The New Paris Kings 12U baseball team won the Town & Country Senior baseball tournament at Pierceton Monday evening, rallying to defeat Flora, 11-8. (Photos by Scott Russell)

PIERCETON – New Paris showed the heart of a champion Monday night. That mettle warranted a state title as the 12U Kings rallied in a big way to claim the Town & Country 12U Senior State baseball championship at Pierceton Little League after an 11-8 win over Flora.

The Kings, which had surrendered only two runs in the tournament through three games, were all of a sudden staring down an 8-1 deficit to Flora after the visitors posted a five-spot in the top of the fifth inning.

The New Paris bats woke up in a major way as the Kings scored 10 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, sending 13 batters to the plate in the frame. After mustering just four hits in the first four innings, New Paris smacked five hits in the fifth and drew four walks. The turnstile in front of home plate umpire Aaron Minglin saw New Paris gain extra insurance on top of its shock factor, propelling the Elkhart County nine to the state title.

Cory Lantz led the Kings with three hits – including a first-inning homer – three runs scored, and had a walk. For the tournament, Lantz was 11-13 with three homers. Jacob Plank added two runs for the victors. New Paris handed Flora its first loss of the tournament, 8-1, in Sunday’s semi-finals.

Flora amassed 11 hits in the contest and had Clay Metzger homer in its fifth inning. Hayden Sorrells was 3-4 with two runs scored and was a homer short of the cycle.