august 28, 2007

12U open cooperstown in dramatic fashion

Blue Wave 12U opened their weeklong run for the National Association of Tournament Champions (NATC) title in Cooperstown, NY, with two wins Sunday and two on Monday, including a several dramatic come-from-behind victories.

Coach Bishop Griggs and his 12U Wave won the first game of the prestigious tournament with a 11-3 win over the Racine Erickson Rattlers (WI) at Cooperstown Dreams Park before facing a local rival, the Yorba Linda Trojans (CA) on Sunday.

The Trojans led 9-6 going into the bottom of the 6th when Rod Schmidt hit his second three-run homer of the game (6 RBIs) to tie the game. This set up Dillon Brophy's three-run walkoff homer to give the Wave a 12-9 win and a 2-0 record after their first day of pool play.

"Needless to say he (Dillon) was pretty excited," Dillion's dad Scott Brophy reported. "We are having a fantastic time so far, this is everything it is cracked up to be."

Not only did Schmidt and Brophy put up homers in the game against the Trojans, Dash Johnson slugged two out in the first game against the Rattlers, a two-run shot and a solo. Johnson also pitched three scoreless innings, followed by reliever Robbie McInerny. Jared Donahoe started agaisnt the Trojans, followed by Schmidt and Grant Barring.

The second day of action turned out to be as good as the first, with the Wave defeating the Vienna Senators (VA) in another come-from-behind 12-11 win, followed with a 10-4 trouncing of the Fort Worth Raiders (FL) to earn a 4-0 record and become the No. 15 seed (our of 95 teams) by the end of the day Monday.

"The boys are playing well,' Coach Bishop Griggs understated. "I am very proud of what they have done so far, they are working hard."

Coacg Griggs noted that Nate Kuchta hit a two-run homer against the Senators. Jordan Scheftz brought in the winning run (Dillion Brophy) in the bottom of the 6th with a little flare over the first base side.

With the game tied 3-3 against the Raiders on Monday, Ryan Cameron hit a "massive" two-run homer to fuel the 10-4 win.

"It must have been 300 feet easy," Griggs reported.

Today (Aug. 28), the Wave face the SoCal Bombers (CA) at 1:45 PM (EST), then play Sacred Heart (NJ) at 7 PM (EST). The Bombers are also undefeated at 4-0 and the No. 3 seed at the end of two days. Their final game of pool play will be at 10 AM (EST) Wednesday (Aug. 29) versus the Bethesda Blue Jays (MD).

Cooperstown NATC week is the culmination of the historic park's summer long series of tournaments, only the top teams are invited for the final week. Besides the top teams from California, nearly all the states are represented with their best 12U teams as well.

"This is the second year we have been invited, we are very excited for the kids," Blue Wave President Steve Kruse noted. "And it sounds like they are hitting the ball well."

10U making waves in tournament play

After finishing in the top four in the CCYB World Series eariler in the month, Blue Wave 10U finished 2nd in the Super Series Fall Ball Classic at Birdsall Sports Park in Temecula Aug. 18-19.

Though coach Jordan Baltierra's troops lost to the NBC Angels 5-4 in their first game of the tournament, they came back with a 12-5 win over the San Jacinto Xplozion on Saturday. The Wave defeated the VBA Mutts 15-3 in their first game on Sunday, then trounced the Mennifee Mustangs 12-4 in the semi-final game.

In a rematch with the Angels in the championship game, the Wave lost 5-4 to take the second place trophy. Members of the team are Michael Fiege, Austin Eckel, Sebastian Lopez, Peter Lewis, Ricky Corredor, Nick Abrahams, Alex Sosnowski, Gage O'Neil, Cody Tyo, Mark Van Skike, and Ian Coleman.

"We are very proud of these boys, they have improved tremendously over the summer," Blue Wave coach Louis Baltierra said.

14u continue tryouts at northwood

Blue Wave 14U will continue practicing and conducting tryouts this week for the Fall-Winter 2007 season.

Coach Aron Gracia's tryouts will be held at 5 PM on Tuesday (Aug. 28) and Thursday (Aug. 30) at Northwood High School.

All 14U players are encouraged to attend. Garcia's team posted a 50-10-1 record during the Spring Season and won four of the six tournaments they entered in 14U Majors competition.

Garcia focuses on preparing 8th and 9th grade students for their first year of high school baseball.

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