NAMPA, IDAHO — When the dust clears after a high-stakes tournament like the Babe Ruth Regional, North Kitsap Manager Mike Jones weighs, as objectively as he can, the improvement and growth of his team — even if they’re not the champions.

Such was the case this year, when despite a 3-1 record, the Babe Ruth 15s came up short of qualifying for the World Series, a tournament they made as 14-year-olds.

“To go to the World Series would have been awesome,” Jones admitted. “But the bottom line is, you look at the kids and you ask, ‘Are they better than they were a year ago?’ As a team and as individuals, yeah, I think they are.”

No doubt there was disappointment in missing the Series. But when one considers that the squad is only the second in NKBR history to make the World Series and was only a few wins from repeating the feat, there is much that is positive to be happy about, Jones added.

“It was a tough way to go but things had to fall just right for us to go (to the World Series) again,” he said. “I couldn’t be prouder of these guys. To watch them grow from young boys to young men was incredible.”

Following consecutive wins versus Wyoming and Alberta, Canada to open the tournament, the North Washington representatives scraped together a 7-6 victory against Southern Oregon Saturday — though it came with a price. North lead-off hitter and shortstop Taylor Zehrung endured a head-on collision at second base that knocked him out of the tournament.

The game also began with the ejection of catcher James Smith, who was said to have attempted to take out the Oregon shortstop who was attempting to turn a double play.

In the bottom of the fifth, however, NK would make its run. Theron Rahier hit an RBI triple to give the squad its first lead of the game, at 4-3. Though Southern Oregon rallied with three runs in the top of the seventh, Jamaal Smith hit a two-out RBI single to tie the game at six apiece. Reuben Smith added another, scoring Chris Jones from third to end the game.

NK’s late game Saturday saw the team stymied on both the offensive and defensive ends, setting up the early exit for the team. Costly errors in the top of the third allowed the Idaho team to score eight runs, and NK’s usually high scoring offense was thwarted by Nampa starting pitcher Greg Brandner, who threw a complete game.

James Smith hit NK’s only RBI, as the team lost 11-1.

At 3-1 in regionals, North Kitsap would have needed a Nampa win against Southern Oregon Sunday for a bid into the tournament semi-finals. Southern Oregon dispatched the host team, 2-0, to move into the semis and send defending champs NK back to Poulsbo.

And the next move for the Babe Ruth 15s?

Jones mentioned there has been talk of organizing a senior Babe Ruth team. But the spot fans will most likely see the 15s All Stars will be on the North Kitsap High School diamond, playing for the varsity, junior varsity and C teams for the Vikings. Regardless of where they land, Jones said “ … they’ll go into high school and they’ll do just fine.”

As they exit the ranks of Babe Ruth and play in high school — and beyond — just how good these guys were in comparison to the teams before them will become more apparent. As only the second World Series participant in North Kitsap history, it’s difficult to argue that they aren’t some of the best to ever grace Snider Park.

While Jones said he hasn’t been around as long as other area coaches, he knows deep down his own feelings on the matter.

“There’s been a lot of good players come out of North Kitsap, and I think these guys are right up there with the best of them,” Jones said. “In my heart, I’d say they’re the best.”

Correspondent and North Kitsap High School 2005 graduate Daniel Yee contributed to this report. Yee will be attending Gonzaga University in the fall.