Cole Webster of OOTP Cyclones Prospects scores on wild pitch as part of a seven-run first inning.
By Sean Reilly
The last time the Out of the Park Cyclones Prospects visited Diamond Nation, the team went home with a championship.
The Green Brook-based outfit returned to Flemington over the weekend to compete in the 12U Fall Classic. And while there were no trophies or ribbons awarded this time around, one outcome was the same – the Cyclones had another enjoyable time competing at “The Nation.”
“We had fun,” said Andrew Schmeider, who pitched an inning and went 2-for-2 with a two-run home run and grounds rule double when the OOTP Cyclones concluded the tournament with a three-inning, 17-3 pool-play victory over the Bucks County Generals Red on Sunday.
When the Cyclones last came to Diamond Nation, they rolled to the championship at the 11U Boys of Summer tournament in late July.
This time around, the Cyclones went into the game against the Generals knowing there was no chance of advancing out of their pool and into the playoffs. So their objective became a very sensible one – to have a good time.
They allowed a run in the top of the first inning – Asher Fontaine of the Generals walked and scored after three wild pitches in the slippery conditions – but the Cyclones rebounded by scoring seven runs in the bottom of the frame.
Cyclones leadoff man Dylan Pudlak was hit by a pitch, and Cody Alicea followed with a grounds rule double to center field.
Gianni Cenicola grounded out to first base, with Pudlak scoring the tying run. Schmeider then hit a two-run home run, an opposite field shot over the fence in left field.
“I was just looking to get the ball in play and get on base,” he said.
Lucas Bolton was up next, and doubled to right center. He was picked off at second base, but Nick Yacykewych singled. After steals of second and third, Townes O’Connor hit a run-scoring double for a 4-1 lead. Chase Gechtman singled him home and took second on a throw. Cole Webster walked. Both later scored on wild pitches with Parker Dipollina at the plate.
The Generals got within 7-2 in the second after Sean Blowers doubled to deep center, took third on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out from Jake Meyer.
The Cyclones added two more runs in the bottom of the second. Vincent Donofrio singled with one out, David Falcone followed with a walk, and both came around on an error.
The Generals scored their final run in the third when Fontaine had an RBI groundout.
The game ended via the mercy rule when the Cyclones scored eight times in third.
It included a grounds rule double from Schmeider and also featured an RBI singles by Lucas Bolton and Dipollina and a three-run double hit by Donofrio. Falcone’s RBI single with one out scored Donofrio to end it.
“When one guy gets on, you want to keep it going and bring them in,” Schmeider said. “This was a good weekend. We had a lot of fun.”