Santa Clarita Redhawks: Welcome

The Redhawks participated in the Western Elite Baseball Classic, Apr. 17-19, 2009, held at the Big League Dreams Park in Manteca, CA (Northern California). There were 7 teams entered in the tournament.  After 2 pool play games (all played Friday) , each team reached the double-elimination playoffs (played over the weekend).

The teams from Northern and Southern California entered were: 

1.	Davis Dynasty (NorCal)	5.	Santa Clarita Redhawks (SoCal)
2.	GH-1 (SoCal)	6.	TABU (NorCal)
3.	Lamorinda Cougars (NorCal)	7.	Team Anderson (SoCal)
4.	NorCal Bombers (NorCal)

 

 

 

The Redhawks initial pool play game was against the highly ranked and respected TABU baseball team.

The Redhawks' second pool play game opponent were the Davis Dynasty.

The Redhawks played in the recheduled AAU NIT Qualifier tournament, Mar. 21-22, 2009, held at the Richard Steed Memorial Park in San Clemente, CA. This tournament had originally been scheduled back in February, but was rained out. As it turned out, Mother Nature affected this weekend's play as well, allowing only the Saturday pool games to be played. Sunday's games were all rained out.

There were 11 teams entered in the tournament's 12U division: 

1.	Team Anderson	6.	Santa Clarita Redhawks
2.	Team Rawlings Elite	7.	Tomateros De California (12U)
3.	GH-1	8.	Tides BBC
4.	OC Toros	9.	Blue Wave
5.	Clippers BBC	10.	San Marcos Trojans
		11.	Bad Company

The Redhawks first pool game was against the Clippers BBC. Dayton Provost lead off the game with a sharp single to center. With two outs, Devin Davis hit a ball over the center fielder's head for a run-scoring double. After the 1st half-inning, the Redhawks led 1-0. That was the score through the 1st 3 innings. In the top half of the 4th inning, Devin Davis reached 1st on a single, went to 2nd on a wild-pitch, to 3rd on a sacrafice fly, and home on a RBI single from Davis LeBarron. The Redhawks' 2-run lead was short-lived, for the Clippers plated their first (and only) run in the bottom of the 4th. The Redhawks distanced themselves from the Clippers in the top halves of the 5th and 6th innings, scoring 2 and 4 runs, respectively, with the main hit being a triple off the bat of Devin Davis (who only needed a home run to hit for the cycle!). The pitching combo of Davis LeBarron, Kyle Merkel, and Austin Russ kept the Clippers' bats in check all game long, allowing only 2 total hits. The game ended with the Redhawks winning 8-1.

In their second and final pool play game, the Redhawks faced the San Marcos Trojans. The visiting Trojans turned the table on the Redhawks, and got off to a fast start themselves. They scored twice in the opening frame (on three hits). The starting pitcher for the Trojans stymied the Redhawks' bats for two innings, though the Trojans could not score any more during their next two at-bats. In the bottom of the 3rd, the Redhawks' bats finally awoke, enabling them to score 2 runs of their own (with a 2-run single by Joey Lau being the hit of the inning) to tie the game, 2-2. As the strong Redhawks' pitching continued (by Cody Miller and Dayton Provost), the Redhawks offense accelerated. They pushed across 6 runs in the bottom of the 4th inning, and another 4 runs in the bottom of the 5th. The final 2 runs scored ended the game via the mercy rule. The Redhawks had won the game, 11-2.

These two wins earned the Redhawks the 1st seed in the tournament heading into the playoffs. However, as noted before, Mother Nature had other plans. All playoff games were cancelled. The tournament director subsequently deemed the Redhawks the tournament winner, earning them a berth in the AAU National Championship Tournament. All in all, the Redhawks played very well during these two games. Congrats Redhawks!

The Redhawks played in the USTBA Grand Slam Beach Bash tournament, March 14-15, 2009, held at the Huntington Beach Sports Complex in Huntington Beach, CA.

The teams entered in the 12U division were:
1. South Bay Dukes
2. Five Star Dirtdogs
3. Tomateros de California (11U)
4. So Cal Rush
5. So Cal Thunder
6. Team Glory Days
7. Tomateros de California (12U)
8. Santa Clarita Redhawks
9. Blyleven's Animals
10. HOH Hitmen

The Redhawks first faced off against the visiting Tomateros de California (12U) squad. After Davis LeBarron retired all three batters he faced in the top of the 1st inning, the Redhawks quickly struck for two runs only after 2 batters, topped off with a 2-run home run by Jagger Rusconi. The Tomateros were able to push across an unearned run in the top of the 2nd to cut the Redhawks' lead in 1/2. However, the Redhawks quickly regained their 2-run lead after an RBI-single by Andrius Polikaitis in the bottom of the inning. The Tomateros took their only lead of the game in the top of the 3rd, after plating 3 runs, including a 2-run home run of their own. The Redhawks took the lead in the bottom of the 3rd, scoring 4 more runs, capped by a 3-run home run bomb by Davis LeBarron. Though the Tomateros fought back to tie the game 7-7 in the top of the 4th, the Redhawks scored the final three runs of the game in the bottom of the inning, taking a 10-7 lead. After Cody Miller retired the Tomateros in the 5th inning, facing only 4 batters, the time limit was reached and the game ended, with the Redhawks winning 10-7.

In their second and final pool play game, the visiting Redhawks faced the Hourse of Hardball Hitmen. The bats for both teams were quiet throughout the first 4 innings of the game, though the Redhawks managed to score single runs in the 1st and 3rd innings. However, in the top of the 5th inning, the Redhawks scored 5 runs on 5 hits, including a 2-run double by Dayton Provost. The Hitmen cut into the lead in the bottom of the 5th inning, scoring their only 3 runs of the game (including one on a home run), but, other than that, the pitching combination of Cody Miller, Kyle Merkel, Jake Eaton, and Jagger Rusconi silenced the Hitmen's offense. The final score was Redhawks 7 - Hitmen 3.

After pool play, the Redhawks earned the 3rd seed going into the playoffs, and their quarterfinal game was, once again, against the 5th seeded Hitmen. Unlike the last game, the Redhawks put away this game early in the contest. After the Hitmen scored the initial run of the game in the top of the 2nd, the Redhawks exploded for 11 runs on 10 hits in the bottom of the inning. Each team scored twice more throughout the game. Austin Russ pitched a great game for the Redhawks, who pitched all 4 innings, and only allowed 3 runs on 4 hits. Once the Redhawks scored their only run in the bottom of the 5th after only one out, the game ended due to the mercy-rule. Final score: Redhawks 13 - Hitmen 3.

In the semi-finals, the visiting Redhawks faced a tough #2-seeded So Cal Thunder team. The game began as best as can be for the Redhawks. The lead-off hitter, Dayton Provost, hit a shot down the right field line. By the time the Thunder were able to retrieve it, Dayton had rounded the bases for a home run. Soon thereafter, still in the top of the 1st inning, Kyle Merkel had a 2-run single to extend the Redhawks lead to 3. The Thunder cut into the Redhawks lead in the bottom the 1st, scoring their 1st run of the game. The teams each scored a run in the 2nd inning, after which the Redhawks still led 4-2. In the 3rd inning, Davis LeBarron took over on the mound for Kyle Merkel (who had pitched well in his 2 innings of work). Davis thouroughly shut down the Thunder, allowing only 2 squib singles in 4 innings of work, all the while striking out eight. Though the Redhawks' bats were also silent during the last 4 innings, the Redhawks held on for a 4-2 win, earning a spot in the tournament's championship game.

In the other semi-final game, it took 8 innings for the Tomateros de California (12U) to finally beat their 11 year-old counterparts and join the Redhawks in the championship game. In the final, Dayton Provost took the mound for the Redhawks. He lasted 5 strong innings, allowing only 4 runs. Kyle Merkel came in to pitch a strong scoreless 6th inning. However, the Redhawks offense was thouroughly stifled throughout the first four innings of the game. The Redhawks finally scored a run in the bottom of the 5th inning, and threatened in the bottom of the 6th, loading the bases. Unfortunately, all runners were stranded, and the Tomateros had won the game 4-1. Though they came up just short, all in all, the Redhawks played very well throughout the tournament.

The Redhawks participated in the Cal Super Series President's Day Tournament, Feb. 21-22, 2009, held at York Field Park in Whittier, CA & La Mirada Regional Park in La Mirada, CA.  In addition to the skilled Redhawks, the field in the 12U National Division included some extremely talented Southern California teams: Norwalk Stingrays, Rawlings Mavericks, the 11U and 12U Tomateros De California squads, South Gate Democrats, Torrance Warriors and So Cal Dirtbags. These 8 teams were divided up into two pools and only the top two teams in each pool reached the playoffs.

The two pools were the following: 

	Pool A		Pool B
1	South Gate Democrats	5	Rawlings Mavericks
2	Tomateros De California (11U)	6	Tomateros De California (12U)
3	Santa Clarita Redhawks	7	So Cal Dirtbags
4	Norwalk Stingrays	8	Torrance Warriors

In pool play, the Redhawks first faced the South Gate Democrats, a team that they have battled in the past. The visiting Redhawks started out fast out of the gates, scoring 2 runs in the top of the 1st inning, both on a 2-run frozen rope double by Davis LeBarron that hit the 260 foot fence in left-center on the fly. The Redhawks scored 2 more runs in the top of the 2nd and 3 runs in the top of the 5th, capped by a 2-run home run by Cody Miller. All the while, Kyle Merkel and Austin Russ held the Democrats to a single run in 5 innings. The final score: Redhawks 7 - Democrats 1.

The Redhawks next faced off against arguably one of the best 12U teams in the nation - the Norwalk Stingrays. From the start, it was evident that the game was going to be a pitching duel. The pitchers from both teams (Davis LeBarron and Dayton Provost for the Redhawks; Brady Aiken and Elias Orona for the Stingrays) kept their opponents at bay for 3 1/2 innings. In the bottom of the 4th, the Stingrays had loaded the bases with one out. The Redhawks recorded the 2nd out of the inning on a failed squeeze attempt, tagging out the runner from 3rd that had been heading for home plate. After another walk, once again loading the bases, the Stingrays perfectly executed a trick-play that entice the Redhawks into trying to throw out the runner at 2nd base. On the throw, the Stingrays' runner from 3rd took off and scored before the return throw. Though that was the only run scored in the inning, it was the only one that the Stingrays would need in the game. The Redhawks threatened in the top of the 5th inning, with runners on 2nd and 3rd. However, they were stranded there as the inning ended. After a 1-2-3 top of the 6th, the Stingrays had won the game, 1-0; a first-class battle between two strong teams.

The final game for the Redhawks in pool play was against the 11U Tomateros De California team, who were playing up in this tournament. This well-coached squad won last season's National Youth Baseball 10U Championships and had faced the Redhawks once before. In another close low-scoring affair, the Redhawks gained the early lead, scoring the game's initial run in the bottom of the 2nd inning. The Tomateros returned the favor in the top of the 4th, scoring a single run of their own. In the bottom of the 5th inning, with two outs and runners at 1st and 2nd, Ryan Eaton hit a solid run-scoring single to center, which was then followed by a run-scoring double by his brother, Jake Eaton. The Redhawks had taken a 3-1 lead, which would end up being the final score. Redhawks' strong pitching (by Kyle Merkel and Davis LeBarron) was key once again.

By virtue of a 2-1 pool play record, the Redhawks had earned the 2nd seed in Pool A. In the semi-finals they faced Pool B's top seed, the Rawlings Mavericks. The Mavericks scored first, in the bottom of the 1st inning, on a controversial balk. They extended their lead to 2-0 after scoring another run in the bottom of the 4th inning. After a frustrating 4 innings at the plate, the Redhawks finally broke through with a single run in the top of the 5th. It would have been more if not for a great leaping catch by the Mavericks' 2nd baseman to end the inning. The Redhawks fought back to tie up the score at 2-2 in the top of the 6th inning, featured by a towering run-scoring triple by Cody Miller. The tied score was short-lived, however. In the bottom of the 6th inning, with one out, a Mavericks' batter hit a sharp grounder into left field that, once it reached the deep grass edge lip, jumped over the outfielder's glove and carried into deep left field. The runner ended up at third base. Though the next batter struck out, he was followed by another that hit a sharp single to right to score the runner. The game ended with the score: Mavericks 3 - Redhawks 2.

Though the loss was a bitter dissapointment, the Redhawks should be proud of their efforts this weekend. They only allowed 6 runs in 4 games against 4 solid ballclubs. The two losses were each by one run (as was the only other Redhawks' loss in 12U). Great effort Redhawks!

The Redhawks played in the Triple Crown MLK Palm Desert Classic Tournament, January 17-18, 2009, held at The Big League Dreams Park in Cathedral City, CA.

The teams entered in the 12U division were: 
-- Rancho Santa Fe Titans
-- Desert Cities Sluggers (Palm Desert) 
-- San Diego Swarm 
-- Yucaipa Valley Thunderbirds
-- Santa Clarita Redhawks

The Redhawks first faced off against the Titans. After a scoreless 1st inning, the Redhawks pushed across single runs in the 2nd and 3rd innings. After the Redhawks' starter, Kyle Merkel, did not give up a run during his 3 innings of work, the Titans finally pushed across their 1st run in the 4th inning. The Redhawks regained their 2 run lead in the bottom of the 4th after a single by Jagger Rusconi, and a towering triple by Cody Miller. The Titans fought back, tying up the score in the top of the 5th. After a scoreless bottom of the 5th, Davis LeBarron was brought in to shut down the Titans in the 6th, and that he did convincingly with three strikeouts. The 1st Redhawks' batter in the bottom of the 6th was Jake Eaton. He hit a liner to right field that was misplayed, allowing Jake to scamper all the way home for the winning run. Final score: Redhawks 4 - Titans 3.

Next, the Redhawks faced the Yucaipa Valley Thunderbirds. After allowing a run in the top of the 1st inning, Dayton Provost shut the Tbirds down in the 2nd 1-2-3. Soon thereafter, the Redhawks bats awoke in time to post 4 runs in the bottom of the inning, 2 on a towering home run by Davis LeBarron. Though the Tbirds scored their 2nd run in the next inning, that was all they were going to score the rest of the game. On the flip-side, the Redhawks put the game away in the bottom of the 4th inning after scoring an additional 3 runs. The game ended with the score: Redhawks 7 - Thunderbirds 2.

Taking the 2nd seed into the playoffs, the Redhawks played their semi-final game against the Desert City Sluggers. Though the Redhawks took an early 1-0 lead after the 1st inning, the Sluggers batted around their order in the top of the 2nd inning, scoring 4 runs. The Redhawks were able to scrape across 2 runs in the bottom of the inning, but still trailed 4-3. The Sluggers extended their lead in the 3rd and 4th innings, scoring 1 then 2 runs while holding the Redhawks scoreless. Entering the bottom of the 5th inning, the Redhawks were down 7-3 and time was winding down. Suddenly and impressively, the Redhawks bats were on fire. After one out, the next 6 batters reached safely (with the main hit, a triple by Jake Eaton), 5 of them scoring. The last run allowed the Redhawks to surpass the Sluggers and win the game, 8-7. The Redhawks had once again reached a tournament championship game.

The Redhawks' opponents in the Finals were the San Diego Swarm. The 1st inning was quite eventful. The visiting Redhawks pushed across 3 runs, including a home run by Cody MIller. However, the Swarm scored 2 runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. The Redhawks bats suddenly were silenced, not being able to score in the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th. In the meantime, the Swarm took the lead in the 3rd inning, scoring 3 more runs. Thanks to some small-ball, the Redhawks were able to tie the game in the top of the 5th inning on only 2 walks and a sacrifice. The game stayed tied until the bottom of the 6th inning. Though there were 2 outs and a man on 2nd base, a properly placed grounder found the outfield, scoring the Swarm runner. This was a well-played battle, with the impressive yet controversial edge going to the lone Swarm pitcher (#7 - Pearce), who threw a total of 125 pitches! The final score: Swarm 6 - Redhawks 5.