Portage Tribe 11u baseball team played 5 games in the recent Battle of the Bat tournament hosted in Lakeville Indiana. The 5th game being the championship against Valpo Heat. Tribe was down 3-0 in the 5th inning, but quickly came back with 3 runs of their own in the 6th inning to make it a tie game. In an extra tie breaker inning Valpo scored 1 run and Tribe responded with 2 runs to win the game!
Although the end of the game turnaround against a rival in a championship game is very gratifying...there is one more detail that makes this game extra special, particularly for Tribe's #5 Preston Tabor and his family. In the middle of the tournament the Tabor's found out a beloved uncle 'Uncle Bill' had unexpectedly passed away. The Tabor's in their grief briefly considered leaving the tournament, but decided Uncle Bill would want them to stay and play. Stay and play they did in Uncle Bill's honor. #5 Preston Tabor pitched all 7 innings in the championship game never struggling...in fact it was probably his best pitching! Preston's Mom, Kresha and his Dad John (one of the Tribe coaches) both b elieve Uncle Bill was watching over his nephew on the mound.
This was the 3rd championship in 2013 Portage Tribe 11u has won, and perhaps the most special and memorable.