The Union County 14-year-old Babe Ruth all-star team battered its opponents at the District 3 tournament over the weekend.

UC went 3-0 to capture the district championship and advance to the state tournament in The Dalles starting Thursday.

Union County started the tournament with a 19-15 victory over Snake River Valley on Friday morning.

UC hammered Harney County 22-1 in Friday’s evening game and rolled past SRV in the title game, 21-4.

“I haven’t looked at the book so I don’t know how many hits we had, but I think we had maybe five strikeouts the whole tournament,” UC manager Arnie Peasely said. “These kids can hit the ball.”

Things started off a little shaky for Union County in Saturday’s championship game.

Snake River was able to get four runs in the top of the first inning

off starting pitcher Aaron Goss.

“I knew we got good bats and we could come back from it,” Peasley said of the first inning. “But when you give up four runs in the top of the first it’s a little scary.”

Union County made it easy on their manager the rest of the game by putting up nine runs in the bottom of the first and never looking back.

A three-run second inning and a nine-run third inning capped the scoring.

“We just wanted them to be aggressive at the plate,” Peasley said.

“Very rarely did I give them a take sign on a 3-0 (count) – I just told them to swing it because I know they all can hit.”

G.T. Blackman went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double and an RBI, while Jon Gonzalez went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Travis Haga had two hits and Andrew Peasley had one run batted in.

Goss went all five innings and struck out five to earn the win.

Union County will now have a quick turnaround before heading to The Dalles for the state tournament. UC will open the tournament against Willamette Valley.

“It’s the same deal. Just keep swinging these bats. We know we can put up runs. The more runs we score the better,” Peasley said.

Contact Casey Kellas at 541-975-3351 or ckellas@lagrandeobserver.com. Follow Casey on Twitter@lgoKellas.