WASHINGTON — Mixon & Sawyer knocked off Oak Ridge Industries Saturday afternoon to capture the Cal Ripken Rookie League championship.

Before the game got underway, the collection of seven- and eight-year-olds and the fans were presented with a bit of pregame comedy, as the dry line marker spilled its contents down the third-base line, making for a chalky mess. Once the dust settled, quite literally, Braxton Woolard of Oak Ridge stepped up to lead things off.

Woolard singled and Michael Alan Gerard followed with a hit of his own, but their team failed to push across a run.

After about 30 minutes of consistent defensive play by both teams, Mixon & Sawyer broke the game open in the second. With one out, the boys in purple strung together four-consecutive hits, singles from Victor Hill, Henry Woolard and Gavin Story and a triple up the middle from Logan Vick. All four would eventually come around to score.

But Oak Ridge would answer in the top of third with a big inning of its own. Braxton Woolard, Michael Alan Gerard and Austin Gerard started things off with back-to-back-to-back singles. Then, in what was undoubtedly the knock of the day, Lane Brown stepped up and smashed an extra-base hit down the left field line, clearing the bases and coming around to score himself on the play.

The score was tied at four heading into the fourth inning. After the pitching machine retired the side in the fourth, Mixon & Sawyer’s Cade Mixon led off with an inside-the-park home run to right field, as his team followed suit with four-straight singles. Story, Vick and later Dylan Green and Mitchell all picked up an RBI in the inning.

Despite a single from Braxton Woolard, a triple from Michael Alan Gerard and a double from Austin Gerard, Oak Ridge couldn’t string enough runs together to match their opponent.

Mixon & Sawyer took the contest, 9-6. Hill, MIchell, Henry Woolard, Vick and Green all finished with two hits, while Braxton Woolard and Michael Alan Gerard ended 3-for-3 for Oak Ridge.