Frederick Hustlers (13U)

Three Frederick Hustler teams went to Ripken this past week in Aberdeen, MD and all three came home with Tournament Championships. The 10U team won the 2014 In The Zone Tournament and the boys in black and gold were certainly in a zone defeating the Backyard University Gamers 11-8, Oxford Outlaws 13-1, the Ambler A’s 24-2, the South Jersey Titans, 12-1 and the Backyard University Gamers 10-2 in the Championship Game. Matt Cunningham was named the MVP.

The 11U Hustlers played some of their better ball of the season in taking home the 2014 Web Gems Tournament Title. The Hustlers beat the VBC Mudcats 9-1, the New Oxford All Stars 16-6, Capital City Crushers 9-4, the Delaware Sabres 11-1 and the GoWag Rockhounds 21-2 in the Championship Game. Andrew Stroka was named the MVP.

The 12U Hustlers continue to peak at the right time and won the 2014 Web Gems 12U Tournament. They played an inspired game against a tough Blaise Alexander Ford team and came away with a 1-0 win. They then beat the Mayslanding Muckdogs 7-4 and 11-1 before eliminating the New Bern Flames 13-4. The championship game was against none other than the Blaise Alexander Ford team and the Hustlers prevailed 8-7 and took home the Championship hardware. Kameron Walters was named the MVP.

The 10U Hustlers continued their solid CRAB League play with a Saturday sweep over a tough MD Warrior team by the scores of 4-0 and 13-1. Justin Ropp (Yellow Springs) and Andrew McElwain (St Johns) each tossed three innings in the opener and combined on a three-hitter. The defense took care of the rest as they came up with a variety of big plays including a relay from right-center to cut down a runner at third, a highlight catch by Riley Donovan (Tuscarora) in center, and an inning-ending 4-6 double-play to thwart another rally. JT Sachar (Green Valley), Mikhai Evans (North Frederick), Dustin Isanogle (Lewistown), and Brandon Buschman (Walkersville) each had a hit; Matt Cunningham (Green Valley) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

The Hustler bats came to life in game two. Sachar set the table and was on base all three plate appearances. Evans had two doubles and a walk, Cunningham had a bases-clearing double to deep left center, and Isanogle doubled in a run of his own. Ropp and Ryan Bennett (St Johns) each contributed singles. Joseph Pippin (Green Valley) and Cunningham handled the pitching duties and both were superb, once again holding a good hitting ball club to three hits and one run.

The Hustlers are back in action on Thursday and Friday in Aberdeen, MD for the Ripken “In The Zone” Tournament.

Coming off a Saturday sweep of the MD Warriors the 10U Hustlers now face an 8 game schedule in four days.  Regardless, they wanted no part of a day off even though it was Father's Day.  The coaches obliged and the mom's honored the dads and sent them to the bench while they raked/dragged the field following practice.  What a great group of parents!!!  Thanks.

The 10U Hustlers continued their solid CRAB League play with a Saturday sweep over a tough MD Warrior team by the scores of 4-0 and 13-1. Justin Ropp (Yellow Springs) and Andrew McElwain (St Johns) each tossed three innings in the opener and combined on a three-hitter. The defense took care of the rest as they came up with a variety of big plays including a relay from right-center to cut down a runner at third, a highlight catch by Riley Donovan (Tuscarora) in center, and an inning-ending 4-6 double-play to thwart another rally. JT Sachar (Green Valley), Mikhai Evans (North Frederick), Dustin Isanogle (Lewistown), and Brandon Buschman (Walkersville) each had a hit; Matt Cunningham (Green Valley) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

The Hustler bats came to life in game two. Sachar set the table and was on base all three plate appearances. Evans had two doubles and a walk, Cunningham had a bases-clearing double to deep left center, and Isanogle doubled in a run of his own. Ropp and Ryan Bennett (St Johns) each contributed singles. Joseph Pippin (Green Valley) and Cunningham handled the pitching duties and both were superb, once again holding a good hitting ball club to three hits and one run.

The Hustlers are back in action on Thursday and Friday in Aberdeen, MD for the Ripken “In The Zone” Tournament.

The 10U Hustlers made the trek across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware this past weekend for Sports at the Beach’s Clash of the Titans. The Hustlers appeared ready for another tournament title with their inspired play on Saturday. Drawing a tough first game opponent in eventual runner-up Go Wags War Eagles, the Hustlers put together one of those perfect games that you usually only dream about at 10U baseball and came out on the right side of a 1-0 game. Justin Ropp (two innings), Andrew McElwain (one inning) and Joseph Pippin (three innings) combined on a two-hitter and rode a strong defensive effort with plays being turned in that made you glad you were there. The Hustlers were looking down the barrel of a perfect game until the 5th inning when they got their lone run and only hit. After a strikeout to start the inning, McElwain and Pippin drew back to back walks. That’s when Brandon Buschman delivered a line drive single back up the middle to give the Hustlers the lead and the winning margin.

The Hustler bats came alive a little in the second game of the day against the Grand Slam Blue Rocks (who went on to win the Consolation Bracket). The Hustlers got on the board in the first when JT Sachar walked, stole second and was driven home on a single from Ropp. The Hustlers then scored one in the second and five in the third to take control. The big hit of that inning was a scorched two-run double from Pippin. Ropp led the way with two hits, and Sachar, Mikhai Evans, Matt Cunningham (double), McElwain, Pippin (double), Ryan Bennett and Hayden Bailey each contributed a hit. Ropp, Cunningham, Sachar and McElwain were all effective on the mound as the Hustlers came away with a 12-5 win and earned the #1 seed in the Championship Bracket on Sunday.

Sunday turned out to be a day to forget. The Hustlers uncharacteristically committed five errors in the first four innings and lost to the South Jersey Warriors 8-1. Despite the miscues, the Hustlers only trailed 3-1 going into the bottom of the fifth . The Hustlers just couldn’t get anything going. Their best chance was in the second when Cunningham, McElwain and Pippin led off with consecutive singles. With one run in and runners on second and third with one out, the Hustlers tried to bunt another run across but the attempt was popped up to the catcher and the Warriors escaped further damage. The Hustlers were held to five hits – all singles. Evans and Zach Rutter had the other base hits.

The CRAB League’s Olney Pirates won the tournament by beating the GoWags War Eagles 16-11 in the Championship game.