Earlier in the boys’ semifinals, Maharashtra edged out Chhattisgarh 2-1, which Odisha got walk-over against Chandigarh, who were scratched from the championship for fielding overaged players. On their way to the last-four stage, Odisha won three matches and drew one.

They started with a 1-1 draw with Madhya Pradesh and then beat Gujarat 11-1 and Uttarakhand 6-2 in next two group league matches to reach quarterfinalss, where they beat Rajasthan 6-1. Kendrapara pitcher Sheikh Jafar and KISS catcher Raj Kumar Majhi put up outstanding performance for the home team.

In the hard-fought girls` summit clash, Chhattisgarh rode on a run each by Kimmi Miri and Nisha Kujur to edge out Odisha 2-1. Anjali Xalxo played stellar role in the Chhattisgarh triumph and pocketed two individual prizes as best allrounder and best pitcher.

Swetaswini Sabar scored the only run for the home team. She was named the best fielder of the tournament. According Odisha coach and former international Binu Sahoo, the outcome of the girls` final would have been different if the home had not dropped an easy catch at crucial juncture.

Earlier in the girls’ semifinals, Maharashtra drubbed Chandigarh 10-0, while Odisha edged out Delhi 2-1. Odisha reached the last-four stage by beating Uttarakhand 8-0 and Chhattisgarh 3-2 in group league and Gujarat 2-1 in quarterfinals.  Pitcher Rasmita Muduli and catcher Amita Kanhar (both from KISS) played key roles in guiding the home team to the final.

Former minister Niranjan Pattnaik handed over the trophies at the closing function. Amateur Baseball Federation of India vice-president Pankaj Lochan Mohanty and host Baseball Association of Odisha secretary Sibananda Pradhan were present on the occasion.

ODISHA TEAMS:
BOYS (16): Rajkumar Majhi, Goutam Singh, Sheikh Jafar, Sheikh Mushid, Tapu Singh, Sheikh Mein, S Bardhan, S Bindhani, Lipun Singh, Biswa Ranjan Jena, Akash Sethi, P P Routray, Sumit Sahu, Akash Sethi, Biswajit Khatua, Biswajit Das.
GIRLS (17): Anita Kanhara (catcher), Rasmita Muduli (pitcher), Dipa Majhi, Madhusmita Bhuyan, Rasmita Khatua, Swetasini Sabara, Santoshini Kanhar, Alibha Pradhan, Arpita Das, Liza Ojha, Rupali Bhoi, Puja Sethi, Rimali Pothal, Subhashree Roul, Gayatri Sahoo, Niharika Mohanty, Subhalaxmi Rout.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PHOTOS -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOP: Odisha boys’ team receives sub-junior national runners-up trophy in Bhubaneswar on May 16, 2015.
RIGHT: Odisha girls’ team receives sub-junior national runners-up trophy in Bhubaneswar on May 16, 2015.