The Northwest Vipers 8 and Under machine pitch baseball team participated in the Sports America TPX Summer Classic held June 21-22 in Oak Grove, Mo.

The Vipers went 3-2 for the weekend, earning a second place finish in the tournament.
The Vipers got off to a slow start in the tournament, suffering a 9-16 loss to the Oak Grove Bombers in their first pool play game of the weekend. The following players each had two hits in the contest: Jett Simmons of Gallatin, Will Walker, Matt Twaddle, Cameron Staples and Jalen Sundell all of Maryville, Jacob Lewis of Winston, Eli Dowis of Conception and Bradley Hailey of Stanberry.

Twaddle had three runs scored, followed by Simmons with two and Walker, Staples, Dowis and Sundell with one run scored each. Twaddle and Lewis each tallied two RBI.
The Vipers had 15 hits in their second pool play game, en route to a 10-4 victory against the Tipton Cardinals. Staples and Dowis led the way for the Vipers with three hits apiece. They were followed by Simmons, Twaddle, Hailey and Cy Uthe of Winston with two hits each. Lewis and Walker each had one hit. Dowis had three runs scored followed by Simmons and Uthe each with two runs scored. Twaddle, Lewis, Dowis and Hailey each recorded two RBI in the win, as well.

In their final pool play contest, the Vipers defeated the Triple Play All-Stars of Grain Valley, M. by a score of 10-4. Leading the offensive attack for the Vipers were Staples, Uthe and Sundell with three hits each. They were followed by Simmons, Dowis, Lewis and Hailey with two hits apiece and Braydan Cox of Savannah with one hit. Staples scored three runs, followed by Cox, Lewis and Uthe with two runs scored each. Simmons, Lewis, Uthe and Sundell each had two RBI.

The Vipers concluded pool play with a record of 2-1 which earned them a spot in the single elimination tournament. In the semi-final game, the Vipers faced the Volcano’s from Lee’s Summit, Mo. The Viper offense was on fire recording 27 hits en route to a 17-13 victory earning them a spot in the tournament’s championship game. Walker and Sundell sparked the Viper offense with four hits apiece. They were followed by Staples, Cox, Uthe and Hailey each with three hits, Dowis and Dalton Swalley of Gallatin with two hits each and Lewis with one hit.  Walker had three runs scored followed by Simmons, Staples, Dowis, Cox and Swalley each with two runs scored. Walker, Staples, Dowis and Cox each recorded three RBI in the win, followed by Swalley with two and Uthe, Sundell and Hailey each with one RBI.

The win over the Volcanoes advanced the Vipers to the tournament’s championship game where they had a rematch with the Triple Play All-Stars. This time it was the All-Stars that got the win, defeating the Vipers by a score of 16-1. Walker had two hits for the Vipers. He was followed by Simmons, Staples, Dowis, Swalley and Uthe with one hit each. Dowis had the lone RBI and Simmons scored the Vipers only run.

The Vipers’ record stands at 10-11. They will travel to Mill Creek Sports Complex in Independence, Mo. this weekend for the 8 and Under Class AA State Tournament.