Top 5 local players to watch at Babe Ruth World Series

The Babe Ruth World Series is quickly approaching Cape Girardeau.

It is potentially the biggest sporting event this town has ever seen, even bigger than the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament.

Even bigger than that? Impossible!

Both the Southeast Tropics and Charleston Fighting Squirrels are in the tournament as the host teams. Two rosters filled with local talent will take on the top 16-18U teams in the country including Canada, China, Aruba, Australia, and Taiwan.

Here are five top five local players to look out for next week when the Babe Ruth World Series begins on Monday, August 14, at Capaha Field:

__Levi McKinnie, Fighting Squirrels__

Levi McKinnie did it all this past spring. He tossed over 100 strikeouts on the mound to lead Chaffee to its first third-place finish.

__Peyton Hodges, Fighting Squirrels__

Peyton Hodges threw more than 100 strikeouts for two straight seasons with East Prairie. The second-team all-stater had a 7-3 record on the mound with 107 strikeouts and a 1.26 ERA across 61 innings and also batted .322 with 29 hits, including five doubles, a triple, and a home run for 16 RBIs and 24 runs scored.

__Thomas Frakes, Fighting Squirrels__

Thomas Frakes was a big part of Portageville reaching the final four this past spring, finishing the year with a perfect 5-0 record on the mound with a 1.95 ERA and 46 strikeouts. Frakes also batted .365 with 45 RBIs, 34 runs scored, and 46 hits, including the game-winning hit during the 12th inning of the MSHSAA Class 3 third-place game.

__Trey Benthal, Tropics__

Trey Benthal was a second-team all-state selection and the Bootheel Conference Player of the Year after finishing this past season with a 10-1 record on the mound, a 2.50 ERA, and 75 strikeouts. He also batted .366 with 46 RBIs, 29 runs scored, and 41 hits, including 10 doubles, a triple, and two home runs for the Bulldogs.

__Kolten Payne, Tropics__

Kolten Payne, the Scott Mississippi Conference Player of the Year helped led Oran to a 17-5 record and a MSHSAA Class 1, District 2 Championship. He earned first-team all-state honors after finishing this past spring with a 5-2 record, 87 strikeouts across 54.1 innings. Payne also had a .333 batting average with 24 hits including six doubles, a home run, 11 RBIs, and scored 32 runs.