Ethan Cueto of Wladyka National connects on his pivotal RBI single in the second inning.
By Sean Reilly
Brian Chapman, the coach of Wladyka Baseball 16U National, offered some encouraging words to batter Ethan Cueto during a pivotal at-bat on Friday night at Diamond Nation.
“Batting practice is overrated,” said Chapman from the third base coaching box, while Cueto was in the midst of a second-inning at bat, with two out and runners on second and third in a scoreless game against the PA Shockers 2027 American.
Cueto had a 1-2 count before hitting an RBI single to the left side of the infield. Wladyka went on to record a 2-1 victory in the opening game for both teams at the Super 16 Invitational.
There was a reason for Chapman’s message to his player.
Cueto had played a basketball game earlier Friday in Jersey City, and was stuck in a Route 78 traffic jam before arriving at ‘The Nation’ just before the 7 p.m. first pitch.
As a result, he had no pregame BP, and went into the at-bat cold, especially after having played basketball.
Wladyka third baseman Ernie Guevara catches infield pop up as pitcher Rowan Trepicchio looks on.
“I had to shoot straight over here and had no time to prepare,” Cueto said. “I got in a tough two-strike count with second and third and two outs. I just wanted to put it in play. It was an outside pitch, I tried to go oppo, couldn’t, and I pulled it and it got it right out into the hole with no throw and was able to get the run in.
“So maybe batting practice is a little bit overrated,” he said with a laugh.
The hit scored Brendan Kearns, who led off the inning with a walk. Mitch Levinson followed with a single to center field. They advanced on a ground out before a pop out to second base.
The Shockers almost tied the game in the bottom of the second, when Joshua Caldwell sent a triple to deep center. He tried to make it an inside-the-park home run, but was barely out at home after a tremendous relay play from Cole Wiecenski in center to Tristan Frank at shortstop, who fired to Levinson for the tag at the plate.
The triple was one of five hits allowed by Wladyka starter Rowan Trepicchio, who pitched five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and one walk.
The Shockers tied the game after sending up the top of the order to start the bottom of the sixth.
Timmy Croyle walked and stole second, and Alan Evans was safe on an error to score Croyle for the 1-1 tie.
Wladyka, meanwhile, sent up the top of its order to begin the seventh.
Theo Herman led off with an infield single, and moved to second on a throwing error. After a strikeout, Luca Rastello’s single to center advanced Herman to third. Michael Mills was safe on an error which scored Herman with the go-ahead run.
Wladyka National 16U coach Brian Chapman talks to his team prior to the game.
Mills, who retired the last three batters in the sixth, then pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh to secure the victory.
“It was a gritty win,” said Cueto of the season-opening victory.
Chapman, the highly successful coach at Millburn High, met many of the Wladyka players for the first time before the game. An enjoyable summer is very likely to follow.
“Wladyka is such a great program,” Chapman said. “It’s my sixth year with them. You get not just great baseball players, but great kids as well. That’s kind of their culture. It’s why I love working with them.”
The Super 16 tournament features more than 60 teams playing three games each. The top five qualify for the Top 25 Showcase in August.
Wladyka continues play with single games on Saturday and Sunday. The Shockers have Saturday off before playing two games on Sunday morning.