West Hartford Youth Baseball League Web Site: Welcome

Schatz & Nobel (15-2) won game two of the Town Championship on Tuesday night to defeat Mr. Trophy (12-4) and win the best of three series.  See below for scores and highlights from both games:

Game 1: Schatz & Nobel 7, Mr. Trophy 5 (7 Innings). 

In a tremendously well played game by both teams, Schatz & Nobel rallied back from a 3-0 deficit in the top of the 6th to tie the game 3-3, then scored four runs in the top of the 7th to take a 7-3 lead and survived a two run rally from Mr. Trophy in the bottom of the 7th to win 7-5 and take Game 1.  Trophy jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st inning on a single from Brendan Dakin, RBI double from Tommy Link, RBI double from Sean Walsh, and RBI single from Jordan Dorfman.  The game then turned into a pitcher's duel with Link dominating on the mound.  Schatz got things started in the top of the 6th with a solo home run from Jonathan Greenfield, followed by a single from Chris Butler and an RBI double from Kyle Cabral to make the score 3-2.  Stephen Laffin then hit a hard grounder to 1st base that he beat out to score Cabral to tie the game 3-3.  Greenfield held Mr. Trophy scoreless in the bottom of the 6th and the Schatz bats went back to work in the top of the 7th.  Keith Parsons walked to lead off the inning and scored on an RBI double from Matt Luther.  Jonathan Zelinger then reached on an error before Greenfield hit his second home run of the night over the centerfield fence to make the score 7-3.  Mr. Trophy rallied for two runs in the bottom of the 7th on a double from Dorfman and a ground out from Jack O'Connor.

Greenfield (4 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K's) picked up the win in relief of Luther (3 IP, 3 ER, 2 K's).  Link went six strong innings (7 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 9 K's) before he was relieved by Tommy Litchfield who took the loss.  The Schatz offense was led by Greenfield (3 for 4, 2 runs, 2 home runs, 3 RBI's), Luther (2 for 4, double, RBI) and Cabral (2 for 3, double, RBI).  Jordan Weinstock made several great plays in right field.  Mr. Trophy's offense was led by Dakin (2 for 4), Link (double, RBI), Walsh (RBI, 2 runs), Litchfield (2 runs) and Jordan Dorfman (3 for 4, double, 2 RBI's).  Dakin was strong behind the plate and Walsh played well at first base.

Game 2: Schatz & Nobel 22, Mr. Trophy 7. 

The Schatz offense took control early in this game as they scored six runs in the 1st inning and seven in the 2nd inning for a 13-2 lead.  They then added nine runs in the 4th inning on their way to the 22-7 win.  For the game, Schatz combined for 26 hits, 3 doubles, and 6 home runs (including three from Jonathan Greenfield (who hit 5 for the series and 15 on the season).  The Schatz offense was led by its 12 year olds: Matt Luther (4 for 5, 3 runs, 2 doubles, grand slam home run, 4 RBI's), Jonathan Zelinger (4 for 5, 3 runs, double, home run, 4 RBI's), Greenfield (4 for 5, 3 runs, 3 home runs, 6 RBI's), and Kyle Cabral (4 for 5, 3 runs, RBI).  Other hitting stars were Chris Butler (3 for 3, 3 runs), Jordan Weinstock (3 for 3, 2 runs, 3 RBI's), and Stephen Laffin (2 for 4, 2 runs, home run, 3 RBI's).  Anthony Giannone had an RBI single and Antonio Masse had a 2 RBI single.

Luther picked up the win on the mound with three strong innings (2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 3 K's) and Zelinger came on for the save (3 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K's).  Schatz also had the defensive play of the game turning a triple play in the 4th inning.  The improbable play was started by a great catch in left field by L.J. Luba who alertly threw to Luther at second base to double the Trophy runner off and then Zelinger tagged out another Trophy runner trying to advance from first base. 

Mr. Trophy fought back throughout the game scoring two runs in the 1st inning, two runs in the 4th inning, and three runs in the 6th inning.  The Trophy offense was led by Brendan Dakin (1 for 3, run), Tommy Litchfield (2 for 3, 2 runs, 2 doubles), Tommy Link (0 for 1, run, 2 walks), Sean Walsh (1 for 2, 2 runs, double, sac fly), Jordan Dorfman (1 for 3, run, double), and Jack O'Connor (2 for 3).  Tyler Dorfman, Dakin, O'Connor and Litchfield pitched for Trophy.

The win marks the first Town Championship for Schatz & Nobel coached by Andy Schatz and Rob Gallo. 

Championship Tournament

Saturday 

Avery Heights Athletics (AL #1) 12,  Gent Financial Indians (AL #4) 0. 

Olivieri Quickprint Orioles (AL #3) Upset Knights of Columbus Yankees (AL #2).

Steben Motors Braves (NL #1)  15, Beat Taylor Modeen Padres (NL #4) 4.

WH Health & Rehab Astros (NL #3) 4, VFW Post Giants (NL #2) 3. 

The contest was essentially a pitching duel between the Astro aces of Gus Murchie and Colby Lytle and the Giants Drew Nemirow, Sean Langan and Kevin Hurley.  The Giants ended the game with 15 strikeouts and seven walks while Murchie and Lytle combined for 8 strikeouts and 3 walks.  The Astros infield was also sharp with great plays by Tobias Dunn, Lytle, Aidan Shea and Archie Southgate.  The Astros drew first blood with Lytle hitting a sharp single that drove Owen Denton over the plate in the third.  The Giants fought back as Harry Freda hit a huge double in the fourth driving in two runs to take the lead.  But the Astros never buckled and Lytle hit another single to score Brendan Moore in the top of the fifth to tie the score.  Both sides stranded men on base due to the clutch pitching from both teams.  The winning run came in for the Astros in the top of the sixth with two outs as Cameron Tripp hit the first pitch to bring Southgate in.  Lytle took three batters to full counts in the bottom of the sixth, but showed tremendous grit by striking each of them out to end the game. 

Sunday 

Athletics 3, Orioles 0.

Braves 3, vs. Astros 0.

In the National League Championship game for the minor leagues, Drew Hungerford and Chase Jeter combined on a no hitter to lead the Braves to a 2-0 win over a gutty Astros team, in a game dominated by great pitching on both sides.  Hungerford started for the Braves and pitched 3 scoreless innings, allowing no runs while recording 9 strikeouts.  He was matched in the first 3 innings by the Astros Gus Murchie, who pitched 3 innings and allowed only 1 run while striking out 8.  The Braves scored their lone run in the 2^nd off Murchie, with Nick Becker reaching on an error and then was driven home on a RBI double by Luke Fox.  Chase Jeter came on in the 4^th for the Braves, and pitched the final 3 innings, recording 8 strikeouts and allowed no runners to reach base.  The Astros Colby Lytle was just as tough, allowing only 1 run while striking out 3 in his 2 innings of work.  The Braves scored an insurance run in the 4^th on a lead off single by Hungerford, who advanced to 2^nd on a walk to Richard Hansen, and then scored on an infield single by Luke Fox.  Defensive stars of the game for the Astros were Aidan Shea at 2^nd base, who snared a line drive to save 2 runs in the 4th, and Tobias Dunn, who made a great play to tag out a runner at 3^rd base.  For the Braves, Paul Wilson played well at 2^nd base, fielding the lone ball hit off the Braves pitchers.  Congratulations to both teams for an exceptionally well played game.

Friday

Braves 10, Athletics 3.

The Steben Auto Body Braves capped an undefeated season (12-0) by beating the Avery Heights Athletics (10-2) 10-3 in the Minor League Championship game.  The Braves, champions of the National League, used timely hitting and solid pitching to come back from a 3-1 deficit early in the game to grab the crown over the American League Champion Athletics.  In the top of the 1^st, Chase Jeter (1 for 3, 3 runs scored) started things for the Braves with a single.  Paul Wilson was then hit by a pitch.  The next batter, Drew Hungerford, then singled to score Jeter to put the Braves on top 1-0.  After a walk to Richard Hansen, A’s ace Patrick Baron settled in and retired the next 3 batters, including 2 by strikeout, to end the threat.  Baron pitched 3 innings and struck out 5 in the game.  The A’s then took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the 2^nd inning by capitalizing on 3 walks and a clutch 2 out single to right by Tyler Healy to plate Nick Gaglioti and Ryan Cova.  That lead did not last long as the Braves stormed back in the 3^rd to tie the score.  With one out, Paul Wilson (2 for 3, 2 doubles, 2 RBI's) pounded a double to left center.  Drew Hungerford then reached on an error to score Wilson.  With Hungerford on 2^nd, an infield single by Becker, a hit by pitch to Luke Fox and an infield ground out by Sean O’Meara scored Hungerford to knot the score.  It was then that the vaunted Braves pitching took over the game.  For the season, Braves pitchers allowed only 13 runs in 12 games and that depth began to take hold.  Paul Wilson and Chase Jeter combined to shut down the A’s over the final 4 innings, allowing no hits and striking out 7 in that stretch.  In the 5^th frame, the Braves broke on top and took a 7-3 lead that they would never relinquish.  All with 2 outs, Nick Becker’s (2 for 4) RBI single and Sean O’Meara’s perfect bunt keyed a 4 run rally that saw 10 Braves batters go to the plate.  Key at bats in the inning by Hansen, Fox, Brendan O’Meara, Joey DeMeo and J.T. Wojciechowski, who all reached base, helped keep the rally alive.  Hansen and Fox showed some savvy base running to score runs in the inning.  If not for the infield play of the A’s Charlie Murray, the lead would have been larger, as Murray excelled at short in the inning.  After Jeter retired the A’s in order in the 5th, the Braves offense pounced again, scoring 3 more times in the 6^th to take a 10-3 lead.  Once again, it was the top of the order in the middle of things.  With 2 outs, Wilson doubled again to deep center to score Jeter from first, and the next batter Hungerford (2 for 4, double, 2 RBI's) doubled to left to score Wilson, with Hungerford going to 3^rd on the throw home.  Hungerford eventually scored on an error, scoring the 10^th run for the Braves.  Jeter then pitched a perfect 6^th inning, recording the final 2 outs on groundouts, and then jumped into the arms of catcher Avi Ehrlich as they celebrated with their teammates on the mound at Wolcott Park.

Consolation Tournament

Saturday 

CT Self-Stor Rangers (AL #7) 13, Harry's Pizza Red Sox 11.

Led by starter Colin Fitzsimonds, the Rangers fought a strong defensive battle to maintain the lead through the entire game.  Strong hitting from Ben Lumbruno, and brothers Caelan and Drew Booth were responsible for 9 of the 13 runs while key defensive plays by Ivan Ribiero (left field) and Lumbruno (catcher) kept the Rangers on top.

Knights of Columbus Dodgers (NL #6) 12, Crown Supermarket Expos (NL #7) 3.

Carlos Moore (7 K's) and Brendan Begley (9 K's) each pitched 3 innings to lead the Dodgers over the Expos. Begley (2 hits, 2 runs) and Moore (1 hit, 2 runs) led the offense. Nathan Scaumberger also walked twice and scored 3 runs. The Expos played solid defense and struck out 10 Dodgers batters in a well played game. 

Sunday

Caps Sports Shop Angels (AL #5) 8,  Rangers 7.

Angels played a hard fought game with the Rangers with Henry Glucksman making a double play to the end game at first.  The Angels Henry Glucksman pitched 3 strong innings and the Angels got key hits from Ben Castro, Thomas Knox, Cooper Swift, Justin Suroweic, and Josh Kursman.

ProCourier Mets (NL #5) 2, Dodgers 1.

Cory Wolski and Michael Ciccarello handled the pitching duties with Michael pitching out of several bases loaded jams, one in the top of the 6th with one out and striking out the last two Dodger hitters.  Griffin Smith and Harrison Newman flashed their leather on several plays to key the defense.  Adam Cohen, Ciccarello and Newman led the offense with key hits.

Sunday

Lions (AL #2) 15, Rotary (AL #5) 3.

RJ Place pitched the first three innings and made two spectacular defensive plays to spark the Lions. Carson Reale and Andrew Lemkuil handled the rest of the pitching and led a Lions offensive attack that featured key hits by Scott Riley and Dylan Giguere. The Lions defense was outstanding throughout the game as Torrie Green and Andrew Lemkuil were strong up the middle in addition to Place's defensive wizardry. 

Rotary played hard nosed baseball throughout the contest led by Ryan Bell who pitched the first three innings and JJ Montano who finished up. Captain Neal Ramchandani provided great leadership and Kenny Andrews and Sam Hogan had gritty performances for the tough Rotary group.  Patrick Baron contributed a late inning hit and James Cudo played excellent defensively.

K of C (NL #2) 9, Police (NL #5) 0. 

Hunter Pond and Kyle Jeter combined on a no hitter Sunday, facing only 2 batters over the minimum, in leading the Knights to a 9-0 shutout of Police.  Pond (4 IP, 8 K’s) and Jeter (2 IP, 4 K’s) were masterful all night and did not allow a ball out of the infield.  K of C jumped on top in the 1^st inning, getting a leadoff single from PJ Melly, followed by a walk to Caleb Ritter, which was then followed by a 3 run home run by Dylan Robinson, a blast into the pond at Wolcott Park.  Leading 4-0 after 2 innings, K of C tacked on 4 more runs in the 3^rd, on consecutive hits by Robinson, Pond, Jeter and Omar Montalvo (3 for 3, 3 RBI’s).  Dylan Rosenbaum closed out the scoring in the inning, lacing a double to score Montalvo.  The 9^th run came on consecutive hits by Pond and Jeter (2 for 3, 2 RBI’s), followed by a scorching single by Montalvo to score Pond.  Meanwhile, Pond and Jeter cruised along, getting great defense from Melly and Robinson to help secure the no hit bid.  For Police, Evan Exum played great at shortstop, and Ian Henderson excelled at 1^st base.

Exchange Club (NL #3) 9, Woods Construction (NL #4) 3.

Monday

Tuesday

Exchange Club (NL #3) 3, K of C (NL #2) 2 (7 Innings).

Wednesday - President's Cup Finals 

Talcott Transmission vs. Exchange Club - 7:00 pm - Wolcott Park

The WHYBL has begun accepting registrations for Summer League.  The Summer League offers a great fun and playing opportunity for players who played in the Major and Minor Leagues.  If you are 8 (3rd grader 2008-09), 9, 10, 11 or 12 (as of April 30, 2009) you can play.  The season runs from July 6 - August 7.

No weekend games, limited practices and lots of action.  The season will have between 8-12 games, umpires, t-shirts and hats and great coaches. 

If you will be away for a week or two during the season -- no problem, just make note of it on the registration form.

Please download the attached information sheet and registration form to register.  If you need additional information, please call Harry Schaeffer at 233-3147.

The West Hartford Youth Baseball League kicked-off their 60th year with the annual Jamboree Day on Saturday May 2, 2009.   The Major and Minor League teams participated in scrimmage games throughout the day and posed for individual and team pictures.

A wonderful time was had by all, as hundreds of players, family and friends enjoyed a beautiful day of competitive baseball and tasty snacks and refreshments at the League’s concession stand.

The League will round out its first week of action with a full slate of games in the Majors and Minors.  Please return to the WHYBL website for details on upcoming games and look for weekly game recaps in the West Hartford News.