Will Hoffman slides toward third base on a successful delayed steal for the FB Braves Red.
By Sean Reilly
Chase Redgate was given a simple task for the Flores Baseball Braves 12U Red on Sunday afternoon in the semifinals of the first-ever Ripken Nationals qualifier tournament at Diamond Nation.
“My job was to pitch, and keep runs off the board,” said the right-hander, who was given the start when the FB Braves faced Tucci Elite Blue 12U from Connecticut in the semifinal round in Flemington.
He did exactly that, pitching three scoreless innings as the second-seeded Braves rolled to a 10-0, four-inning victory over third-seeded Tucci Elite.
The Fairfield-based Braves entered the tournament fully expecting to capture the championship, and the accompanying automatic berth to the inaugural Ripken National Championship from June 29-July 4 at the All-Star Village in Cooperstown, N.Y.
After going 3-0 in pool play on Friday and Saturday, the title was within reach — but only if the Braves were to prevail against Tucci Elite in the penultimate playoff round.
Redgate began the top of the first by getting two ground outs to second baseman Brandon Cross.
But the next two batters for Tucci Elite — Chase Sutter and Nicholas Fusaro — hit singles to put runners on first and second. Then, the first two pitches to the next batter were balls.
It was an early challenge for Redgate, but he got three-straight swinging strikes for a huge inning-ending strikeout.
The FB Braves then scored five runs in the bottom of the frame, and from that point, the outcome was never in doubt. Four runs followed in the third inning and another scored in the fourth to complete the mercy-rule triumph that helped keep the pitching lineup in a good place for the championship game that followed later in the afternoon.
Garrett Weir scores on single by Israel Tavarez to give FB Braves a 3-0 first-inning lead.
“I was kind of getting a little nervous there in the first inning,” Redgate said. “But I started throwing strikes and I got out of it. That built energy for me and the whole team in general. I was just thinking about throwing strikes and hitting my spots.”
In contrast, the FB Braves erupted for five runs, all with two out in the bottom of the first.
Will Hoffman, who went 3-for-3, commenced the rally with a single on a pop up that landed between the pitcher and second baseman. Mason Rincon, who went 2-for-2 with a walk, doubled to center to score Hoffman.
Manoli Vasilakis followed with an RBI single to center, and was replaced by courtesy runner Garrett Weir.
Julius Donado kept the line moving with a single to right field that sent Weir to third. Israel Tavarez singled to right field, scoring Weir and moving Donado to third. After Tavarez stole second, Cross hit a two-run single to center for the Braves’ sixth-straight hit and a 5-0 score.
“Our bats are our best attribute,” Redgate said. “All we do is hit the ball. I built off of that energy after that inning.”
The FB Braves added four more runs in the third.
Hoffman led off with a single center. He stole two bases before Rincon walked and also stole second. After a line out to third base, Donado hit an RBI single in front of the mound. Tavarez was up next, and unloaded a 1-1 pitch over the trees in center field at Field 2 for a monstrous three-run home run and 9-0 lead.
The FB Braves ended the game in the fourth. Carter Fusco led off with a single to right, and Hoffman followed with a base hit to left. Rincon then hit an RBI double to left to end the game.
Aside from the multiple-hit performances from Hoffman and Rincon, the Braves got two hits apiece from Donado, Tavarez and Cross.
Relief pitching help came from Johnny Vacca, who pitched a 1-2-3 fourth.