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Admin
Last updated
12-11-09 08:18 AM
A-Turf Titans
East Amherst, New York
14051
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 My Site News |
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Tuesday, January 27
A-Turf Titans to Host First Annual Tournament at Canisius College Demske Sports Complex
The A-Turf Titans announced an agreement with Canisius College which will allow the team to host a tournament each year at the Demske Sports Complex. The synthetic field, installed by A-Turf, will provide a first-class venue for local 14U teams to participate in a tournament the weekend of June 19 - 21, 2009. Invited to participate are the Southtown Knights, New Era Gold, and WNY Katz.
The rules and game schedule are posted in the accompanying PDF file.
To view the Demske Sports Complex, follow the following link...http://www.nmnathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=20500&KEY=&ATCLID=1498522#demske
**UPDATE**
The WNY Katz are the champions of the A-Turf Tournament. They defeated Team New Era by a 6-4 score on Sunday, June 21 in a very entertaining contest. Katz player Tyler Mills was awarded the Edward Thomas Memorial MVP trophy. Congratulations Katz!
Handout: A-Turf Canisius College 14U Tournament 2009
Saturday, May 17
Look to "Handouts" page for tournament documents
You will be able to access any rules, schedules, or other important infomation/documents by clicking on the "Handouts" link in the left menu.
Sunday, August 17
Titans Cap 2008 Season With WNY Boys of Summer Championship
The A-Turf Titans were victorious over the New Era Gold on Saturday, August 16 by a score of 2-1 to win the WNY Boys of Summer 13U championship. The game was played at Beverly Hills, and thrilled many fans on both sides of the diamond.
Kyle Zurak went the distance on the mound for the Titans and did a great job keeping the sharp New Era hitters off balance. He got some superb defensive help from Zach Thomas at second base, who was perfect on every chance. Peter Moran at third started an important double play when the Gold were threatening, tagging the runner from second and throwing on to Tyler Green at first who made a nice stretch to complete the double play. Outfielder Matt Mahony made a pivotal catch on a deeply hit ball to left field which would have sent the tying run home, and just before that play, centerfielder Brian Dobmeier's relay throw to shortstop Tommy Styn turned out to be a gamesaver as well. Styn, from the outfield grass, fired to catcher Trenton Miller who had plenty of time to put the tag on the New Era runner who tried to score what would have been the tying run from second base.
Offensively, the Titans scored two runs in the bottom of the first and could manage nothing more, though there were opportunities. Styn singled to leadoff the bottom of the first and scored on Tommy Kline's double. Kline scored on the first of two Randy Brown singles in the game.
The 2008 season for the Titans stacked up like this: in 42 games, the Titans won 38 and lost 4 for a winning percentage of .905. In 42 games, they scored 321 runs and gave up only 101. They amassed a league championship (WNYBOS 13U travel season record 12-0) and a league playoff championship (WNYBOS 13U), two tournament championships (ECTB Mansfield University and Michael Napoleone Memorial Tournament) and two tournament 3rd place finishes (New Era Cap Classic and ECTB National Championship Series).
Wednesday, August 13
Titans Defeat Academy Stars 10-1 to Advance to Boys Of Summer League Final
The A-Turf Titans took advantage of several early miscues by the Academy Stars in the WNY Boys of Summer semi-final game at Beverly Hills on Wednesday, August 13 and came away with a 10-1 victory which advances the team in its inaugural season to the finals against the New Era Gold team.
Adam Panfil started the game on the mound and threw three scoreless innings. Tommy Styn relieved in the fourth and finished the game for the save. Tyler Green and Tommy Kline both had RBI doubles. Peter Moran made a run-saving catch down the right field line from his first base position to thwart the Stars' fourth inning rally.
The playoff final will be Thursday, August 14 at Beverly Hills. Start time is 6pm and the Titans' ace Kyle Zurak is expected to get the start on the mound.
Sunday, August 10
Titans Remain Undefeated in ECTB Tournament Play
The A-Turf Titans advanced to the quarter-finals in the ECTB 8th Annual National Championship Series on August 8-10 in Reading/Allentown, PA before the weather cancelled the remaining games. In ECTB play, the Titans are the only 13U team to have a perfect record for 2008 at 9 wins, no losses.
On Friday, pitcher Kyle Zurak shut down the Suffolk County Cobras as the Titans capitalized on a three-run first inning en route to a 4-2 victory. Adam Panfil, a late season addition to the pitching staff was terrific on Saturday morning, throwing a complete-game 3-hitter against the Central PA Orioles. The Titans won 6-1. Peter Moran was a warrior on the mound in a hard-fought game against the Penfield Patriots on Saturday afternoon. The Titans scored two late runs to break a 5-5 tie and completed pool play with a 3-0 record. That was good for a 5th seed in the elimination bracket and the Tri-County Cyclones were the first opponents for the Titans. The A-Turf squad had a 4-1 lead in the Cyclones' half of the sixth inning when the lightning and heavy rains made the game (and rest of the tournament) unplayable. It was an official game, and the Titans, with a 4-0 record, ended up as the 3rd place team out of 22 in the shortened tournament.
 | | Titans catcher Randy Brown holds Tommy Styn's strikeout pitch to end the game. | |
Sunday, July 27
Titans Win Second Championship of the 2008 Season
The A-Turf Titans earned their 2nd tournament victory of the summer at the first Michael Napoleone Memorial Tournament held in Batavia, NY from July 25-27. The tournament was hosted by the Southtowns Knights to honor the memory of Michael, who passed away from Burkitt lymphoma, a blood cancer.
The Titans won three qualifying games to get the second seed for the playoff round. They were victorious over the Buffalo Wings in the first game by a score of 21-7. The Titans pounded out 23 hits in the game, and nine Titans had multiple hit games. Leading the offense was Brandon Schick who contributed four singles, a sacrifice fly, three RBIs and also scored three runs. Peter Moran had two doubles and a single, scored three times, and pitched the final 2 1/3 innings. Tyler Green singled twice, scored twice and had two RBIs. Matt Mahony had a double and a single and scored twice. Devin Stives hit a double and single and scored twice. He started on the mound and had two shutout innings before the Titan defense became a bit too loose, committing six errors resulting in several unearned runs.
On Saturday morning the Titans shut down the Hilton Cadets by a 9-2 score. Moran had his perfect game broken up in the fourth inning, and he left the game after 5 scoreless innings giving up just the one hit, two walks, one hit batter and nine strikeouts. Mahony and Tommy Styn combined to close the game. Offensively, the Titans were sparked by Tommy Kline who had three singles and three RBIs. Styn, Zach Thomas and Cole Weppner all had multiple hit games. Randy Brown was stellar behind the plate and added two runs on the offensive side.
The Vaughan Vikings were the next opponent for the Titans. Kyle Zurak turned in a spectacular pitching performance, going 5+ innings as he allowed only one earned run, scattered four hits and struck out six batters. Styn came on in relief and allowed no runs while striking out three batters. The stingy defense and tough Viking pitching didn't allow the Titans offense much, but some timely hitting in the late innings propelled the Titans to a 6-2 victory. Moran hit a sacrifice fly scoring Stives to get the Titans on the board in the third inning. A leadoff walk to Green followed by singles by Schick and Thomas loaded the bases with one out in the fourth inning. Stives drew a walk forcing Green home and Zurak's hard groundout to the middle of the infield scored Schick. Styn and Green drew walks in the fifth inning and scored when Brown's deep fly to right was misplayed. Mahony had an RBI single in the sixth and the Titans closed out the qualifying games with a 6-2 victory.
Sunday began the playoff round and the fans at Dwyer Stadium, home of the Batavia Muckdogs, were treated to some superb baseball. The Southtowns Knights had beaten Batavia to reach the finals in the 12:30pm game. The other semi-final contest was a rematch between the Vikings and Titans. Pitching was the name of the game as the teams traded runs in the fourth inning for the only scoring. After drawing a walk and advancing to third on an attempted pickoff move that got away down the right field foul territory, Styn scored on a clutch two-out Kline single. Moran scattered three hits, walked just two and struck out six. In the top of the eighth inning, the leadoff Viking batter drew a base on balls. Moran struck out the next batter. The runner attempted to steal second and Brown threw a dart to Styn covering second to put out the runner. Moran struck out the final batter and the momentum went towards the Titans. With one out in the bottom of the eighth, Stives got the hit to get the Titans started. Brian Dobmeier came in to pinch run for Stives. Mahony pushed a sacrifice buntattempt past the pitcher on the first base side, and allowed him to reach first without a play. Weppner bunted for a single down the third base line and the unsuspecting Vikings again did not make a play. The bases were loaded for Styn who was facing a Viking defensive formation pressing in the infield and outfield to cut down Dobmeier at the plate. On a 3-1 pitch, Styn drove the ball deep to left center, well out of reach of either outfielder and the walkoff hit put the Titans in the final.
The Knights and Titans have met twice previously this season in the WNY Boys of Summer league. The Titans won both games, but the Knights had some momentum as they were winners of the prestigious New Era Cap Classic tournament earlier this month.
The championship game was a wonderful display all around. The teams were introduced and stood on the baselines during the singing of the Canadian and American national anthems. Tournament officials were able to get six volunteer professional umpires for the game. And the players provided some entertaining baseball with plenty of big plays and drama before it was all over. The Titans were the visitors for the game, and Styn drew a leadoff walk. After Moran flied out, Styn attempted a steal and was thrown out for the first time on the season. Zurak took the mound and though two Knights reached base on an error and a hit-by-pitch, the Titans defense buckled down and retired the Knights' next two batters. Green led off the Titans' second inning with a single, but was forced out. Brown was caught stealing, and the Titans went quietly out of the inning. The Knights went three up, three down. The Titans loaded the bases with no out in the third as Stives singled, Zurak walked and Weppner singled. The Titans sputtered out though, and were unable to score and it looked like momentum had swung the Knights' way. With two out in the bottom of the third, the Knights gained a baserunner, but Zurak picked him off first, and after three innings, the game remained scoreless. The Titans broke the shutout in the fourth with a two-out rally. Brown singled, Thomas walked, Stives got his second hit of the game and Zurak was hit by a pitch earning him an RBI as Brown was forced home. The Knights wasted no time getting that one back as the leadoff batter in the bottom of the fourth walked, stole second and scored on a single. The Titans went 1-2-3 in the top of five, and Stives came on to relieve Zurak. After the leadoff Knight walked in the bottom of five, Stives settled in and got three ground ball outs from the next three batters. The Titans threatened in the top of the sixth as Kline walked to leadoff and Green singled, but could not score. The Knights went ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth as the leadoff batter walked and ended up scoring on a passed ball. Following another single with runners on the corners, the Knights looked to add to their lead, but as the runner from first was attempting to steal, Brown's throw down to second was cutoff by Styn and fired back to the plate to cut down what would have been an important third run for the Knights. The Titans had the top of the seventh to get the run back, and Mahony delivered a leadoff double over the head of the right fielder. Schick then reached on an error as he grounded to third base. The fielder bobbled the ball and got off a quick throw to first. The umpire ruled Schick to be safe, an unpopular call on the Knights' side of the field. With two on and no out, Dobmeier laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt. He reached as the catcher opted to throw to third, but Mahony had beaten the throw. That brought Styn to the plate with another chance to be the hero. This time though, he popped to the catcher, and Moran came up with one out. He hit a grounder to the right side and the second baseman, playing deep, forced Dobmeier at second. Mahony scored to tie the game, and Dobmeier's hard slide resulted in the shortstop's throw to first sailing into the seats. Schick was awarded home and the Titans now needed to hold the Knights in the bottom of the seventh. Enter Tommy Styn to relieve Stives on the mound. The first Knight batter grounded to Zach Thomas at second, and was retired. The next batter singled on a blooper to left field. Another groundball went to the right side, but some hesitation by the Titan defense couldn't muster an out. The next Knight batter laid down a bunt close to the plate and Brown was able to pounce on it and tag the runner as he was getting out of the box. The play did move the runners, and with first base open and two out, the Titans put the next Knight on base intentionally to create force plays at any base. With the drama building, the count went full on the Knight's catcher Zach Hayes. Styn fired the payoff pitch, high and tight, and got the swinging strikeout.
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Sunday, July 13
Titans Win First Championship at Mansfield
The A-Turf Titans squad was the only 13U team at the 7th Annual ECTB Mansfield University Summer Classic tournament to post an unblemished record of 4-0 among the 13 teams competing. Inclement weather cancelled the semi-final and final games, so the 1st seeded Titans were awarded the championship. The team earned victories over the Apalachin Yankees, Western Pennsylvania Outlaws, Border Patrol Athletics and Raleigh Baseball Institute, outscoring their opponents 47-17 in the four games. The tournament victory gives the team a paid berth in the 2008 ECTB National Championship in August.
(Kneeling from L to R): Brandon Schick, Tommy Styn, Cole Weppner, Zach Thomas, Kyle Zurak
(Standing, L to R): Bob Schick (statistician), Gary Styn (coach), Tyler Green, Devin Stives, Peter Moran, Trenton Miller, Tommy Kline, Randy Brown, Brian Dobmeier, Jim Dobmeier (manager)
Missing: Matt Mahony, Coach Mark Mahony
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