The New Paris Kings 12U baseball team celebrate around Cory Lantz, who hit a two-run homer against Lewis Cass at the Town & Country State Finals tournament Friday in Pierceton. (Photos by Mike Deak)

PIERCETON – New Paris’ quest for a Town & Country 12U baseball state title went as hoped Friday evening, walloping Lewis Cass, 11-1, in a run-rule, five-inning game in the first of two games in bracket play.

New Paris’ Casey Murray follows his contact against Lewis Cass.

Kings’ slugger Cory Lantz clubbed a two-run homer and scored twice to lead the club, which hung six runs in the first two innings and never looked back. Caleb Wright, Owen Miller and Carson Abramson all scored two runs each for New Paris, which collected nine hits in the contest.

The Kings move into the winner’s bracket to face Alexandria, which clobbered North Miami 15-1 Thursday evening.

In game two at Pierceton, Flora and Delphi played a fantastic game that Flora had just enough to lift to a 5-4 win. Flora faces Plymouth, a 6-0 winner Thursday against Ole Miss. Delphi will meet North Miami Saturday.

Mentone started its 8U tournament off right Friday with a 10-0 shutout of Frankfort at Rochester. Blaine Sheetz led the charge for the Mudhens with a triple, four RBIs and a run scored. Braxton Yates, Brock Derf and Reed Jones each had an RBI and run scored and Zach Miller added a pair of runs scored. Evan Bolinger and Nash Miller provided two RBIs each.

The Mentone 8U defense makes a play against team Friday night at the state tournament in Rochester. (Photo provided)

Mentone moves on to play Oak Hill Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m., the Hill a 15-14 survivor of Rochester Thursday night.

Russiaville beat North Miami in the second game, setting up a Russiaville-Sheridan matchup in the winner’s bracket, while Plymouth and North Miami meet in the loser’s bracket.

In the 10U bracket at Monticello, Plymouth beat Oak Hill 14-8. The North Miami and Flora score was not immediately reported. Mentone, a 7-6 winner over Frankton Thursday, will play Saturday at noon.

Mentone and New Paris will begin their 12U softball Town & Country state tournaments with Saturday morning games at Rochester. New Paris will play at 9 a.m. against Lewis Cass and Mentone will play at 11 a.m. against Pioneer. If either team wins, it will play at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, or conversely, losing teams will play at 1 p.m.

New Paris pitcher Caleb Wright fires against Lewis Cass.