8U Mavs Cap Season with 2-2 State Tourney Record
“A SEASON TO TREASURE”
UMYBL 8U Mavs Fall One Run Short of Qualifying for SE Pennsylvania Cal Ripken Semifinal Round
Baseball, mirroring life as it does, teaches lessons that tug at the core of our very humanity.
Within a dizzying 56-hour span of emotion, achievement and heartache over the weekend of July 15-17, the Upper Makefield 8U Mavs landed on all ends of the spectrum.
First, there was the loss and mourning of a friend – husband, father, coach and all-around great guy Michael Blatz. Eulogized by family and friends the morning of Friday, July 15 in Richboro, Coach Blatz would have been front and center in his patented lounge chair at the SE Pennsylvania Cal Ripken State Tournament.
Instead, a squad of 11 boys, four fathers and a full squadron of supporters played in memory of Coach Blatz. The black “MB” circular patches on the Mavs’ uniforms stood as testimony to his impact on everyone involved in this travel baseball experience.
The Mavs finished with a 2-2 record in the tournament, avenging an earlier loss to Warrington with an 8-7 triumph in Game 1 that featured 8 terse innings of baseball. Dominic Edwards sent the game into the 8th inning with an ESPN-quality shoestring catch of a line drive that turned into a bases-loaded double play, and Ryan Coolahan struck out the side to preserve the thrilling victory. Coolahan also had the go-ahead RBI.
Buoyed by the win, the Mavs jumped all over a stunned Hilltop squad to the tune of a 7-0 lead after one half of an inning. The rally included a near home run double by Anthony Bencardino, RBI single by Mikey Sylvester, run scoring single from Louis Bencardino and an RBI single by Zachary Van Arsdale. The “Zach Attach” had a fine tournament at the plate, notching five hits in his last seven at-bats and reaching base 10 times in the four tourney games.
Perhaps running on emotional fumes, the Mavs let the early Hilltop lead slip away, falling 16-15 to a team that did advance to the semifinal round. The game included a totally uncharacteristic five errors by the Mavs, who scratched and clawed throughout the balmy afternoon. Ethan Blatz walked three times and scored twice, and Van Arsdale roped a two-run double to right during the fifth inning that looked like it might stand up as the winning hit.
Louis “Hoove” Bencardino caught 22 innings over the weekend set, proving his toughness as a backstop and his willingness to do whatever it takes to help the team. He also was magical at the plate, going 5-for-10 overall with three hits in the season-ending, 14-4 triumph over District 2 champion Harleysville.
In the Warrington game, the Mavs showed a discerning eye at the plate, coaxing 14 walks. Anthony “Freight Train” Bencardino pitched two scoreless innings and went 2-for-3 at the plate, underscoring the leadership that he has provided all season.
“Champions love the pressure,” Manager Lou Bencardino told the boys at the outset of the tournament. “Champions want to be in the spotlight. Everything we do, we do right.”
After playing one of their most uninspired games of the season in an 11-6 Game 3 loss to BYC Sunday morning (enough about that), the Mavs rallied one last time to crush Harleysville in a mercy-rule contest.
The win, which was the Mavs 20th of the season, included a massive triple by Anthony Bencardino, two clutch hits by Leo “The Hammer” Brunk, three singles by “Coolio” Coolahan, and a walkoff single to right by Edwards, his second single of the game. Collin “Money” Manel made his Mavs pitching debut one to remember with two scoreless innings. Manel also stroked an RBI single during the seven-run first inning and played his typically stellar first base and outfield.
Blatz singled, scored and made a fine catch in the outfield, while Josh “Hampy” Hampshire anchored the infield with strong play at second base.
Josh “Boss of the Hot Sauce” started as pitcher against Harleysville and was magnificent on the mound, striking out four and stabilizing a team that was running low on pitching.
Gathering the team one last time Sunday afternoon, Manager Bencardino reiterated the themes of the season – belief, hustle, attention to detail and hard work. For the year, the Mavs played 33 games (including scrimmages) and lost only seven times. The manager threw at least 5,000 batting practice pitches – from the winter cages of Big Leagues in Newtown to the sun-baked infield of Lookout Park Middle.
More than anything else, there was a mutual admiration for each other and the entire Mavs family at play. As Seals and Crofts sang so perfectly, “We may never pass this way again.”
The 8U Mavs would like to thank all of their supporters. It was an honor to have so many of the 9U players and league officials show up to watch us this weekend.
Mavs Fever is truly contagious. Go MAVS!!!
The 2011 Bensalem Father's Day Tourney Champs
8U Mavs Win Bensalem Father's Day Tournament!
“DOING IT FOR DAD”
UMYBL 8U Mavs Blast Bensalem, 8-0, to Win Ramblers’ Father’s Day Tournament in Style
Sending shockwaves through Bucks County’s most populous township – Bensalem – the Upper Makefield Youth Baseball League 8U Mavs did the improbable on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 19.
Playing impeccable defense and pitching with moxie and the heart of a champion, the Mavs shut out a disbelieving host Bensalem squad, 8-0, behind the stellar pitching of tournament MVP Mikey Sylvester and Josh “Boss of the Hot Sauce” Moss.
The championship triumph – the Mavs’ third shutout of the grueling, five-game tournament journey – came on the heels of a tightly fought, 13-5 extra-inning win over archrival Council Rock-Newtown in the semifinal.
As manager Lou Bencardino emphasized during his post-championship remarks, the title belonged to all 12 players and four coaches on the roster. It belonged to the parents and families, too. Everyone produced on the field in a meaningful, winning way, sending their Dads home with an indelible feeling of unfettered pride.
“Everybody contributed to this,” Bencardino told the young boys.
And so it was … and forever will be.
In the afterglow of celebration, the manager was doused by the water cooler, courtesy of No. 3 hitter and shortstop/first baseman extraordinaire Anthony Bencardino. Hey Dad, have some H2…..ooooooooh, yeah!
The tournament win was even more sweet given two losses to Bensalem earlier in the season – one a 9-5 Suburban Travel opening-day setback and the other a 12-11 “midair dogfight” in the second game of the tourney.
During the June 19 championship, the Mavs got off to a flying start when Sylvester triggered a first-inning double play off Bensalem star Angel Rosales. Snaring a line drive from the pitcher’s mound, he turned and gunned out leadoff man Ryan Rooney at first base.
New Mav Ryan Coolahan made his presence felt with a two-run single during the second off Ryan McLaughlin, plating Ethan Blatz and Collin Manel (who both coaxed walks). Coolahan also scored in his first three at-bats of the weekend – setting the tone for excellence.
The Mavs knocked the momentum out of Bensalem on a fantastic third-inning double play by shortstop Anthony Bencardino. “Freight Train” hauled in a looping liner and turned to gun out a stunned Rambler at first.
Breaking the game wide open during the fourth inning, the Mavs scored five runs on a huge two-run single by Zachary Van Arsdale, an RBI single by Jackson “J-Dub” West and one of two championship RBIs by Anthony Bencardino.
Adding a hard-earned run in the top of the sixth – you never know what run might come back to bite you – the Mavs scored on a leadoff walk by Dominic Edwards and a two-out double by Moss. The Moss man had ice water in his veins all day, striking out five in his two innings of championship work, including the final two on called third K’s.
The weekend featured strong catching and leadership from Louis “Hoove” Bencardino, who kept spirits in the dugout on the rise when things got tough. He also gritted out a nasty home-plate collision with Rosales during the first Bensalem tilt.
Highlights of the 13-5 win over Council Rock-Newtown included two hits from Moss, three RBIs from Leo “The Hammer” Brunk, a two-run single from Edwards, and two solid hits by Van Arsdale. At third base, Van Arsdale was clutch with several strong throws and heads-up force out plays.
Josh Hampshire was magnificent all weekend, pitching with precision and authoring an infield dive and throw that was championship caliber in every way.
A 6-0 Sunday morning elimination win over Valley included two infield singles by Hampshire, a 2-for-3 effort by Brunk “The Hammer,” hits by Edwards and West, and two RBIs from Louis Bencardino. Ethan Blatz kept the pressure on with his always excellent at-bats, and Collin “Money” Manel clobbered a sixth-inning triple that netted a valuable insurance run.
The tournament started with an 18-0, mercy rule shortened win over Pennsbury. Everyone in the Mavs lineup had at least one hit, with Sylvester going 3-for-3 with 5 RBIs, Moss rolling to a 3-for-3 effort with three runs scored, Coolahan stroking a triple in his second Mavs at-bat, and Manel also tripling down the right-field line.
For the season, the Mavs own a 14-4 overall record, with five shutouts. The team returns to action in District Tournament play on Tuesday, June 28.
GO MAVS!!!
The 2011 UMYBL 8U Mavs
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Henry Ford
Tracey Edwards
Team Mom
Recent 8 Mavs News
Take 30-0 Season Record to States
The Newtown Legion Prep team, which includes four UMYBL 13s players, swept the Districts play-offs, and the entire River League and Legion seasons, on their way to the State Championship Tournament, July 23-27, in Coopersburg, PA. Team members are: Andrew Greubel, Julano Kovalcik, Chase D'Arcangelo, and Joe Rutkowski. In Legion play and play-offs, the Newtown team outscored opponents 247-44.
Trounce Competition in Father's Day Tourney
“DOING IT FOR DAD”
UMYBL 8U Mavs Blast Bensalem, 8-0, to Win Ramblers’ Father’s Day Tournament in Style
Sending shockwaves through Bucks County’s most populous township – Bensalem – the Upper Makefield Youth Baseball League 8U Mavs did the improbable on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 19.
Playing impeccable defense and pitching with moxie and the heart of a champion, the Mavs shut out a disbelieving host Bensalem squad, 8-0, behind the stellar pitching of tournament MVP Mikey Sylvester and Josh “Boss of the Hot Sauce” Moss.
The championship triumph – the Mavs’ third shutout of the grueling, five-game tournament journey – came on the heels of a tightly fought, 13-5 extra-inning win over archrival Council Rock-Newtown in the semifinal.
As manager Lou Bencardino emphasized during his post-championship remarks, the title belonged to all 12 players and four coaches on the roster. It belonged to the parents and families, too. Everyone produced on the field in a meaningful, winning way, sending their Dads home with an indelible feeling of unfettered pride.
“Everybody contributed to this,” Bencardino told the young boys.
And so it was … and forever will be.
In the afterglow of celebration, the manager was doused by the water cooler, courtesy of No. 3 hitter and shortstop/first baseman extraordinaire Anthony Bencardino. Hey Dad, have some H2…..ooooooooh, yeah!
The tournament win was even more sweet given two losses to Bensalem earlier in the season – one a 9-5 Suburban Travel opening-day setback and the other a 12-11 “midair dogfight” in the second game of the tourney.
During the June 19 championship, the Mavs got off to a flying start when Sylvester triggered a first-inning double play off Bensalem star Angel Rosales. Snaring a line drive from the pitcher’s mound, he turned and gunned out leadoff man Ryan Rooney at first base.
New Mav Ryan Coolahan made his presence felt with a two-run single during the second off Ryan McLaughlin, plating Ethan Blatz and Collin Manel (who both coaxed walks). Coolahan also scored in his first three at-bats of the weekend – setting the tone for excellence.
The Mavs knocked the momentum out of Bensalem on a fantastic third-inning double play by shortstop Anthony Bencardino. “Freight Train” hauled in a looping liner and turned to gun out a stunned Rambler at first.
Breaking the game wide open during the fourth inning, the Mavs scored five runs on a huge two-run single by Zachary Van Arsdale, an RBI single by Jackson “J-Dub” West and one of two championship RBIs by Anthony Bencardino.
Adding a hard-earned run in the top of the sixth – you never know what run might come back to bite you – the Mavs scored on a leadoff walk by Dominic Edwards and a two-out double by Moss. The Moss man had ice water in his veins all day, striking out five in his two innings of championship work, including the final two on called third K’s.
The weekend featured strong catching and leadership from Louis “Hoove” Bencardino, who kept spirits in the dugout on the rise when things got tough. He also gritted out a nasty home-plate collision with Rosales during the first Bensalem tilt.
Highlights of the 13-5 win over Council Rock-Newtown included two hits from Moss, three RBIs from Leo “The Hammer” Brunk, a two-run single from Edwards, and two solid hits by Van Arsdale. At third base, Van Arsdale was clutch with several strong throws and heads-up force out plays.
Josh Hampshire was magnificent all weekend, pitching with precision and authoring an infield dive and throw that was championship caliber in every way.
A 6-0 Sunday morning elimination win over Valley included two infield singles by Hampshire, a 2-for-3 effort by Brunk “The Hammer,” hits by Edwards and West, and two RBIs from Louis Bencardino. Ethan Blatz kept the pressure on with his always excellent at-bats, and Collin “Money” Manel clobbered a sixth-inning triple that netted a valuable insurance run.
The tournament started with an 18-0, mercy rule shortened win over Pennsbury. Everyone in the Mavs lineup had at least one hit, with Sylvester going 3-for-3 with 5 RBIs, Moss rolling to a 3-for-3 effort with three runs scored, Coolahan stroking a triple in his second Mavs at-bat, and Manel also tripling down the right-field line.
For the season, the Mavs own a 14-4 overall record, with five shutouts. The team returns to action in District Tournament play on Tuesday, June 28.
GO MAVS!!!
Outlast the Rain to Take Home Trophies
Coaches Paul Heavener and Ken Breslin led the Indians to the title, with a 9-5 win in the rain. The Indians are:
Alex Breslin, Blake Hildebrandt, Tim Heffernan, Chase D'Arcangelo, Juliano Kovalcik, Taylor Goldberg, Sam Kersey, Brennan Watkins, David Heavener, Alec Hodgin, Chris Beverly, Dylan Chane, Zack Wolfenson, Daniel Fiandra, Kevin Sheppard
Congratulations!
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