There wasn't much the Arlington Storm 10-Black didn't accomplish in winning the state Babe Ruth baseball tournament championship.

Playing all of their games at the tourney site in Winchester, the team was quite thorough in all aspects of the game in the 14-team event. They finished with a 5-1 overall record, including a 4-1 comeback victory over a traditionally high-scoring Glen Allen team in the title game. Glen Allen finished 4-1 and scored 45 runs combined in its first four games.

Arlington opened play with a 14-0 no-hitter victory over Gloucester. The Storm Black also allowed few runs in their other victories, as they consistently hit well, had many extra-base hits, played strong defense with few errors and had stingy pitching with limited walks and many strikeouts.

The wins also included an extra-inning 5-2 victory over Manassas with the help of Liam Aughavin's eighth-inning two-run inside-the-park home run. Tournament most valuable player Grayson Sinder also had an RBI hit in the eighth.

Arlington's other wins were over Peachtree by 14-2 and 4-1 scores. The one loss was to Peachtree, 5-3, when the Storm Black had their one difficult defensive game.

"This team showed a lot of grit and put together all three aspects of the game consistently," Storm manager Billy Hollister said. "They were a resilient bunch, strong willed and hyper competitive. In that loss we had some untimely errors, but we responded after that loss turned to an extra gear and bounced right back. It was a total team effort."

Arlington won two straight games after that loss to win the state crown.

In the state final, Glen Allen took an early 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the second inning. Arlington responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning to move ahead for good at 3-1. Brody Palmer had a two-run double in that frame and Alex Pollack singled.

In the fourth, Preston Busby singled and scored on an error and William Hollister had a hit. Sinder hurled a 76-pitch complete-game three-hitter with three strikeouts to go 2-0 in the tourney. He fanned the game's final hitter with two runners on base. Sinder allowed only one hit over the final four innings.

"Grayson has really developed on the mound. He was awesome and a horse for us," Hollister said. With the bat, he hit .400 in the six games.

Palmer, A.J. Peters, knuckleballer Maniai Saruultugs and Franco Rizzolo also were winning pitchers in the tournament for the Storm Black. Rizzolo threw a five-inning no-hitter with six strikeouts against Gloucester. Preston Busby had a couple of saves.

Peters had two hits and four RBI against Gloucester. Aughavin had three hits in that game.

"This team never quits," Billye Hollister said. "Teams have to get all 18 outs against the Storm Black. We compete hard and play pitch to pitch and play to play."

Jack Guthrie, William Hill and Hunter Pratt were other contributing players for the Storm Black. Kevin Aughavin, Jason Busby and Aaron Peters are the coaches.

Getting a second chance after a disappointing game-two loss, the Arlington Storm -Black made the best of the opportunity and won a state championship.

In that second-chance contest, the Arlington team defeated the Peachtree All-Stars, 6-4, in the championship game of the 9YO state Babe Ruth baseball tournament in Henrico. Storm had previously lost to Peachtree (from the Harrisonburg area) 6-5, in pool-play action, allowing six runs in the first inning.

Overall, Arlington was 4-1 in the eight-team state tournament, going 2-1 in pool play and 2-0 in the playoff round.

Its semifinal playoff victory was over New Kent, 8-3. Arlington downed Glen Allen, 15-5, in first-round pool-play action and blanked Williamsburg, 11-0, in another pool-play tilt. Arlington manager Brian Churney said the Storm Black won the state title with timely hitting and strong defense and pitching.

 "It was really a solid team effort and everyone contributed," Churney said. "If we hit and play clean baseball, we are hard to beat. Plus, this group doesn't get down and the players really get behind each other." Churney explained in that loss to Peachtree, Arlington had just one bad inning, allowing six runs in the first.

In the state final rematch, the Storm Black rallied from a 2-1 deficit after the first inning and led the rest of the way behind 10 hits and no errors. They were ahead 5-2, after three innings. Arlington was charged with making just one error in the tournament.

Kyle Williamson doubled and had three hits and an RBI in the state final, William Healy doubled and had two hits with a sacrifice fly and Nathan Churney had two hits. Single hits went to Toby Lin and Reese Myers, each with an RBI, and Mateo Flores. Reed Kennerly had an RBI. Luke Pascarella was the starting and winning pitcher, working four innings and Myers pitched two shutout and hitless innings in relief, throwing just 15 pitches, to earn the save.

"We made every play we needed to make," Brian Churney said.

In the 8-3 victory over New Kent, Sawyer Tallent had a hit (double) and three RBI. Nathan Churney and Williamson each had two hits and Lin, Kennerly and Myers all had one hit. On the mound, Nathan Churney hurled a six-inning, 70-pitch complete-game four hitter. He allowed one earned run, did not walk a batter and struck out one.

Arlington had 12 hits, struck out just once and scored 10 runs in the first inning against Stafford. Nathan Churney, Flores, Lin and Bruce Calvin all had two hits. Williamson had a hit and three , Tallent, Pascarella and Healy each doubled and  Logan Mikoy had an RBI and scored a run. Pascarella started on the mound and struck out six of the 14 batters he faced. Williamson (three strikeouts) and Lin worked in relief.

Against Williamsburg, Williamson had two hits and four RBI and Bruce and James Dickson each drove in two runs. Dickson was the starting and winning pitcher in four innings of work with seven strikeouts and he allowed two hits. Flores threw one hitless inning in relief.

 "It was a great weekend and it was a tremendous effort," Brian Churney said. By winning the state, the Storm Black advance to the Southeast Region tournament near Charlotte, N.C. "We expect to contend for the title," Churney said.

NOTE: Overall, the Storm Black have a 25-2 record including all tournament action and other single games. The team won a tournament in Winchester prior to the state competition.