Frederick Hustlers (13U)

The 10U Hustlers played like champions on Sunday and came away with the 2014 Dig In Invitational Tournament Championship. The day started at 9:00am with a 7-4 win over Gambrills. The young Hustlers then put together one of their most complete games of the season and beat the #2 seed - a very good team out of Winchester, VA - 10-0. The Hustlers then waited for the winner of the other side of the bracket where the HCYP Raiders of the CRAB League nipped the tournament host Dig In team by a score of 9-7. The Hustlers refused to lose and won their first tournament crown by beating a well-coached HCYP Raider team 8-2.

The Hustler’s alarm clock sounded in the second inning of game one on Sunday. Trailing 2-0, Matt Cunningham (Green Valley) and Andrew McElwain (St Johns) got things started with back-to-back singles. Joseph Pippin (Oakdale) then created chaos by introducing the bunt game. Pippin laid down a perfectly placed bunt to load the bases. After a fielder’s choice at the plate, the Hustlers turned to the safety squeeze and Ryan Bennett (St Johns) laid down a gem. Riley Donovan (Tuscarora) moved the runners over before JT Sachar (Green Valley), Mikhai Evans (North Frederick), Cunningham and McElwain produced run-scoring singles. When the inning was over, the Hustlers had put a 7-spot on the board and turned to their pitching and defense. Justin Ropp (Yellow Springs), McElwain and Brandon Buschman (Walkersville) all pitched great in the win.

The Hustlers got an immediate scare in game two. Winchester’s leadoff hitter laced a line drive off the starting pitcher Mikhai Evans. Evans had to leave the game but returned later to take his place in CF. Meanwhile, Cunningham came on and tossed three shutout innings. The Hustler bats went to work getting one in the third when Sachar walked and stole two bases, and two more in the fourth when Ropp walked, Cunningham singled and McElwain doubled. The Hustlers scored four more in the fifth and three in the sixth to make in 10-0. Meanwhile, Ropp, McElwain and Pippin combined to slam the door on the Winchester bats. Sachar finished 1-1 with three runs scored, Ropp went 2-3 with two runs, and Cunningham and McElwain each had two hits.

The Championship game was against a familiar League foe in HCYP who the Hustlers have struggled with some in this young season. The Hustlers however responded and played like this game had a little more purpose. After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, the Hustlers came back swinging and got even at two apiece in the second. Evans gave his team the juice it needed by bouncing one over the fence in left center for a standup double to start the third. Ropp followed with single, McElwain doubled, Pippin got hit-by-the-pitch, and Dustin Isanogle (Lewistown) singled. The Hustlers then turned to their trademark pitching and defense with Ropp, McElwain and Cunningham each pitching like they weren’t willing to settle for anything less than the championship. The Hustlers kept the momentum going when Cunningham, McElwain and Pippin led off the fifth with consecutive singles. After a walk to Isanogle, Bennett scorched one to left and Zach Rutter (Middletown) singled to left center. The Raiders went quietly in the sixth and the young 10U Hustlers, playing in their first tournament ever, collected their championship trophies.

The Hustlers split two close games on Saturday to pick up the third seed in the eight team tournament for Championship Sunday. Isanogle caught all five of the Hustler games over the weekend and was so incredibly good. Sachar pitched an awesome complete game two on Saturday which allowed the Hustlers to have their full arsenal of starters available on Sunday.