Scott Tiger slides home safely in the second inning for the Diamond Jacks Super 12U.
By Rich Bevensee
The Diamond Jacks Super 12u ballclub is enjoying one heck of a winning streak – and a terrific fall season overall – but coach Mike Cust revealed that, despite their age, he doesn’t have to keep his young ballplayers on an even keel to prevent them from getting overconfident.
Thanks to an abundance of talent, a solid work ethic and unmatched chemistry, the Diamond Jacks are quite capable of keeping each other in line and focused on the next game.
That may explain why, on the heels of winning a tournament championship last week, Jaxon Shah and Company helped the Diamond Jacks continue their winning ways with a doubleheader sweep on Saturday.
After an 11-4 decision over the Colonie Raiders, 11-4, the Diamond Jacks received a two-hitter from Shah and two RBIs each from Brady Jezorwski, Scott Tiger and Evan Pfitzenmeyer in a 14-1, four-inning rout of Bucks County Generals Red in the 12U Fall Classic at Diamond Nation in Flemington.
The Diamond Jacks were denied a chance to win a second straight tournament title when the remainder of the Fall Classic was canceled due to Sunday’s rainstorm.
The Diamond Jacks are 6-0 in October after capturing the Grand Slam title in a four-game series last weekend.
“We don’t feel pressure to win because we just go out there and do our best and it just comes along,” said Jezorwski, who went 2-for-3 with a double against the Generals. “We practice at 110 percent. A lot of fielding, tons of hitting, bullpens, we practice very hard.”
Brady Jezorwski rips a two-run single in the second inning for the Diamond Jacks Super 12U.
“It’s an easy flow,” said Cust, whose team improved to 10-3 overall in the fall. “They all get along, we have good relationships and they’re great kids overall. They all enjoy having me as a coach and I enjoy having them as players. I love it.”
Shah was dominant in his outing against the Generals, although it didn’t start out that way. The first batter of the game, Jack Gochal, sent Shah’s second pitch over the left field fence for a home run.
Shah was masterful from there, allowing one run on two hits and two walks with four strikeouts in his four innings of work. After the home run he faced just one batter over the minimum. His defense played an errorless game and turned an inning-ending double play in the second.
“I don’t feel any pressure when I pitch because I know my defense will make the plays when they put the ball in play,” Shah said. “We practice hard and just keep putting the work in.”
Against the Generals, Tiger had a two-run single, walked twice and scored twice, and Emilio DeAngelis was 2-for-3 with a double. Pfitzenmeyer, Shah and Jordan Fleischer each had two hits while Fleischer and Gliottone both drove in a run.
The Diamond Jacks have outscored the opposition this month, 61-20, and are averaging seven runs per game this fall.
Despite that impressive offensive production, the team does not have a problem with complacency, Cust said.
“I think what happens is that each tournament is a new experience for them,” Cust said. “You just go with the flow and everything starts clicking, and then the confidence starts to roll. And when everyone is running on confidence, you don’t even talk about it, you just go out and do it.”
In the win over the Colonie Raiders, Tiger and Henry Gliottone combined on a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts over six innings. It was just another example of how solid the pitching and defense is for the Diamond Jacks, who have allowed four runs or less in five of the last six games.
In that game, Michael Botti led the offense by going 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. DeAngelis was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored and Shah also had two hits. Jezorwski (1-for-4 with a double) and Sebastian Pena each drove in two runs.
“I think communication is definitely important to why we’re winning, and teamwork,” Jezorwski said. “We’ve been together for a while and we like playing together. On the bench we’re always cheering each other on, so even if you strike out we’ll still pick you up and we help each other do better next time.”