The One Eyed Cats will conclude their 13-15-year-old Babe Ruth World Series experience, in Lawrenceburg, Tenn., with a pool play game against West Windsor, N.J., on Monday, August 14.

The Cats, coming off a hard-fought 4-3 loss to Tri-Valley, Calif., on August 10, dropped their next two pool play contests and, as a result, will not qualify for the single-elimination playoff bracket.

Newtown's team fell 9-6 to Marshall County, Tenn., on August 12. It was a bizarre game in which Newtown only had three hits but reached base with 11 walks and a pair of hit batters.

Tennessee pitchers struck out 11 Cats along the way. Newtown fell behind 4-0 in the first and battled back to make it 4-3 at the end of three. Tennessee increased its lead with four runs in the fourth to make the score 8-3. Newtown continued to fight back with three runs in the bottom of the fourth, with Todd Petersen delivering a clutch two-run single to make it 8-6. Newtown had a few other opportunities but could not score again.

Dan Mason came on in relief and pitched 3 2/3 strong innings, striking out six and giving up only one run. Mason also went 1-for-3 at the plate and scored two runs. Joe Pagett scored two runs in the game.

In an exciting game on August 13, the One Eyed Cats were edged 6-5 by Sarasota, Fla., coming up just short in their quest to advance into the single-elimination playoff round.

The Newtown bats were held hitless into the fifth inning. Jack Mulligan started for Newtown and battled hard for 5 2/3 innings against a good-hitting Florida team.

Newtown fell behind 1-0 in the first and there was no scoring again until the fourth when Mason walked, stole second, and was moved to third on a sacrifice fly by Trevor Tyrrell, and came home on an error.

Newtown was also aided by some strong defense in this game. Petersen started two double plays, Gavin Connors made two nice catches on hard hit balls, and James Schumacher was strong behind the plate, throwing out a Florida runner.

Florida built a 6-1 lead entering the bottom of the seventh. That is when Newtown's bats woke up. Consecutive hits by Tyrrell, Petersen, Connors, and Byran Vander Have produced a run and loaded the bases for the Cats. Shea Talbot came up and drilled a double into the gap to make it 6-4. Vander Have scored on a wild pitch to cut the lead to one. With two outs and runners on the corners Michael Cotton hit a ball to left that looked like it was falling in but the Florida left fielder came in to make a great sliding catch to end the game.

Mulligan went 5 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits and fanning three, and Vander Have pitched 1 1/3 inning of two hit ball.