Accurso ignites USA Prime to 12U Halloween Mash championship

By DN WRITING STAFF | October 28, 2024

By Rich Bevensee

When the hot-hitting Anthony Accurso came to bat in the top of the fifth, he had a flyout and strikeout to his name to that point, so USA Prime Scout coach Ryan Pandolfini put his arm around the slugger and walked him to the plate.

It was a brief pep talk, and it worked. 

“We were talking about the pitcher throwing a lot of curveballs, and if he throws a curveball first pitch, think curveball and smash it over the trees,” Accurso said.

Accurso laid off an outside curveball but took action on the next pitch, launching an inside fastball over the left field fence for his third home run of the tournament.

The blast ignited a five-run rally which blew open a tight game and propelled USA Prime Scout to an 11-1 victory over Frazier’s Downtown Academy and the 12U championship in the Halloween Mash Powered By Victus on Sunday at Diamond Nation in Flemington. 

Pandolfini is an assistant coach with the Flores Baseball Braves, and his son Matteo and Accurso are teammates on the Braves. 

“All I said to him was, let’s reverse our thinking,” Pandolfini said of his chat with Accurso. “I said, ‘He’s obviously scared of you so instead of looking fastball and chasing curveball, let’s sit curveball first pitch. If he throws it, great. If he throws a fastball, take it and attack the next pitch. That’s what he did. He’s so used to getting the job done for us (on the Braves) and I wanted him to relax and know there are other guys who can get the job done, too.”

Prime, based in Westampton, N.J., is a collection of the best players from several other club teams, namely the FB Braves, New York Dynasty, New Jersey Hammer, Dream Chasers and USA Prime. They practiced together on Friday before blowing through the Halloween Mash 12U field by a combined four-game score of 46-22. 

“We took the best of the best kids from each team,” Pandolfini said. “We are not going to play in the Northeast. The whole reason for putting this together is to see what our best of the best can do against other kids not from around here.

“We’re gonna shut it down and just do practices in the fall, and then one tournament a month, February thru June. We’re gonna do Florida, Myrtle Beach, Vegas, Connecticut, so they can stay together.”

Accurso batted .600 with three homers, a double and four walks in the tournament and was named Most Valuable Player. 

“And even his singles were absolute missiles,” Pandolfini said. 

After smashing his 18th homer of the fall, Acccurso said he enjoyed the experience of playing on a club all-star team. 

“This was a lot of fun because we have a great offense and the pitching is immaculate,” Accurso said.

Anthony Accurso of USA Prime Scout was named the 12U Halloween Mash MVP.

That’s not far from the truth. Righty Matt Byers pitched a complete-game four-hitter for Prime with two walks, two hit batsmen and four strikeouts. 

“I liked my location and all my pitches were working,” said Byers, who threw a four-seam and two-seam fastball, a changeup and curveball. “I was throwing it where I wanted it to be.”

Byers, who normally plays for Double Major 13U, gave up an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth and stranded four runners in scoring position. He also received exceptional infield defense, especially from shortstop Matteo Pandolfini, who initiated two double plays. 

“Matt’s been with me since he was nine and he always gives those types of performances,” Pandolfini said. “He works consistently and his curveball is second to none for a 12-year old.”

The younger Pandolfini began the scoring for Prime after doubling to center and crossing on a wild pitch in the top of the first inning. 

Jace Hernandez rocked a solo homer to right in the second inning for a 2-0 Prime lead. In the fourth, Zach Althoff scored from third when pinch-hitter Craig Sleap reached on a dropped third strike.

DTA got back into the game with a run in the bottom of the fourth when Lou Giancola singled and eventually scored on an infield error. 

Prime answered that single DTA run with three in the fifth. Accurso began the rally with a three-run blast to right-center for a 6-1 Prime lead. Mike DeLorenzo drove in a run with a single while another came around on an outfield error for an 8-1 lead. 

Prime finished off DTA in the sixth as Pandolfini highlighted a three-run rally with an RBI double. 

For DTA, which hails from Toms River, Landon McHugh, George Brophy, A.J. Rossi and Giancola were the only batters to get a base hit off Byers.

Share With A Friend:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *