FORT CAROLINE-For the third straight year, Fort Caroline won the 11-under Babe Ruth state baseball title this weekend and for the third straight year will advance to the Southeast Regionals.
Fort Caroline hosted the 11-under tournament July 6-9 at Ed Austin Park defeating Fleming Island in the championship game.
The double elimination tourney consisted of Jacksonville Beach, Marietta, San Jose, West Volusia, Fleming Island, Wakulla and host Fort Caroline.
Play begin Thursday with Marietta over Jax Beach 5-4, San Jose over West Volusia 19-12 and Fort Caroline over Fleming Island 3-2.
Day two began Friday with Marietta over Wakulla 9-7 and Fort Caroline over San Jose 16-1 to both advance to the winners bracket semi-finals.
In the losers bracket, Fleming Island beat West Volusia 5-4, San Jose beat Jax Beach 15-5 and later that night Fleming Island beat Wakulla 13-12 to bring the tourney to four teams.
On Saturday, in the winners bracket game, Fort Carolina held off Marietta to advance to the championship round where they would play the losers bracket champion.
In the losers bracket, Fleming Island knocked off San Jose and then Marietta to advance to the championship round.
By winning the state tournament, Fort Caroline advances to its third straight Cal Ripken Southeast Regional beginning July 18 in Longwood, Florida. The tournament will consists of 16 teams including state championship teams from Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, West Tennessee, East Tennessee, West North Carolina, East North Carolina, West Virginia, North Florida (Fort Caroline), South Florida and the Bahamas.
This is as far as Babe Ruth goes for the 11-year old age group as there is no World Series, although 10 and 12 year old age groups participate in World Series.
