Patterson 8U All-Stars earn state runner-up finish

The Patterson 8U All-Stars finished their season as the Babe Ruth Louisiana 8U State Runners-up this season, battling back from an opening round loss with five straight wins before falling in the championship game Saturday to Pierre Part.
After falling to Kentwood 8-7 in its opener, the squad battled back with five straight wins in the loser’s bracket to stave off elimination.
Patterson defeated St. Charles, 10-5 and Kenner, 17-1, both on Friday; Terrebonne, 17-16; Amite, 16-8; and Harahan, 8-1, all on Saturday.
In the championship game, however, Patterson fell to undefeated Pierre Part, 12-5.
Patterson coach Jonathan Lightfoot said his squad did great.
After the loss to Kentwood in their tournament opener, Lightfoot said his squad responded and came together and never quit en route to a championship game appearance.
“They pulled together, and they believed in each other and they played ball like they know how,” Lightfoot said.
Among their wins as they worked their way through the elimination bracket was a victory against Terrebonne, which included an eight-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning.
While the squad received an invitation to play in the Babe Ruth 8U Southwest Regional Tournament in Dumas, Texas, near Amarillo, they will not be attending.
No individual stats were available from the state tournament contests.