Despite an outstanding season and a winning performance in the district championship semi-final game, the Weddington 18U baseball team has been defeated in their efforts to secure the district title. The Rage Carolina team, out of Indian Trail, returned from their semi-final loss to win 12-5 on Thursday. Seven strikeouts from Rage Carolina’s Keith Hodges would ultimately be a deciding factor in their district championship victory.

A 6-3 win over Rage Carolina by Weddington on Tuesday had the team in high hopes for the championship game. The Weddington team found itself down several players on Thursday and unable to stop the batting onslaught from the Rage Carolina team, led by Robert Bianculli and Jake Kuykendall, who each had several quality at-bats that led to multiple RBIs, and ultimately a score gap that could not be closed.

Both Rage Carolina and Weddington have records on the season that will earn a chance to play in the North Carolina Babe Ruth State Championship Tournament. Championship play will begin on Friday, July 5 and will continue through July 7 at a location to be determined.