The Oakville American Legion junior varsity team defeated Manchester 11-10 Sunday to win the state championship.

Oakville’s Ryan Schmidt drove in the game-winning run with two runners on base and two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning at Heine Meine Field.

“It’s been quite a day for us,” Oakville head coach Gary Schmidt told the Call. “We’ve battled Manchester all year long and they have a great ball club.”

The win for Oakville marked a complete turnaround from a 7-6 loss earlier in the day to Manchester in the double-elimination tournament. But the loss to Manchester provided an opportunity for Oakville to regroup and eventually win the state title.

“We had about a 30-minute break and the boys got together and talked,” Schmidt said. “They talked about how Heine Meine was our ball park and we needed to win.”

Starting pitcher Jake Moehlenbrock gave up eight runs on nine hits in five innings pitched. Moehlenbrock struck out two and walked two in the no-decision effort. He was also 1-2 at the plate with three walks and two runs batted in.

Oakville’s Glenn Grim grabbed the win as he gave up one run on one hit in one inning pitched.

“Glen is another one of our leaders on this team,” Schmidt said. “He really has stepped forward this year for us.”

Catcher John Brinkmann was two-for- four at the plate with one walk and one run batted in.

Brinkmann was solid throughout the regular season with a .409 batting average and a team leading 23 RBI.

“John’s also one of our leaders,” Schmidt said. “He’s a leader behind the plate, at the plate and in the field.”

Schmidt, who drove in the game-winning run for Oakville, was two-for-four at the plate with two runs batted in.

“When he drove in that game-winning run, the team went crazy and ran out on the field,” Schmidt said. “This is something that these boys will remember for the rest of their lives.”

Up next is the American Legion Mid-States Regional Tournament in Chanute, Kan.

The regional tournament features one team from Missouri, Kentucky, Kansas, Nevada, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Minnesota and Arkansas.

Oakville is slated to face the Nevada state champions at 1:30 p.m. Friday. The regional championship game is slated for Monday afternoon.