Deckert throws one-hitter for Tallahassee

Tallahassee, Fla., pitcher Nick Deckert delivers during his one-hit shutout of West Fargo, N.D., on Tuesday at the Babe Ruth 14-year-old World Series at Adams Field in Quincy. Gary Higgins photo/The Patriot Ledger

By IAN SPENCER
The Patriot Ledger

QUINCY - The Babe Ruth 14-year-old World Series team from Tallahassee, Fla., needed a victory over West Fargo, N.D., to hold its second-place position in the American Division pool play standings.

Starter Nick Deckert pitched like he knew it, delivering a dominant one-hit shutout performance in the Southeast champion’s 3-0 triumph.

Deckert settled down after throwing 12 balls in the first inning and induced eight groundball outs.

“After those two innings my pitching coach told me to shorten my arm,” Deckert said. “Which I did and just shortened my pitch count.”

A two-run single by Garrett Johnson in the first was all the scoring the defending 13-year-old Babe Ruth World Series champions needed, but right fielder Gillis Langston added another run on a wild pitch in the fourth.

West Fargo’s best scoring chance came in the sixth inning when catcher Tucker Bucholz hit a double to left for the team’s first hit of the game. Tallahassee left fielder Tom Watson quickly tracked down the ball and threw out Austin Horsager at third to quell the threat.

Brock Evenson was named West Fargo’s player of the game and recorded five putouts and an outfield assist to prevent a run. Deckert earned the honors for the Tallahassee team which has rebounded from an opening-night loss to Quincy to move to 2-1.

West Fargo finished the tournament with a 1-3 record. The top three teams in each division advance to the single-elimination portion of the tournament.
   
Ian Spencer may be reached at ispencer@ledger.com.