Upper Makefield Youth Baseball League

MAV-NIFICENT

Upper Makefield 9U Travel Mavs Smoke Marlboro (N.J.) in the Semifinal & Trump Effort with Championship No-Hitter

The difference between extraordinary and ordinary is a little something “extra.”

In the tense, anxious moments before the Upper Makefield 9U Travel Mavs took the field for the championship of the Bensalem Spring Invitational Tournament, Manager Lou Bencardino summoned his impeccable motivational skills.

 “This is why we came down here,” stated the baseball baron before his mighty Mavs no-hit host Bensalem to the tune of an 11-0 championship beatdown. “We are going to show them no mercy. We destroy them.”

 And so it was this weekend as the Mavs outscored six opponents to the tune of 83-17. Tournament MVP Anthony “Freight Train” Bencardino combined with Mikey “Country Clubber” Sylvester to allow just three Bensalem base runners (hit by pitch, walk and error) in the mercy-rule shortened contest.

 For an early season effort, it was pure March Madness – with a diabolically efficient result.

 There was no karma needed, no smoke and mirrors or even Rich Manel’s kismet khaki shorts (which he donned for the postgame meal). This was solid fundamental baseball, brilliant situational hitting and overpowering, strike throwing mound work.

 The Iron Mike automated pitching machine at Big Leagues would have been envious of Freight Train and Country Clubber. Anthony Bencardino three a tidy 39 pitches (24 strikes) over three innings with four strikeouts and Mikey Sylvester threw 32 pitches (16 strikes) over the final two.

 Weaving in and out of the zone like a UPS van on I-95 at rush hour, Anthony and Mike nibbled cheese and cleansed their palates with 108-stitch hardball handiwork.

 In fact, Anthony was throwing so efficiently that a side conversation behind the Bensalem dugout was memorable. Observed one young fan, “He’s throwing kinda hard.” The incredulous response was priceless, “What do you mean kinda hard?” Game, set, argument done.

 Freight Train – way to announce your presence with authority.

 At the plate, there were heroes aplenty for the Mavs, who scored like a bicycle lock combination – 3-2-2-2-2 – or at least two runs in each inning. Freight Train had two two-RBI doubles, Josh “Hampy”Hampshire walked three times and scored a pair of runs, Collin “Money” Manel went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Sylvester stroked a deep triple to center during the Mavs’ three-run first. It was one of four extra base hits the “Country Clubber” authored in the tourney. Hampshire played marvelous second base throughout, coralling balls with aplomb and even bare-handing a couple assists.

 For the weekend, Anthony Bencardino reached base a whopping 15 out of the 20 times he came to the plate – a Barry Bonds-esque .750 on-base percentage.

 Zachary “Zach Attack” Van Arsdale put an exclamation point on his fine weekend by going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a great third base throw on Bensalem speedster J.J. Johnson to open the fourth inning. For the weekend Van Arsdale was 11-for-18 (.611) at the plate hitting in the No. 6 hole.

 Louis “Hoove” Bencardino went the distance at catcher for the Mavs in the championship, tossing in a solid double and scoring a run after a one-out walk in the second. The Hoovinator also kept Bensalem’s vaunted running game in shackles.

 “Dangerous” Dominic Edwards finished up an 8-for-17 weekend at the plate with a third-inning RBI groundout, and Nicholas “TNT”Taylor had a huge RBI single in the fifth and scored two championship runs. Taylor’s contributions to the tournament were invaluable, as he pitched five superb innings and allowed the Mavs to distribute their mound workload.

 Ryan “Coolio” Coolahan had a big performance with the spotlight on him, going 2-for-3 and catching the final out in center field to trigger another Mavs’ celebration. Coolahan also pitched very well in the tournament, showing his mettle and his fastball.

 Leo “The Hammer” Brunk scored one championship run to follow a huge two-run early afternoon double against New Jersey foe Marlboro – which the Mavs defeated 11-1. Brunk also reached base all three times up in a 14-6 quarterfinal triumph over Warwick. Obviously, there’s a time to use a Hammer and a time to use a glove.

 Ethan “Big Game” Blatz continued to show his mastery of the sacrifice bunt and his moxie at the plate with a 1-for-2, one sacrifice effort against Bensalem. His tournament also showcased the mental toughness that has come to characterize his game.

 The Mavs will continue working hard, giving “100 percent Mavs energy,” and believing in the beauty of baseball done right and with respect for the game.

 This is how we do it – with a little something extra for emphasis.

 Go Mavs!