Navigating the All-Out Pack 12U lineup can be like touring Jurassic Park after the electric fences are shut off. Visit at your own risk.
All-Out crushed three home runs among its eight hits on the way to a 13-3 victory over the Diamond Jacks Super 12U squad to secure the 12U Spring Classic championship last night at Diamond Nation.
Lefty reliever Nick McCabe retired the Diamond Jacks in order in the top of the fourth to nail down the 10-run rule victory. That run rule victory returned the favor on the Diamond Jacks, who knocked All-Out out of the King of the Diamond semifinals on April 10, 9-0, via the eight-run mercy rule.
McCabe relieved righty starter James Fenton, who developed a bit of arm fatigue after striking out three Diamond Jacks in the first inning and permitting the first two batters to reach in the second.
“James is okay,” said All-Out coach Guy Lynam. “He throws hard. He’s been clocked at 72. I think his arm is just a little fatigued.
Fenton had carried an enormous lead entering the second after he and his teammates struck for eight runs in the bottom of the first on five hits, including a pair of home runs. The Pack struck quickly in the home half of the first.
Addison Adornato drew a leadoff walk and stole second base. Brandon Cohen then shot a double down the left field line to score Adornato. That brought All-Out’s imposing catcher Jackson Crimaldi to the plate. Crimaldi didn’t waste much time with introductions, jumping on an 0-1 fastball and driving it over the left field wall for a two-run home run and a very quick 3-0 lead.
“I’m always hunting fastballs,” said Crimaldi, every bit of 6-0 and 180 pounds. “On this field, I think kids think about getting under it and lifting the ball out. I’m always thinking about hitting line drives. If you hit it well enough it will go out.”
Perhaps Crimaldi was talking that line drive line with Mateo Liloia in the dugout after his home run, because two batters later Liloia hit an absolute laser on a line over the fence in right field for a solo home run and a 4-0 lead.
Diamond Jacks coach Mark Crawford went to his bullpen but three straight walks to Michael Schaeffer, McCabe and Michael Fogerty loaded the bases and set up All-Out for an even bigger inning. Schaeffer and McCabe scored on wild pitches and Fogarty came around on Brady Simo’s single. Simo would later score on Fenton’s single to right field to boost the lead to 8-0.
The Diamond Jacks answered with three runs in the second inning to shave the deficit to 8-3. After Fenton left the game with two runners aboard, Parker Klug stepped in with one out against McCabe and unloaded his own version of the line drive home run, this one a three-run rope over the right field fence.
McCabe did settle in from there, though the Diamond Jacks got some good swings in without the desired results. Luca Cantanzarite and Gavin Ross both flew out to the fence in right field in the third with Bryson Auten on first base after a single.
All-Out had sent all 12 of its batters to the plate in the first, so Adornato had a chance to start things again in the second, and he did with another leadoff walk. He stole second again and took third on a wild pitch. Crimaldi brought him home on a sac fly to right for his third RBI. Matt Filiaci then unloaded a bomb to center field for a solo home run and a 10-0 lead for All-Out.
All-Out tacked on three more runs in the third to extend the lead to 13-3 and the desired 10-run lead. Schaeffer led off with a double, McCabe beat out an infield single and one run scored on an outfield error. McCabe scored on a wild pitch and Alex Pietranik brought home Fogerty on a sac fly to deep center.
McCabe got a strikeout, groundout to shortstop and, appropriately, a pop out to catcher Crimaldi to end it in the top of the fourth.
Ross and Gino Spigarelli had singles for the Diamond Jacks and Taylor Kamau had a grounds rule double.
All-Out (5-0) outscored its Spring Classic opponents 51-11. The Diamond Jacks Super 12U (4-1) held a 48-27 runs advantage on its opponents.
10U
MORRIS COUNTY CUBS
The Morris County Cubs defeated MA Show PA, 10-4, in the 10U Spring Classic championship game. Zach Dionyssiou of Morris County Cubs was named the 10U tournament’s Most Valuable Player. The Cubs (3-1) outscored their opponents 50-24. MA Show PA (1-1-2) was outscored 22-21 by its opponents.
11U
SCANZANO COMBAT 11U RED
Scanzano Combat 11U Red defeated Centercourt Young Guns, 7-6, in the 11U Spring Classic championship game. Vincent Olivo of Scanzano Combat was named the 11U tournament’s Most Valuable Player, Scanzano Combat (4-0-1) outscored its opponents 44-10. Centercourt Young Guns (3-1) held a 29-14 runs advantage on its opponents.