Vince Milani takes a big cut for Ascent Athlete in the Ripken Qualifier at Diamond Nation.
By Rich Bevensee
Without exception, the players are uber-psyched for a chance to play in a high profile national tournament. The coaches feel the same, although they’re desperately trying to maintain a cautiously optimistic face to help keep their teams focused.
The excitement is not unwarranted because what is at stake this weekend at Diamond Nation in Flemington is like no other tournament since the facility opened 18 years ago.
Twenty 12U teams are competing in the inaugural Ripken Nationals Qualifier, with the winner on Sunday earning a free trip to Cooperstown’s All-Star Village to compete in the Ripken National Championship.
The Diamond Nation tournament winner will be one of 16 automatic qualifiers from around the country to compete for the national title June 29-July 4, with the championship game being broadcast nationally by CBS at 7 p.m. on the Fourth of July.
“We’re really pumped up. It’s a great experience overall, so hopefully we win this and get to go to nationals,” said Chase Redgate, whose Flores Baseball Braves Red team is ranked No. 19 in the country by Perfect Game.
“We’re always ready for everyone,” said Redgate when asked about a target on his team’s collective back. “If we stay together as a team and don’t get too cocky and play a team game, we can win it.”
Some of the best teams in the U.S. have already qualified for nationals, including SBA JSM X National of Orlando, Fla., ranked No. 4 in the country; No. 10 Elite RBI National of Houston, Texas; and No. 24 ZT Prospects Arteaga of Fontina, California.
RCBC Ghost’s Rocco Midolo fires home with third baseman Craig Tronolone awaiting the pitch.
Other teams who have also qualified are Tomahawks Baseball of Montgomery, Alabama; ZT Prospects of Sarasota, Florida; and New Jersey’s own Prevail Maroon, a Ramsey-based program which won a qualifier in Aberdeen, Maryland, earlier this month.
Following the qualifier this weekend at ‘The Nation,’ there are three more events next month – in Sandusky, Ohio, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and Grimes, Iowa – each producing a single qualifying team. Another qualifier in Cooperstown will advance four more teams to complete the 20-team field for the national tournament.
The Ripken Nationals will be using real-time stats through GameChanger. Each national qualifying team will receive Under Armour uniforms.
Ascent Athlete Scout of Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania, ranked No. 53 in the Perfect Game national poll, won its first Ripken game at ‘The Nation’ Friday night with a 14-5 verdict over CK Cardinals Red.
Considering the incredible reward which comes with winning this qualifier, it’s not unreasonable to wonder if the young ballplayers possess the maturity to remain focused.
Ascent coach Steve Richter said he doesn’t believe his team will be overwhelmed by what’s at stake.
“They’ve had enough games together where they treat each tournament like it’s its own tournament, and we’ve done our fair share of tournaments,” Richter said. “I don’t know if I have to keep them grounded. They’re ready to go.”
To their credit, even the players didn’t seem phased by the enormity of the moment.
Ripken Regional 12U Qualifier at Diamond Nation experienced a terrific opening night on Friday.
“Really before the game, you have to act calm and lock in, be off the devices and take the time for yourself to get ready,” said Brayden Vitale of Bergen Crush Orange.
“Sure everyone is very excited, but you just gotta worry about the moment you’re in right now,” said Ascent’s Miles Morelli.
The Diamond Nation Regional features heavyweights like the FB Braves, Ascent, Diamond Jacks Super, RCBC Ghost Nationals and Bergen Crush, but the thought of a few otherwise underhyped teams emerging and making some noise during Sunday’s playoffs is not a stretch. As any 12U coach can attest, games can change quickly at this hyper competitive level of ball.
There is a four-game guarantee for all 20 teams. After three pool play games, the teams are separated into four brackets of five teams each – championship, gold, silver and bronze.
The Ripken qualifier at ‘The Nation’ opened with 10 games on Friday evening, and there was no shortage of drama.
Ben Goldberg broke up a scoreless game in the bottom of the fifth inning with a grand slam home run and Rocco Midolo pitched a five-hit shutout to lead Richmond County Baseball Club Ghost Nationals to a 4-0 victory over the Zoned RedHawks. RCBC is a familiar program to regulars at ‘The Nation’ and that is a direct result of that program’s consistent success.
Bergen Crush lefty Logan Sopel pitched a two-hitter and led his team to a 4-1 victory over Performance Baseball.
“It was really important to win the first one because as we win, the team can build a lot of confidence for the next game,” said Sopel, who struck out 12 and walked three. “We have a lot of chemistry, and the more we play together the better our team is.”
Garrett Weir II of FB Braves Red picks a throw to put out Weston Hoelper of Diamond Jacks Gold.
For Diamond Jacks Super 12U, Kwame Boachie-Agyeman belted a three-run home run while Ryan Beardsley and Mason Roman each had two hits and combined for five RBI as the hosts built a seven-run lead en route to a 7-4 decision over Pine Bush Rebels Select. That trio of young stars have been in the middle of winning so many games for coach Jairo Labrador’s Super 12U home team.
Friday night’s impressive opening foray at the Diamond Nation Regional sets up the weekend nicely as teams spend all of Saturday and part of Sunday battling for the right to a playoff berth, the ultimate goal, of course, being the trip to Cooperstown for the Ripken Nationals.
Let the battle begin.
FRIDAY NIGHT SCOREBOARD AT DIAMOND NATION REGIONAL
Ascent Athlete Scout 14, CK Cardinals Red 5
Surge Legacy (OSBC) 14, Rucci Baseball Carolina 4
RCBC Ghost Nationals 4, Zoned RedHawks 0
Bergen Crush Orange 4, Performance Baseball 1
FB Braves Red 16, Diamond Jacks Gold 2
Diamond Jacks Super 7, Pine Bush Rebels Select 4
Tucci Elite 17, West Essex Junior Knights 3
Delaware Fury 10, Central Penn Renegades 1
Nor’East Clippers National 9, Montclair Bulldogs 3
Marlton 9, Diamond Jacks 11U 1