El Paso Apes 7U Youth Baseball Make #1 on ESPN Top 10 Plays

An unassisted game ending double play is always one of the most exciting finishes in baseball. The New York Yankees actually pulled off a triple play to end their game on Sunday. However, in youth baseball, things can get pretty tense in the late stages of a big game. For the Apes and Rangers, a 7U Spring Championship was on the line Saturday morning.

The Apes had gone undefeated through the playoffs, but they lost to the Rangers last Friday night to set up the winner-take all game the following morning. The Rangers scored three in the first inning but the Apes came back to take the lead 4-3 in the top of the 5th inning. The Rangers had a runner on second base with one out and their hitter grounded a sharp ball to first base. The Apes first baseman, Jordan O'Hara kicked the ball but then scooped it up and just beat the runner to the bag for the second out of the inning. While that play was developing, the baserunner came around third and headed for home with what would have been the tying run. O'Hara sprinted home and he was able to tag out the runner just as he was sliding. Home plate umpire Gary Rorison (and base umpire Connor Crawford) had the perfect view of the play and he called the runner out to end the game and give the Apes the 7U title. As for the crowd, the Apes fans screamed in victory while the Rangers fans argued the close play in disbelief.

Somehow, ESPN picked up the video that was submitted to them by an Apes parent, and they liked the ending enough to make it the #1 Play of the Day from last night's Top 10 on SportsCenter. You can watch the great play by the 6-year old first baseman at the 2:33 mark of the video.

Congrats to the Apes for a youth baseball championship well deserved.