Members of the Ohio Valley Region champions from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, pictured, in front, from left, are: Tyler Barrows, Cashton Kainz, Evan Weiler, Peyton Vieth, Gavin Thompson, Ethan Prell and Austin McGraw. In back are: head coach John Bugher, Zach Shipman, Aaron Gust, Blake Bugher, Cameron Buchman, Aiden Pankratz, Aiden Becker and assistant coach Justin Thompson. Absent is assistant coach Dalton McGraw. Submitted photo

JAMESTOWN, N.Y. — Usually an advantage for the host team is that it is familiar with or has even had a chance to compete at the ballpark. That’s something the host Jamestown Krusaders definitely has, especially since many of the players were on the team just two years ago at the Babe Ruth 13-year-old World Series at Diethrick Park.

However, they are not the only team with that experience.

A familiar team is making its third straight trip to the Babe Ruth World Series. The Eau Claire, Wisconsin, A’s Blue Team is the once again the Ohio Valley Regional champion and is ready to compete at Diethrick Park again.

“Most of these guys know what it takes to get through one of these tournaments,” Eau Claire head coach John Bugher stated. “You have got to stay focused for a whole week, it’s tough. Attention span is about a day long and these guys have got to stay focused for 10 days. We have got 10 kids back from last year, 10 of the same kids were here in 2021, so I think they really know what it takes. And the kids that weren’t back, these veteran guys can take care of them.”

Eau Claire had a memorable tournament in 2021, both good and bad. The A’s marched through pool play undefeated to earn the top seed, but proceeded to drop its final two games.

“I remember it very well,” Bugher said about the 2021 World Series in Jamestown. “The biggest thing is how we got eliminated. Semifinal game, we’re the No. 1 seed, up 8-2 going into the fourth or fifth inning and we let it squeak away.”

Having done it two times now, Eau Claire had no problem getting back to the World Series. As the host team of the Wisconsin state tournament, it marched through perfectly 4-0 and then in the Ohio Valley Regionals in Crown Point, Indiana, it went a perfect 5-0.

With three trips to the World Series, Eau Claire has vastly improved since its last visit to Diethrick Park.

“We’ve been pitching real well,” Bugher said about the strengths of his team. “That’s been a big focus for me. Most of these kids threw for jayvee or varsity in high school as a freshman or sophomore. It’s really helped and they’ve really worked on things all year. It’s not just me, it’s those guys working on the things they need to do to get through and get better. Our offense has been pretty stellar. … opposing teams, I would hate to pitch against this team.

Every team competing in the World Series boasts several talents and Eau Claire is not short on that, but standing out from the pack is center fielder Tyler Barrows.

“He hits about .470 average in the year, then in regionals he hit about .850 and he can shag anything down in center field,” Bugher said. “Blake Bugher also had a good regional, he hit about .850, won two games as a starting pitcher. Overall, the lineup I have in there 1-10, even 1-13, I can trust any of those guys in there.”

Even for an experienced team like Eau Claire, making it to the Babe Ruth World Series does not lose its luster.

“You see some of the best Babe Ruth teams all over the nation,” Bugher said about the Babe Ruth World Series experience. “That’s why we continue to do it. In state and regionals, you might see a couple teams you normally wouldn’t play, but you’ve got to get through them things and get those games out of the way and get to this level where you’re going to see some good players.”

Name: Tyler Barrows

Jersey No.: 1

Hometown: Eau Claire

Bats/throws: R/R

Position: Outfield

Favorite professional team: Milwaukee Brewers

Favorite professional athlete: Steph Curry

Name: Peyton Vieth

Jersey No.: 4

Hometown: Elk Mound

Bats/throws: R/R

Positions: Infield/outfield

Favorite professional team: Milwaukee Brewers

Favorite professional athlete: Ronald Acuna Jr.

Name: Gavin Thompson

Jersey No.: 6

Hometown: Chippewa Falls

Bats/throws: L/R

Positions: Outfield/infield

Favorite professional team: Milwaukee Brewers

Favorite professional athlete: Jaire Alexander

Name: Cashton Kainz

Jersey No.: 8

Hometown: Eau Claire

Bats/throws: R/R

Position: Infield

Favorite professional team: Milwaukee Brewers

Favorite professional athlete: Ray Lewis

Name: Evan Weiler

Jersey No.: 9

Hometown: Chippewa Falls

Bats/throws: R/L

Positions: Pitcher/first base

Favorite professional team: Green Bay Packers

Favorite professional athlete: Willy Adames

Name: Zach Shipman

Jersey No.: 11

Hometown: Eau Claire

Bats/throws: L/R

Positions: Catcher/infield

Favorite professional team: None

Favorite professional athlete: None

Name: Aiden Pankratz

Jersey No.: 12

Hometown: Eau Claire

Bats/throws: R/R

Position: Outfield

Favorite professional team: Milwaukee Brewers

Favorite professional athlete: None

Name: Blake Bugher

Jersey No.: 20

Hometown: Eau Claire

Bats/throws: R/R

Positions: Infield/pitcher

Favorite professional team: Milwaukee Bucks

Favorite professional athlete: Christian Watson

Name: Austin McGraw

Jersey No.: 22

Hometown: Eau Claire

Bats/throws: R/R

Positions: Infield/pitcher

Favorite professional team: New York Yankees

Favorite professional athlete: Francisco Lindor

Name: Aaron Gust

Jersey No.: 27

Hometown: Eau Claire

Bats/throws: R/R

Positions: Pitcher/infield

Favorite professional team: Milwaukee Bucks

Favorite professional athlete: Christian Yelich

Name: Cameron Buchman

Jersey No.: 28

Hometown: Eau Claire

Bats/throws: L/R

Positions: Infield/pitcher

Favorite professional team: Milwaukee Brewers

Favorite professional athlete: Mickey Mantle

Name: Aiden Becker

Jersey No.: 29

Hometown: Chetek

Bats/throws: R/R

Positions: Catcher/infield

Favorite team: Wisconsin Badgers

Favorite professional athlete: Michael Jordan

Name: Ethan Prell

Jersey No.: 35

Hometown: Altoona

Bats/throws: L/L

Position: Outfield

Favorite professional team: Milwaukee Brewers

Favorite professional athlete: Giannis Antetokounmpo