Rob DeSimone knocks in the final run of the game in the Diamond Jacks’ 10-0 victory.
By Rich Bevensee
The stretch of games before Mother’s Day weekend could be interpreted as a rough patch for the Diamond Jacks Super 11U ballclub, but no one inside the dugout is saying that.
Playing up an age group, the Diamond Jacks lost three of four games in the 12U Ripken National Qualifier here at Diamond Nation in Flemington two weeks ago, then took a one-week break from tournament baseball.
Returning to action to compete in the Spring Fever tournament powered by Pure Rush, coach Luke Crawford said he was not concerned about his team’s approach or mental state despite entering the hiatus on a downturn.
“The 12U tournament humbled us a little bit, but there are no regrets, absolutely not,” Crawford said. “You’d rather play better competition that’s going to get them better at the end of the day. These kids responded to it well. They are a mature group of 11s.”
Sure seemed like the Diamond Jacks weren’t suffering any lingering effects from the Ripken tournament when they took the field to open the Spring Fever event.
Jordan Fleischer pitched a one-hit shutout, Brady Jezorwski hammered his sixth home run of the season, and the Diamond Jacks saw eight of their 11 batters score at least one run in a 10-0, four-inning victory over the Perkasie Green Sox in pool play on Friday evening at the Nation.
“No, there’s no regrets,” Jezorwski said about the team taking its lumps in the Ripken event. “It’s better competition. We can see faster pitching, see better arms, see better bats. It’s good to play up.”
The Diamond Jacks (17-5) scored 10 runs on eight hits and finished off the Sox in the bottom of the fourth when leadoff batter Aiden Spisso had an RBI groundout to cap a four-run rally and bring about the mercy rule.
Jezorwski had an RBI double in the first inning and a titanic three-run homer to center in the third.
“That pitch was right in my wheelhouse,” Jezorwski said. “Middle up, easy to get my barrel to it. When I saw the pitch I was like, “Gadzooks!”
Rob DeSimone had a two-run single for the Diamond Jacks, Jackson Shah had an RBI single, Lucas Julian had an RBI groundout and Sebastian Perez doubled to support Fleischer’s effort.
Jordan Fleischer threw a one-hit shutout and improved to 6-0 for the Diamond Jacks.
Not that Fleischer (6-0) needed all that help. Spinning his two-seam fastball, curveball and changeup, he was terrific in his four innings, striking out five while allowing just one hit and no walks.
Crawford called Fleischer “our Friday night guy,” and he clearly seems to thrive on the pressure.
“He’s been our rock all year,” Crawford said. “He gets the ball first. Why? Hey, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. He throws the most strikes. He goes out and challenges. And he wants it, that’s the best part.”
Fleischer surrendered a single to Terek Chapman in the second inning and a walk to Finn Watson in the fourth. They were the only two Green Sox batters to reach.
“I felt a little pressure on the mound but once you get through it, it makes you feel good,” Fleischer said of being the team’s designated Game 1 starter. “What worked best for me was I liked my velocity and I kept it on the outer half of the plate. I was trying to throw it as hard as I could and find the zone, and it went to where I wanted it to go.”
It was the second time in as many tournaments that the Diamond Jacks and Perkasie faced off at Diamond Nation. Two weeks ago the Diamond Jacks earned a 14-0 decision in the Spring Swing tournament before bowing to Hustle Baseball in the championship game.
Both the Diamond Jacks and Green Sox were slated to play Grit 11U Black and Locked In Baseball Expos Blue on Saturday to conclude pool play. The semifinals are slated for Sunday at 10 a.m. and the final is at 12:15 p.m.