MOSES LAKE — The BPA Basin Bash April 21-22 was the first time the team of 15 13-year-old all-star players had been on the field at the same time.

In fact, the first game at 8 a.m. was the first time the Kitsap County All Stars came together as one. Prior practices had never involved the entire team, since the players are all on separate Babe Ruth teams.

That didn’t seem to matter much, however.

The All Stars, the host team for the 2012 13-year-old Babe Ruth World Series, left the BPA Basin Bash as champions. The combined five-game series ended with a 4-3 win over Cascade Crush of Bellingham.

Coach Russ Shiplet described the team as cohesive. The 15 players communicated well. They know how to hit and pitch.

“These kids already know how to play the game,” Shiplet said.

The tournament was the first the All Stars have entered since being formed earlier in the year. They will enter another May 12-13 in Lynden and host a tournament June 23-24 at Snider Park in Poulsbo. A few more will follow.

The tournaments are a way for the host team to prepare for the World Series Aug. 13-22. The 15 baseball players comprise one of 10 teams that will compete at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds.

Because the players on the All Stars are required to play in Babe Ruth baseball, each has separate obligations. Players on the team are split between North Kitsap and Central Kitsap. Shiplet has no problem with them being on other teams right now.

“I want to encourage them,” he said. “As long as they’re playing on a team, I’m not going to get in the way of that.”

Once the Babe Ruth season is over it will be All Stars baseball all the way.

Shiplet said for the most part, the work that needs to be done with the team is simple “fine-tuning.”

The team has an ample number of pitchers, which was apparent during the Basin Bash tournament. Shiplet said nobody’s arm was taxed.

The All Stars team coach was also pleased with hitting.

Because it’s difficult to tell how well a pitcher at that age will be able to make it over the plate, it adds another factor into the hitting game. If it came down to it, Shiplet said his team did well at moving around the box if needed.

Shiplet also coached the team on making the pitchers work long into the count, tiring them out more.

As for the championship game, “It was a nail biter.”

The game was in the seventh with the All Stars up 4-3 to Cascade Crush. Crush had two on base. A base hit would score. Thankfully for the All Stars, that depth in pitching was there and the Crush struck out.

The All Stars won three of five games with the “mercy rule.” The team scored a total of 45 points to their opponents 14 in the series. All Stars player Jacob Kriebel of Central Kitsap took the tournament MVP honors.

Results/Stats

Game 1 — against Crush, 5-5

Game 2 — against Ephrata, 14-3 (win)

Game 3 — against NW Krush, 12-3 (win)

Game 4 — against Ephrata, 12-4 (win)

Championship — against Crush, 4-3 (win)

Team Batting Avg = .321

Opp Batting Avg = .162

Top hitters for the Kitsap All Stars: Jake Kriebel, 8-10, 6 RBIs; Mel Crowley, 6-10, 3 RBIs; DJ Logan, 5-10, 2 RBIs; Miles Brundage, 3-10, 5 RBIs

Stolen Bases: Andy Crawford, 6; Harrison Sandy, 5

Total Team Stolen Bases = 27

Totals Runs Scored = 47

Opp Runs Scored = 18