Camas baseball player heads to Arkansas with Hazel Dell Metro team
By Dan Trujillo
Published: August 10, 2015, 5:00pm
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Jackson Day returned to the lineup just in time to help Hazel Dell Metro get to the 14-year-old Babe Ruth World Series.
“I worked hard to be ready for region and the World Series,” Day said. “Now that we’re going, it’s like a dream come true.”
Sidelined for two months by a hairline fracture in his catching hand, the 13-year-old from Camas delivered two hits during the first game of the Pacific Northwest Regional Tournament, at Lewis and Clark State College, in Lewiston, Idaho.
“Being out of the lineup for that long, he still tried to be a leader,” said manager Scott Binder. “He never missed a practice, and he just continued to progress in his game. Having his bat back in the lineup has been a tremendous asset.”
Day had two hits and drove in a run during the championship game. Hazel Dell rallied to defeat Mount Vernon 5-4 for the regional title. Jasper Rank hit a ball to the left field wall in the bottom of the seventh inning and Isaiah Rupp scored the winning run.
“Looking up from the bottom of the pile, I saw Cole Sherertz and said ‘we’re going to the World Series. I can’t believe it,'” Day said.
Hazel Dell Metro plays in the opening game of the Babe Ruth World Series Saturday, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. They are guaranteed at least five pool play games.
The second and third place teams from the American and National divisions face each other Thursday, Aug. 20. Hazel Dell Metro is in the National Division.
American and National Division championship games are Friday, Aug. 21. The winners play for the World Series Championship Saturday, Aug. 22.
“It’s a great experience to be able to do this with my wonderful teammates. We’ve all worked so hard to get to this point, and we just want to enjoy it while we are there,” Day said. “The ultimate goal would be to play for the championship. Even if we don’t win, it’s just great to go and play five games against that kind of competition.”
Binder hopes these boys will continue to build more memories while playing a level of baseball they have never experienced before.
“Whether we win or we lose, [we want to] leave it all in Arkansas and not think would of, could of, should of,” he said. “Be happy with the effort and be happy with the experience.”
Day dreams of winding up at the bottom of another dog pile at the Babe Ruth World Series. In reality, he just wants to be able to walk off the field with no regrets.
“We want to be able to look back at this as a great year, and be proud of how far we have come,” he said.
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