Tyler Stepp sliced a two-run single to left in the first inning for the Colonials.

By Rich Bevensee

With so much talent and balance on the roster, the Complete Game 14U Colonials 2029 AAA of Allendale, N.J., may actually be a living, breathing example of their program’s name.

The Colonials’ 1-2 record from their recent trip to Diamond Nation may not turn any heads, but their two losses came against a bracket champion and a bracket runner-up. It was the Colonials’ pool play victory which showed just how much promise this ballclub has going forward into the summer months.

Elias Maloof allowed one run over three innings despite depleted arm strength, both ends of the lineup provided offensive production, and the Colonials emerged with a 12-1 pool play victory over Pro Skills of Hainesport, N.J., in the 14U Silver Father’s Day Classic Powered by Pure Rush Shades on Saturday evening at The Nation in Flemington. 

Even more telling about this team’s potential is how it goes about executing the smallest details of the game.

Colonials No. 3 hitter Cole Vinci went 3-for-3 with a triple and two RBI. It was his hustle single in the top of the third inning which set the tone for the rest of the game.

With two out, the lefty hitting Vinci smashed a line drive to the right side for what appeared to be a sure base hit with two outs. But Pro Skills first baseman Jacob McGonigle made a sensational dive to his left on his belly to stop the ball. Seeing this, Vinci hustled to first and beat McGonigle to the bag. The Colonals’ Quinn Connell jogged home from third on the play, but Vinci’s hustle allowed the run to count, making the score 5-1 at the time.

“When I first hit it, I was thinking double, but when I saw him get it I said, Oh, I gotta get there,” Vinci said. “I think a play like that gets everyone more involved in the game. Getting that hit means everyone gets a lot more into it and it could spark a rally.”

Vinci was part of a 13-man lineup which saw the top three batters reach seven times in nine plate appearances, and the bottom five batters reach eight times in 10 appearances. 

“These guys just get on base,” Colonials coach Andrew Van Der Hoof said. “They just find ways. They have a good approach at the plate, they see pitches they want to see and hit pitches they want to hit. They just take care of business.

“It’s so easy making a lineup when you have guys who produce everywhere. You don’t have to worry about anything. You know that in any situation they can execute whatever needs to be done and you’re good.”

Using four- and two-seam fastballs and sprinkling in change-ups and curveballs, Maloof was stubborn on the hill for the Colonials. He permitted one unearned run on three hits and five walks in 3⅓ innings.

Upon coming off the field, Maloof admitted to Van Der Hoof that he didn’t have his best stuff. 

“He said his arm wasn’t feeling sharp and I said you had me fooled,” Van Der Hoof said. 

 “I noticed my velo wasn’t up. My arm was depleting as the game went on,” Maloof said. “It was something with my mechanics, not being loose enough. But most of my location was there, mostly my two-seam.”

Aashray Shah of Pro Skills beats the throw to first ahead of tag by Colonials’ Greyson Knapp.

The Colonials’ relief pitching was exceptional. Alex Fraino finished the fourth inning for Maloof without incident and Connell threw a scoreless fifth. Fraino and Connell combined to give up no hits and one walk. 

“The key thing is just attack and trust your stuff because outs are going to happen,” Van Der Hoof said. “We have a great defense so you have to have confidence. Our pitching success comes from knowing you can attack a guy early in the count, early in the lineup because outs are going to happen.”

“I am definitely excited for the rest of the summer because we have a solid rotation and a solid bullpen,” Maloof said. “I feel like in one of these tournaments we can go all the way.”

The Colonials gave Maloof a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning when Tyler Durso slapped an opposite-field, two-run single into left, and Greyson Knapp added an RBI single in the third. 

Pro Skills picked up its lone run in the bottom of the second on Sean Foley’s sharp single to left. 

Complete Game added a pair of runs for a 5-1 lead in the third on Tyler Hendy’s RBI groundout and Vinci’s hustle single.

The Colonials blew the game open in the fifth, adding seven runs on four hits and two walks. Connor Stevenson had an RBI single, Maloof helped his cause with a two-run single tio center, Stevenson scored on infield error, Hendy and Vinci added RBI singles, and Tyler Stepp drove in another run with a groundout.