The Slidell Sluggers, a nine-year old Slidell Bantam Baseball Association team, won the United States Specialty Sports Association All-Star World Series after defeating the PAC Cougars 9-7 at Pelican Park last Sunday.

Slidell coach Tony Chappetta said it was a total team effort.

“Every team has one or two all-stars that always stand out,” Chappetta said. “But this Slugger team has 10 true all-star players. Throughout the season, it seemed that in each tournament game someone new stepped up to be the star and that’s what makes this team finish with an in class record of 17-1.”

Pictured are the Slidell Sluggers, who won the United States Specialty Sports Association All-Star World Series held July 5-12 at Pelican Park after recording a 6-1 record in the event. From left, first row: Santana Gomez, Ryan Johnson, Nick Talamo, Caleb Stearns and Matthew Charbonnet; second row: Parker Autry, Anthony Chappetta, Ian Landreneau, Ethan Campo and Cole Cavallo.

In the championship game, Matthew Charbonnet went 3-3.

The contests were either on a one hour and 30 minute time limit or six innings, but there was no time limit in the title game.

For the tournament, pitcher/shortstop Ethan Campo collected three wins and gave up five runs in 13 innings. He also threw a complete game (six innings) against the PAC Cougars during the second-bracket game in a 5-2 victory.

In the title game, Campo was playing shortstop. PAC had runners on second and third with two outs and down 9-7.

Campo made an over the shoulder catch to end the game.

Campo, a fifth grader at First Baptist Christian School, said his fastball was working best for him throughout the tournament. He talked about how it felt to win the title.

“It was very exciting for all of us,” Campo said.

Campo also said they tried to dump water on the coach, but he moved out of the way.

Ryan Johnson was the Sluggers’ leading hitter with a .534 tournament batting average.

The Sluggers opened pool play on July 7 by defeating the Sharon Springs All-Stars out of Georgia 18-4. Slidell came back the next day to capture a 10-0 victory over the Ascension Gators.

The Sluggers began bracket play on July 9 by topping the SBBA Slidell Strikers 11-3. On the July 10, Slidell continued its winning ways with a 5-2 win over PAC.

Then they beat the St. John Warriors the next day, which put Slidell in the finals.

The PAC Cougars had to defeat Slidell twice for the title. PAC captured an 18-3 victory in the first game, but the Sluggers rebounded with a 9-7 victory for the championship.