By Sean Reilly
Playing baseball on the 11U level isn’t only about advancing skills in areas like hitting, fielding and throwing.
It’s also a time to develop the confidence that can make one a better ballplayer.
Ryan Downs has blended skill and mettle to become a solid performer, and it has helped his Beaver Falls Red 11U team to a strong start in 2026 and in capturing a Diamond Nation tournament championship.
Downs showcased his bat through three victories, and then pitched a three-hitter in the title game when Beaver Valley won the 11U Spring Classic with a 6-2 victory over the Jersey Devils 11U on Sunday afternoon in Flemington.
Downs was 5-for-7 with five runs and eight RBI in the first three contests. The Beaver Falls, Pa. team then unleashed the righthander from the mound in the final, where his fastballs were consistently clocked in the upper 60 mph range, and his curveball was in the upper 50s, while striking out eight and walking four.
Just as important was a demeanor that showed that he was in control.
“You have to be confident in sports,” Downs said. “It just makes you better.”
Beaver Valley, which is 9-0 on the season, became increasingly aggressive at the plate, and it began to pay off in the top of the third inning, starting when Austin Acierno was hit by the first pitch.
Acierno stole second on the first pitch to Lucca Tortorice, and on the next pitch, Tortorice hit a single to center that advanced Acierno to third. Tortorice stole second on the first offering to Jackson Tarquinio, who hit the next pitch to left field for a sacrifice fly that scored Acierno and sent Tortorice to third.
The next batter was retired on a quick pop out to shortstop, and with the order flipped to the top, Colin Toole had a 1-0 count before hitting an RBI single to second base for a 2-0 lead.
Downs surrendered his first hit when Anthony Fusco hit a two-out single to left field in the fourth inning for the Cherry Hill-based Jersey Devils. The next batter grounded out to second to end the inning.
Beaver Valley then struck for two more runs in the fifth to increase its lead to 4-0.
Ryan Downs of Beaver Valley Red was named the 11U Spring Classic Most Valuable Player.
The inning began with Colton Minemyer hitting a single to center, and Acierno followed with a walk. The runners advanced to second and third when Tortorice flew out to center. Tarquinio followed with his second productive out, an RBI groundout to second base. Jackson Monahan then hit an RBI single to second base.
Beaver Valley extended its lead to 6-0 in the sixth. Timmons led off with a walk, stole second and moved to third when Downs flew out to center. After a pitching change, Tanner Tortorice sent the first pitch of his at-bat well beyond the fence in left field for a two-run home run.
The Jersey Devils avoided the shutout by scoring twice in the bottom of the sixth. Leadoff man Cade Rieger hit a double to deep center. He advanced to third on a passed ball before Alex Saft walked on a full count and then took second.
Peyton Lascio hit an RBI single to right, and Jackson Fournier grounded to Downs, who tagged Fournier as he ran to first while conceding the run.
A groundout to shortstop and a strikeout closed out the complete game for Downs and championship for Beaver Valley.
“I was using a four-seam, two-seam and a curve,” Downs said. “I would go with the curve on the first pitch to good batters to keep them off-balance.”
Tanner Tortorice, who went 2-for-3, was the lone player in the game with multiple hits. He also hit a first-pitch single to left in the fourth inning.