ASE Pee Wee Baseball: Welcome

Wow, this one was one to remember for sure. Both teams played like the champions they are and in the end, we were able to pull out a close victory. Both teams played very good defense and showed why they deserved to be playing for the city championship on this night. We knew our defense had to be sharp tonight and it was. We made plays all over the field from all different positions to secure this win. From Jacob in left field to Marlon behind the plate, help came from all different directions tonight for ASE.

I asked the umps before the game to let us play a full 5 innings since it was the championship game and the YMA coach said it was up to me. I said, "let's do it" and it was on at that point. I spent the entire game hoping I would not regret that decision. I had confidence in our team and knew we could outscore and outplay them. We were the better team and I felt our kids were ready to play and up for the challenge.

1st inning

Our defense made plays from the first batter to the last in this one. YMA's first batter popped up and Landen Chaffey hustled to make a sliding catch for the first out of the game. Marlon Briggs then caught a pop up near the fence for the second out of the inning. Marlon had to really hustle for this one. It was not an easy catch and he earned it. Coach Travis had been telling him all season that if he caught a pop fly at catcher there was some green stuff in it for him. Sure was good to see Coach Travis pull out the dough :). YMA then blasted a ball to left field for an inside the park home run and a 1-0 lead. Their next batter would groundout to Landen, who threw to Conner and it was our turn to hit down 1-0..... Jacob Null got things going for us with a triple to center field and Landen Chaffey singled him in to tie the game. Parker Wehunt would then score Landen and we had the lead for good in this one. Conner Austin then grounded out to the first baseman, but Parker would score on the play for a 3-1 ASE lead. Cade Burnham went down on strikes and Thomas would pop out to the pitcher to end the inning.

2nd inning

YMA led off the inning with a triple to right field as our defense fell asleep for a second on this one. Their next batter would groundout to Landen but the run would score on the play. After another base hit down the 3rd base line, YMA's next two batters would go down on strikes and it was our turn to swing the lumber still holding a 3-2 lead..... Marlon Briggs kept his hot hitting going with a double uo the middle and Steffan Fak would double to put runners at 2nd and 3rd with Kylee Nading coming to the plate. She came through with a double down the right field line scoring both runs and a 5-2 ASE lead. Kylee got in a run down between 2nd and 3rd and was tagged out after several throws back and forth. It was a great affort by all players involved. Awesome job Kylee!!! Brennen Linson then went down on strikes as the pitching machine started throwing the ball very high and Alex Gray-Nicodemus would groundout to the 1st baseman to end the inning.

3rd inning

Our defense really stepped up again in this inning. YMA led off the inning with a base hit, but had batted out of order and the runner was called out because of it. Their next batter then hit a ground ball to Parker, who scooped it up and threw a laser to Conner at 1st base for the second out of the inning. YMA's next batter would single to right field and our defense did a great job of holding them to just a single. Their next batter would hit another ball to Parker and this time he threw to Steffan at 2nd base fo rthe forceout to end YMA's half of the inning...... I gathered up the kids and told them it was time to put the hammer down on YMA this inning. We had the top of our order due up and we could put this game away. But YMA can play defense too, that's why they're in the championship game. Jacob grounded out to the 2nd baseman and Landen would pop out to the pitcher and suddenly there were two outs. Parker then grounded out for only his second out of the entire season. Just like that the momentum had shifted back to YMA. That is what makes a good championship game. Both teams making plays and battling their hearts out.

4th inning

After a strikeout to beging the inning, YMA would then double to left field. Jacob did a great job of getting the ball in and saving a run. Their next batter would also double to left field and once again Jacob was right there to get the ball quickly to Parker. The YMA runner got too far off 2nd base and Landen run him down for the second out of the inning. You could tell during this game that both teams were not used to playing teams that can throw and catch the ball so well like these two teams can. YMA's next batter went down on strikes but they had pulled within 5-3 with the back-to-back doubles..... Conner would then hit a high pop up that YMA snagged for the first out. Cade then got us going with a single to the left side. After Thomas went down on strikes, Marlon picked him up with a single up the middle. YMA made a throwing error and Cade would advance to 3rd on the play. Steffan then came through with the biggest hit of the game, as he doubled to score Cade and Marlon, giving us a 7-3 lead. Kylee then grounded out to the 2nd baseman but the damage had been done and we had the insurance we needed to pull this one out.

5th inning

I knew YMA would not quit. They were at the bottom of their order but they can hit up and down the line-up just like we do. Back-toback sinlges would get their rally going. Another single would score a run to make it a 7-4 game. Their next batter would strikeout and then our defense would make a couple of huge plays. First YMA would hit a very hard ball that hit off Landen's glove but Steffan made a heads up play to back him up and throw the runner out at 1st base. A run would score on the play to make it 7-5 but that out was huge! Then a play that I may never forget. YMA's next batter hit a very high pop up to Marlon at catcher. Marlon quickly bounced up from his catcher position and with mask still on snagged the ball for the final out of the game. The kids along with myself mobbed Marlon and this one was over. ASE had held on for a great championship win! Wow, what a game by two very good teams. Everyone on that field tonight played like champions. It's a shame there has to be a loser in a game like this. I could not be prouder of our kids who kept fighting and played their hearts out.

The win gives us a 17-0-1 record for the season with a league and city title as a result. The ASE tradition continues and this team will go down as one of the best I have ever had. This is our 4th city title in the last 6 years. In the years we have won the city title, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, we are an incredible 64-2-1. What a great run and this group was a big part of it. In the last two years this team is 29-2-2 with a league and city championship and also a city runner-up from last year. Great job ASE!

I think after the game it was pretty obvious who our player of the week is. But like I told the kids after the game, we have 11 MVP's on this team. It took all 11 players to win this tourney championship. Marlon really stepped up not only last night but the entire tourney. Here are his stats from the tourney. He was 7 of 8 at the plate with 4 RBI's and 5 runs scored. He got some big hits for us in the tourney! He made two really good catches last night to help us secure the win. Great job Marlon "smiley" Briggs. We are very proud of you!

                                     Average                HR              RBI 

Parker Wehunt                 .946                   8                  30

Landen Chaffey                .886                   14                 30          

Marlon Briggs                  .821                    1                    13

Cade Burnham                  .794                    2                   15

Conner Austin                  .788                    1                    17

Jacob Null                       .737                    8                   20

Steffan Fak                     .625                     2                   13

Thomas Cooley                  .621                      0                   8

Kylee Nading                    .600                     2                   16

Brennen Linson                  .565                     0                    7

Alex Gray-Nicodemus        .522                     1                    5

<------ Click here to see the 2011 FSBGC Pee Wee City Tourney bracket. We won our 4th city championship in the last 6 years with a 7-5 win over a very good YMA team. We finish the season 17-0-1. Great season to a great group of players, parents and coaches! 

ASE                   13-0-1

YMA                  12-1-1

Cricket                9-5

G-Major              7-7

National Family   5-9

Midland UMC      5-9

Forsgren             3-11

Phillip Taylor      1-13

Click the link above to see the ASE team news page. Here you can see all our game recaps and previous players of the week for the current season.