“The Babe Ruth 14-year-old All-Stars came up a game short in their quest to win the state championship, falling 4-0 to North Kitsap on Tuesday afternoon after forcing a final game with a 6-5, 11-inning win earlier in the day.I think the first game took a lot of energy out of them, said Charles Peach, who coached many of the players during the regular season. It was hot, and we had to play an extra game to get to the finals.North Kitsap jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first game with a second-inning run, but Bainbridge tied it in their half of the inning on a double by Zach Peach, Grant Leslie’s sacrifice and David Lantz’s single.North came right back with three in the top of the third. Bainbridge scored a run in the fourth on successive singles by Peach, Leslie and Lantz.They scored three in the bottom of the sixth to take a 5-4 lead as Matt Frazee’s groundout scored one run and Peach’s clutch two-out single plated two more. But North tied the game in the top of the seventh to force extra innings.Leslie’s single opened the bottom of the 11th. Jeremy Bjornson ran for Leslie, advanced to second on Ranger Sciacca’s sacrifice, then moved to third on a wild pitch. With the North defense drawn in, Lantz’s long liner sailed far over the left fielder’s head to drive in Bjornson.The team pounded out 14 hits, led by Peach (5-6) and Lantz (4-6). Kevin Roach shut down the North Kitsap rally in the third and pitched through the ninth, allowing just one run. Matt Frazee pitched two scoreless innings for the win.That was probably the best game I’ve ever been involved in as a manager, said manager Mike Patterson. It was just a thrilling victory.In the second game, North Kitsap jumped to an early lead and coasted to the win, as Bainbridge managed only five hits.We ran out of pitching, Patterson said. But we still shut them down except for one inning. We just couldn’t get our bats going. Still, second place in the state is something to be very proud of. I think that it’s funny that we play teams from all over the state and wind up with a team that’s just five minutes away for the championship, Peach said. Their program has really come around. There weren’t any weaknesses in their lineup.The team moves on to next month’s US Amateur Baseball 14-Year-Old World Series in Pasco. The 14-team event, featuring teams from California, Puerto Rico and Venezuela, begins Aug. 9 with a five-game seeding tournament and continues through Aug. 17. “