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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!
UMYBL's Offers "Travel" Thunder Night, 6/27
- 05/23/2011, 12:00am (EDT)
"UMYBL Gives Back" Last Collection!
- 04/13/2011, 9:48am (EDT)
4/9 Annual Photo Day
- 03/26/2011, 11:54am (EDT)
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