By DANIEL PORTER / Staff Writer

CHELSEA – The 6-and-under All-Star Dizzy Dean Area championship game June 19 featured host Chelsea, which entered the matchup undefeated, and Springville.

Both teams kept the game close early and heading into the third inning Chelsea held just a one-run lead, 7-6. In the third Chelsea extended it’s lead off Trey Vassell’s RBI double. Springville began their bottom of the third down 9-6 but rallied to reclaim the lead 13-9 on a seven-run inning.

The fourth for Chelsea started with a leadoff double from Brandon Ridderhoff to start the comeback. Later in the inning Landon Smith scored Clete Ponder ona double to tie the game at 13. Chelsea would take the lead 16-13.

Springville almost started a big rally in the bottom of the inning but the leadoff batter was thrown out at third. Chelsea only gave up one run in the inning and entered the fifth already with the lead, 16-14.

From here on Chelsea began to secure their perfect record as they stretched the lead. After Anderson Brooks’ RBI double Chelsea held a five run lead, the lead only grew as Steven Spears slid under the tag at home to make it a 22-14 lead.

Springville only scored 4 in the bottom of the fifth after Chelsea subbed in Hannon Richardson and Cole Hudson on defense at the start of the inning.

In the next at bat Brandon Ridderhoff secored the win for the Chelsea All-Stars with his 2 RBI triple. Chelsea won 26-18 to claim the Area Championship. Ridderhoff was rewarded after going 5-5 with 5 RBIs by being named MVP.

Head coach Rock Ponder was extremely proud of his team who now had a 12-0 record. Assistant coach Rob Hudson said the team, “played very hard tonight.”