Deep Run’s Justin Drews slides home safety under the tag of Sports Zone pitcher Bryce Holmes.
By Rich Bevensee
The Deep Run 11U Thunderhawks, a small-town team from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, relishes playing in big tournaments and beating up on the more established club teams which cull players from across county and even state lines.
The T-Hawks were at it again Saturday by pulling off a doubleheader sweep in the Boys of Summer Tournament on a hot and hazy afternoon at Diamond Nation in Flemington.
First they stifled Titans Demarest in a 6-1 decision. Then with barely enough time to recharge on the sweltering turf surface, the Thunderhawks overwhelmed Sports Zone Black of Syracuse, N.Y., 11-3, in four innings to complete the sweep.
“It’s very fun for us,” said Deep Run’s Chase Rowand who, against Sports Zone, pitched all four innings and drove in three runs. “We’re supposed to be the small guys and we come out and dominate the big teams.”
Deep Run coach Bill Burke said he was pleased to see his team allow just four runs combined in two games, and to do so against established club teams.
“We’re just a local town team coming down here to play hard,” said Burke, whose program comes from Hilltown, a Pennsylvania community of about 27 square miles. “100 percent we get satisfaction from beating the club teams. The boys played hard. We strive to come down to these tournaments and get after it.”
Julian Caldwell had an RBI single for Sports Zone a Boys of Summer matchup with Deep Run.
The victory over Sports Zone was particularly impressive considering that Sports Zone blanked Marucci Prospects, 10-0, just hours earlier.
Both teams have one pool play game remaining on Sunday. Deep Run (26-7-1) will face Marucci Prospects and Sports Zone (18-7) will take on Titans Demarest.
Rowand was effective at the plate and on the mound for the Thunderhawks in the game against Sports Zone.
In the bottom of the first inning Rowand’s two-run single tied the game at 2-2 and ignited a six-run rally in which the Thunderhawks sent 10 batters to the plate.
He kicked off another rally in the third with an RBI single, as Deep Run scored five more runs for an 11-2 lead. Rowand was the only deep Run batter with multiple hits.
Rowand also pitched all four innings and allowed just three runs on three hits and four walks and he struck out five.
“He had the offspeed dialed in – they couldn’t hit it – and he was dominant with the fastball,” Burke said.
Rowand said he knew his four-seam fastball and especially his curveball were on when the game began.
“I got my arm out and saw it dropped and I knew that’s exactly what I needed,” Rowand said.
Sports Zone shot out of the gate with a two-run first inning, as Julian Caldwell had an RBI single and Jayce Reale raced home on the throw.
The Thunderhawks bounced back quickly with six runs in the bottom half of the inning. Rowand opened the rally with a two-run single to tie the game. Deep Run took the lead for good on a two-run error as Justin Drews and Rowand scored on a wild pitch for a 4-2 lead. Araco padded the lead by driving in a run with a base hit and later scoring on a wild pitch.
Another substantial Deep Run rally in the third really set Sports Zone on its heels. Rowand and Zach Wright both singled to drive in a run. Luke Mangeney belted an opposite-field RBI double to left. Damon D’Angelo had an RBI single and Araco scored on a wild pitch for an 11-2 lead.
Sports Zone did not go down with a whimper. In the top of the fourth Carter Cielesz walloped a solo home run well over the trees beyond the center field fence.