The Washtenaw County-based, 17-under Michigan Blue Jays finished as runners-up at the USSSA 18-under Elite World Championships played last week in Kissimmee, Fla.

The Blue Jays won their first eight games, including the first of three straight games against FTP Mizuno from Kissimmee. But the Mizuno team beat the Blue Jays 3-0 in a championship game and again, 9-0, in an “if necessary” contest to claim the title.

The 17-under Michigan Blue Jays include (top row, left to right) Mike Goike, Donnie Eaton, Issac Miller, Tyler Jones, Chris Ostrowski, Nolan Breymaier, Justin Goike (bottom row, left to right) Matt Wagner, Will Nimke, Conor Dishman, JP Maracani and Dennis Olszewski. (Photo courtesy of Tom Dishman)

Blue Jays coach Tom Dishman said his 12-player roster made up primarily of Washtenaw County players simply ran out of pitching at the end of the tournament, which was played at the Houston Astros spring training facility.

Dishman said the Mizuno team included eight players committed to Division 1 college programs.

The Blue Jays won their first seven games - against teams from Florida, Texas and Illinois - by a combined score of 56-22 before beating FTP Mizuno 5-3 in the winner’s bracket final.

The Blue Jays pitching staff of Donnie Eaton (Father Gabriel Richard), Justin Goike (Father Gabriel Richard), Mike Goike (Father Gabriel Richard), Chris Ostrowski (Father Gabriel Richard), Alex Kinch (Pioneer), Will Nimke (Pioneer), Issac Miller (Manchester), Scott Williams (Addison) and Tyler Jones (Owosso) allowed 37 runs in 10 games.

The Blue Jays’ bats were lead by Nolan Breymaier (Father Gabriel Richard), Conor Dishman (Father Gabriel Richard), Dennis Olszewski (Father Gabriel Richard), Matt Wagner (Father Gabriel Richard), J.P. Maracani (Pinckney), Nimke, Ostrowski, and Jones.

The Blue Jay organization will hold tryouts for players age 8-18 on Saturday at the Eastern Michigan University intramural fields. For more information, visit the Blue Jays’ website or email tdish07@yahoo.com.