PA Shockers went 6-0 and allowed just seven runs to seize the Youth World Series 13U Nation title.
By Rich Bevensee
Even some of the best youth baseball teams around, like the PA Shockers 13U ballclub out of Bucks and Montgomery County of Pennsylvania, learned the hard way that victories are hard to come when making on out-of-state baseball trips to high profile tournaments.
A couple weeks ago the Shockers went winless in five games in a wood bat tournament at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida. In a couple of those games the Shockers allowed late leads to slip away against nationally ranked teams.
“So it was a good learning experience,” Shockers coach Mike Connors said. “You don’t always want success when you’re winning by 10 or playing sloppy and getting away with things. It’s good to feel uncomfortable. It’s good to be exposed to that kind of stuff so you can come back and say we have things to work on.”
It’s safe to say Connors and the team straightened out most of those inconsistencies fairly quickly. Since their return to Pennsylvania, the Shockers have not been beaten.
Their winning streak extended to seven games Monday after beating Bakes Brewers of Wall Township, 20-0, in three innings in ‘The Nation’s’ bracket championship game of the 13U Youth World Series Powered by Playa Bowls at Diamond Nation in Flemington.
The Shockers played such fundamentally sound baseball on defense that they allowed just seven runs in six Series games.
Cameron Sherriff, after playing shortstop and second base for the Shockers this weekend, threw a two-hit shutout at the Brewers with two walks and two strikeouts.
Cameron Sherriff batted .933 for and pitched a two-hit shutout in the final to earn MVP honors.
Sherriff, named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, batted a stunning .933 with 14 hits, two triples, two walks, nine RBI and 11 runs scored. The only time an out was recorded with Sherriff at bat was when he hit into a fielder’s choice in the semifinals.
In that semifinal game, Sheriff belted a two-run triple in the top of the sixth and final inning to lift the Brewers past the New York Longhorns, 4-2.
“I was in a slump a couple weeks ago but I changed it,” Sheriff said. “I got into it with my trainer and fixed my stance. I shortened up my stride and started catching barrels. It feel way more comfortable.”
“Cameron did everything for us,” Connors said. “Hustle doubles on singles up the middle, stealing bags, getting hits when guys around him have oh-fers. He plays the game the right way and is fun to coach.”
The Shockers enjoyed a balanced offense against the Brewers, as eight players had at least one hit and at least one RBI.
Brayden Brandt went 2-for-3 with a two run home run and a two-run triple for the Shockers. Carter Burns and Ryan Leitzel both had a single, double and two RBI.
Bryson Mizdail had an RBI single, Sam DiGiacomo drove in a run with a fielder’s choice, and Mason Deal forced a run home with a bases loaded walk.
Riley Hutchison, who slammed a two-run triple, walked and was hit by a pitch, said the changes necessary to halt the team’s seven-game slide were both mental and technical.
“I feel like there’s more energy and we’re more engaged,” Hutchison said. “We want it way more than the other teams.
“Also there was more pressure to win games in Florida, even though we had a chance to win a lot of them. I think all of us feel less pressure since we got home, and we’ve been here (at Diamond Nation) a lot of times.”
“We got better the more we played,” Connors said. “As they get older they’re learning how important it is to have an approach, and not just going up there with things you can get away with at 12U. I think the boys are figuring it out.”