Peyton Hodges leaves it all on the field in Babe Ruth World Series

Before the start of every inning, Fighting Squirrels pitcher Peyton Hodges crouches by the pitcher's mound to pray.

"It's just a few words to myself to clear my head, stay calm," Hodges said. "I started that junior year, had success with it, and ever since then, it's just one of my routines."

Whether it was a win or loss, Wednesday night was the finale for Peyton Hodges at Capaha Field.

The East Prairie grad left it all on the mound for the Fighting Squirrels on the third night of the Babe Ruth World Series, throwing 82 pitches over 5.2 innings with seven hits, three earned runs, four walks, and four strikeouts.

"I was super nervous at the beginning, had some good teammates calm me down, and out there on the field, the only thing I was thinking of was that next pitch. I wasn't nervous. I was ready to go."

The Fighting Squirrels lost 3-2 to a California team that is 3-0 along with Indiana. It was a starring contest between the Squirrels and Dirtbags from Delano. Hodges left the mound with two outs, the bases loaded, and a 1-1 tie on the scoreboard.

"Of course, I want to stay in," Hodges said. "At the same time I trust my coach, I trust my teammates, I know that the game was just as good in my hands as it is in theirs. I had faith in them to do their job and it sucks the way it turned out. But I'm proud of the way we competed.

"Stepping off the field, I know there was nothing else I could have done," Hodges said. "That was a good team we play. They just beat us today."

Even if the Squirrels won on Wednesday and advanced to the bracket stage of the tournament on Friday and Saturday with a win on Thursday against Asia Pacific, it would be without Hodges as he is set to depart to Kenyon College in Ohio.

"There's not a lot of time at all," Hodges said. "I mean, going from this to driving eight hours. I'm there playing ball almost immediately. It is going to be pretty cool. It's definitely a changing environment but I've talked to a few of the guys and we're all pretty excited to keep going. It's definitely always a blessing to be able to continue playing baseball."

Through East Prairie and the Squirrels, Hodges has spent plenty of time on the mound in Capaha Field. It was special for him to finish his high school/travel ball career with the Babe Ruth World Series on his home turf.

"It was definitely the biggest crowd I've ever played in front of," Hodges said. "I mean, all the teams the Squirrels have played in the World Series, there's never been one here in Cape. It's pretty cool to be able to host it even with the result of the game. It's just a pretty cool experience."