The 12U Potomac Grays entered the season ending ODBL Championship tournament looking forward to squeezing as much baseball out of the weekend as possible, given the many rainouts throughout the fall.
The two Saturday games determined the seeding for Sunday, with only the top 8 seeds qualifying to play for the Championship. The first game was against the Virginia Generals, who had beaten the Grays already twice this season. However, the Generals had not yet faced David Siegel and his superb pitching. Siegel struck out 12 batters in 4 2/3 innings and generally blew the ball past every batter. In the words of one parent, Siegel was “beast!” David added to his strong performance by hitting a triple in the 2nd inning and scoring the team’s first run.
Taking a 3-2 into the 4th inning, the Grays offense came alive, capitalizing on three walks, a huge sac fly to centerfield by Matt Plaza and a 2 RBI single by Owen Ricketts. The 7-2 lead they had in the middle of the 4th would stand up to the 5th (and final) inning test by the Generals, who did not give up. The bottom of the fifth started with 2 quick outs, and the Grays had the game in their grasp…until 2 walks, a single, a wild pitch on strike three that put the batter on first, and another walk left the bases loaded with two runs in and a 4 run lead that was in jeopardy. In came pitcher Carter Bosch, who induced a ground out to end the threat, preserve an 8-4 victory for the Grays, and a record of 1-0 in round robin play.
In Saturday’s game two against the SYA Mets, who seemed like 12 year old giants, the Grays bats fell quiet. Ultimately, the victory of that game was in avoiding the mercy rule and playing as much baseball as possible. The one hit by a Grays batter came on a swinging bunt by Ryan Lovallo. Pitchers John Eames, Kenny Lippman, and Domenic Aulisi were each pulled on pitch count to preserve them for Sunday’s games. End score: a 9-0 Grays loss. Round robin record: 1-1. Thankfully, the strong morning performance placed the Grays as the 8th seed, so they found themselves in the Championship bracket…once again facing the SYA Mets.
Sunday morning the Grays braced themselves to face their Saturday nemesis, the top seeded Mets, and prepared to take on the role of “Giant Slayers.” The Grays looked good from the start, with three successive singles by Carter Bosch, Kenny Lippman, and David Siegel. The Grays took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the first, when Domenic Aulisi took the mound. Behind Aulisi’s pitching and some outstanding defense, the Grays got out of a bases loaded first inning jam with no runs allowed. Fast forward to the 3rd inning, and Eli Thrasher started off the Grays with a single up the middle. Kenny Lippman then batted him in and the Grays had a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the third, the Mets scored on three singles. After 3 innings, the game was a nail-biter but the Grays were still up, 2-1. Leading off the top of the 4th, Grant Williams smashed a double and was advanced to third on a sac bunt by Owen Ricketts. Williams then scored the Grays’ final run of the game on a balk. The most nerve-racking half inning of the tournament was coming, and the nervous fans had no idea how bad it would get before the game ended!
In the bottom of the 5th (and final) inning, the first batter was walked, and Domenic Aulisi gave up the mound after holding the Mets offense in check and striking out 7 in four innings. An incredible performance against a very talented Mets team! With a runner on first, Kenny Lippman came in to pitch and the first batter reached on error. Runners on 1st and 2nd, nobody out, two run lead. Next batter: walked. Bases loaded, nobody out, two run lead. Next batter: hit by pitch. Bases loaded, nobody out, one run lead.
Then, the magic happened. Strike out swinging. Strike out looking. Pop up to the first baseman, and the Grays had done it! They had beaten the #1 seeded SYA Mets! Their season continued, and the semi-finals were next.
The semi-final game pitted the Grays against the #5 seeded Metro Capitals, who the Grays beat twice in the regular season, both on come from behind victories. Could they do it again?
Still fresh and with adrenaline pumping, Kenny Lippman took the mound for the Grays, and went 5 full innings. At the end of the fifth, the Grays were down 4-1, and their day seemed to be almost over.
Top of the 6th inning, these kids weren’t done. Carter Bosch reached on error, Kenny Lippman walked, and David Siegel hit a two run single that put the Grays within 1, with nobody out. Owen Ricketts then hit the game-tying single to bring in Siegel. Pitching change. Matt Plaza got in on the fun and hit a single to knock in the go-ahead run. Grays have a 1 run lead going into the bottom of the 6th.
Carter Bosch came in as closer for the second time of the weekend. The Metro Capitals were not about to give up easily. A lead-off walk became a run with some savvy base running, and the game went to extra innings, tied 5-5.
In the top of the 7th, a single by Bosch, triple by Lippman, and single by Ricketts gave the Grays a 3 run lead in the middle of the 7th. Then Bosch shut the Capitals down with a fly out and two strike outs to preserve a hard fought 8-5 semi-final win.
An elated and exhausted Grays team had made it to the Championship game as the #8 seed! The opponent: the South County Mustangs.
Unfortunately, the Grays engine was depleted, and the team went down 10-0 in just four innings. However, a huge runner-up trophy took the sting out of the loss and the Grays were satisfied that they were able to extend their baseball season as long as possible, playing 5 games on the final weekend.
Congratulations to the team for an outstanding tournament and end to the season!
