Teammates surround Ty Drayton (32) after his three-run home run with two out in the bottom of the sixth resulted in a 7-5 semifinal win.
By Sean Reilly
Ty Drayton has only played baseball for a few years, and made his first-ever visit to Diamond Nation over the weekend to compete with his Complete Game Academy team at the 9U Mother’s Day Classic.
He went back home to Pennsylvania having accomplished things that most visitors to ‘The Nation’ can only dream about, even after many visits over the course of years playing at the complex.
Drayton’s team from Lancaster, Pa. was facing the Disla Dukes from Morris County in the tournament semifinals on Sunday afternoon.
The Dukes were up two runs when Drayton came to the plate with runners on second and third with two out in the bottom of the sixth inning.
With the outcome resting on his at-bat, he took the first two pitches for balls. He then sent the third offering just beyond the fence in straightaway center field for a three-run walk-off home run for a 7-5 victory.
That sent Complete Game Academy into the championship game immediately after against MARA 9U Blue from Audubon, Pa. Drayton hit an RBI double and scored as part of a four-run bottom of the first inning that propelled his team to an 8-6 victory for the championship.
Drayton, who went 6-for-11 with eight RBI over the weekend as Complete Game Academy won all four of its games, was selected the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
The first unforgettable moment of the day was the super-dramatic home run that gave Complete Game Academy its only lead of the game.
“I was just trying to swing and make contact,” he said. “That’s all I was thinking. Then it felt really good and exciting after I hit it.”
The rally for Complete Game Academy began when Jordan Mentzer doubled to left field with one out. Jordan Wile singled to right field, and took second on a throw while Mentzer held at third. The next batter struck out, putting the result squarely on Drayton’s shoulders. He didn’t disappoint.
“It’s the best I’ve felt playing baseball,” he said.
In the championship contest between Pennsylvania teams separated by around 60 miles, Mentzer pitched a scoreless top of the first for Complete Game Academy.
Complete Game Academy won a pair of playoff nail biters to secure the 9U Mother’s Day Classic title.
In the bottom of the frame, Mentzer led off with a triple to left field. Wile was up next, and hit an RBI single to center. He stole both second and third before Pryce Horn hit an RBI single near second base.
Drayton then had an 0-2 count before working it full. He supplied an RBI double to left to maintain a streak of having at least one hit and run batted-in every game during the tournament.
Edwin Oniel Rivera sent Drayton to third by beating out a grounder to the left side of the infield, and Harrison Raabe drove in Drayton with a sacrifice fly to center for a 4-0 lead.
Mentzer pitched out of second-and-third situation in the top of the second before Complete Game Academy added three more runs in the bottom of the inning for a 7-0 advantage.
Silas Tinder doubled to center with one out and stole third before Julian Hess walked and stole second. Mentzer singled to third, with Tinder scoring and Hess reaching third. Wile had an RBI ground out to third, and an error on the play scored an additional run for the seven-run lead.
Mentzer ended the game 3-for-3 for Complete Game Academy.
Drayton exited Diamond Nation with not only the championship-winning tag to attach to his equipment bag along with the MVP trophy, but also with some very happy memories that he might never forget.
“I had a great time,” he said. “This was fun.”