North Clark County 18-U tournament team earns Babe Ruth state title

The Lookouts 18-U tournament baseball team consisting of Clark County high school players earned a Babe Ruth state title with a 5-4 win over a Kelso-based tournament team on Sunday, July 7.

Matt Newton, head coach of the 18-U squad and Lookouts club owner, said the program is designed to provide a higher level of competitive baseball but at a price point families can afford. The club was founded eight years ago and now consists of 11 teams.

The 18-U squad of nine Battle Ground High School players, two Prairie High School players, one La Center High School player and two Evergreen High School players, earned the state title in their final year of tournament baseball.

“The kids battled pretty hard the whole weekend, and they really showed character. They represented Battle Ground and the surrounding areas well as far as respectfulness on the field, and the kids are just tough,” Newton said.
The tournament wasn’t just played in the heat, the high air temperatures affected the turf field, as well.

“It was definitely a hot one,” Newton said. “There was a temperature gun put on the field, and at the turf it was 150 degrees. Our catcher had to change out his cleats because they were so hot, they had to cool down in the dugout.”

Despite the conditions, Newton said the players displayed their grittiness and toughness with their championship outcome.

Battle Ground’s Noah Salyers pitched a complete game in the championship bout, while La Center’s Wyatt Eiesland and Battle Ground’s Noah Newton led the squad on the mound in order to reach the final. Over the weekend, the Lookouts outscored their opponents 26-13.

The Lookouts team wasn’t given the extra travel days to compete at regionals, so Matt Newton said the state title is the crown of the season and career that started with 10-U baseball. Kelso Premier 18-U, whom the Lookouts beat, will be heading to the Babe Ruth regionals in Wyoming from July 14-21. Salyers and Noah Newton will be joining the Kelso Premier squad to the regionals.

The Lookouts will honor their high school seniors at 1 p.m., Saturday, July 27, at Battle Ground High School’s varsity baseball field.