lead scoring five runs in the first inning. Patterson responded with nine runs in the second inning and three runs in the third to break the game open.
Offensive leaders were Hailey Skiles and Addie Lovell, scoring three runs each. Ana Vaccarella, Hilary Pillaro, Laila Dugar and Kamille Lightfoot all scored two runs each. Bryleigh DeHart, Mikah Ortiz, Olivia Black and Riley Trahan each scored a run.
Pillaro pitched a complete game (five innings) with four strikeouts.
Patterson opened Saturday’s play with a 14-10 win over Littlefield, Texas. The Texas state champions led 9-8 going into the fifth inning, but Patterson plated six runs in the bottom of the fifth to secure the win.
Patterson leaders were Ortiz with four runs scored, she reached base and scored each time. Pillaro and Vaccarella scored two runs apiece while DeHart, Maggie Lemoine, Kaylee Vining, Dugar, Lightfoot and Rylie Chassion all scored a run.
Pillaro pitch 32/3 innings with four strikeouts, while Vaccarella threw 21/3 innings with three strikeouts to pick up the win.
That game moved the local stars out of the losers’ bracket and into the championship game.
Lovell and Ortiz plated the Patterson runs in the game. Pillaro and Vaccarella took the loss on the mound.
Patterson’s season ended as the Southwest Regional runners-up while Magnolia moves on the World Series in Florida.
“This was a total team effort,” Patterson assistant coach Patrick Skiles said. “All 12 players contributed to our success and our support, our parents and the local community was tremendous.”