Diamond Jacks Super 14U won its 25th straight game and the 15U School’s Out title.
By Rich Bevensee
After a steamy afternoon in which Ryan Jezorwski donned his catcher’s gear for seven innings, he was able to thoughtfully break down each of his three pitchers’ best traits and skills.
It probably comes as no surprise to his Diamond Jacks 14U Super teammates that he takes the same thoughtful approach in teaching the game to his three younger brothers.
There’s a connection there, guiding his brothers at home and his teammates from behind the plate. That kind of patience makes him a solid receiver who can help lift his team to championships.
With Jezorwski calling pitches, three Diamond Jacks hurlers allowed a combined one run on four hits in a 5-1 victory over Wladyka American in the championship game of the 15U School’s Out Tournament on Sunday at Diamond Nation in Flemington.
The title was the Diamond Jacks’ eighth in nine Diamond Nation appearances this year. The victory was their 25th straight and it pushed the team’s record to an astounding 43-2-1. Over that span the Diamond Jacks have allowed an average of 1.86 runs per-game.
From the mound, Diamond Jacks right-handers Liam Freyre, Drew Gable and Victor Burgos walked a combined eight Wladyka batters but stranded eight baserunners in scoring position.
Jezorwski, who splits time with Gable behind the plate, called pitches for all seven innings and also he went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI double.
Jezorwski batted .455 in the five-game tournament, third on the team behind only Nick Stangota (.556) and Jordan Vesey (.467), and he led the team with six runs scored.
“I’ve been trying to simplify everything at the plate,” Jezorwski said. “Just trying to keep my barrel through the zone longer, trying to hit the ball hard the other way, and it’s been working for me.”
Vesey had a team-high seven hits, and he and Burgos led the team with five RBIs each for the weekend.
Earlier in the day, Jezorwski’s younger brother Brady helped his Diamond Jacks team capture the 10U School’s Out title with a dramatic 7-6 walk-off victory over Bergen Crush Orange.
Jezorwski has three younger brothers in all – Darren, 12, Brady, 10 and Tyler 5. Sibling rivalry be darned, Jezorwski said they’re all good listeners and students when he takes the time to offer advice on the finer points of the game.
“We work together in a garage and all that, trying to make each other better,” Jezorwski said. “Just a little advice here and there, trying to simplify things.”
Burgos’ performance – two shutout innings to close out the game on one hit and three walks with three strikeouts – caught even him off-guard, if only because he isn’t called on to pitch very often.
In fact, Burgos, who started at third base, didn’t know he was pitching in the championship game until coach Travis Anderson made a mound visit to chat with Gable in the fourth inning.
“He said, ‘go get loose.’ I had no clue,” Burgos said. “But I always try to stay ready. Coming out of the bullpen, I’m just trying to throw strikes and get the win. I love being out there, love being able to control the game. It feels good.”
Jezorwski said Burgos, who employed a fastball, change and curve, said he was mostly impressed with Burgos’ command of his off-speed pitches.
“I liked how he throws his changeup and curveballs behind in the count and gets the batters’ timing off, and then he comes back with his fastball,” Jezorwski said. “He has really good control of his off speed pitches. A lot of confidence in those pitches.”
Freyre, the Diamond Jacks starter, pitched three shutout innings, allowing one hit and three walks with two strikeouts.
“I liked his tempo on the mound,” Jezorwski said of Freyre. “He pounded the zone early in the count, he had a fast pace on the mound and he got us in and out of innings.”
Gable, using a fastball which topped out at 81 mph, pitched two innings and allowed one run on two hits and two walks with two strikeouts.
Ryan Jezorwski, left, and Victor Burgos paced Diamond Jacks Super 14U to the School’s Out title.
He began the fifth inning by loading the bases with a walk and two hits, but shortstop Chase Hallett started a double play, and Gable got a strikeout to end the inning and limit the damage to a single run.
“I liked how he pounded the zone with the fastball, and how he slowed the game down when he got in a jam,” Jezorwski said.
The championship game was scoreless through three innings, thanks in part to a terrific defensive play by Wladykla first baseman James Iseman. The Diamond Jacks loaded the bases for the lefty-hitting Hallett, who roped a ball toward the hole on the right side. Iseman dove to his right to steal a hit from Hallett, then regained his feet and threw home to get the force out on Burgos.
In the fourth the Diamond Jacks broke through for three runs. Remington Mortman opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly, which was set up by Stangota’s picture perfect bunt single to load the bases. Burgos broke open the game by doubling into the left-center field gap to drive in two runs and give the Diamond Jacks a 3-0 lead.
The hosts tacked on a pair of runs in the fifth thanks to RBI doubles by Vesey and Jezorwski.
Wladyka avoided a shutout by scoring a single run in the fifth. Ryan Puleo, courtesy running for catcher Christian Sebastiano, scored on a bases-loaded double play.