Hamilton/NB 13s lay foundation for future with a deep run
They were knocking on the door for a trip to the Babe Ruth League 13-yearold World Series, and although the Hamilton/Northern Burlington kids came up a little short they are planning to be ready to take the next step in 2019.
H/NB reached the Middle Atlantic Region finals before falling to Pennsylvania’s Broomall/Newtown team in Somers Point.
“The kids were disappointed when they lost, but they realized how well they played together this all-star season,’’ said manager Jim Petersohn. “They know they can be a regional and World Series contender for the next two years if they stay together and work hard.’’
Hamilton/Northern Burlington pretty much breezed through the states and came out of pool play with a perfect 4-0 mark in the Middle Atlantic Regionals.
Broomall/Newtown, which fell in the quarterfinals of the World Series in Arkansas, came into the regional playoff with a perfect mark, too.
It was one inning that spelled doom for H/NB as the Pennsy guys scored nine runs in the fifth to seal H/NB’s fate.
Petersohn knew he had some solid pitching with Ryan ‘RB’ Boyd, James Watson, Niko Garnier, Matteo Mannino, Noah Rivera and Isaiah Helleis capable of taking the mound in any game and in any situation.
What surprised the veteran manager, who was looking to make his second straight trip to a Babe Ruth World Series, was the way they came out and swung the bats.
“The offense really surprised me,’’ said Petersohn. “When I first got the team, I felt we were going to have to play good defense, throw strikes and manufacturer runs with small ball. They hit their stride right after the scrimmages and never looked back.’’
Until the defeat by Broomall/Newtown the Switlik Park Crew was 9-0 heading to the deciding game. Seven of those games saw them score in double digits.
Watson, Boyd, Alex Visalli, Nate Mains, Isaac Acosta, Chris Nodeland, Ryan Kochie, Franklin Peters, Austin Boddie, Andrew Stizza and John Bassett all at one time or another contributed at the plate.
This was a team that pulled together at the right time and played for all the right reasons.
“These guys had a willingness to put team goals ahead of their individual goals,’’ said Petersohn. “This is a bunch of kids that really enjoyed playing with and for each other. They were a great group to coach and I look forward to the future with these guys.’’
The merger of Hamilton and Northern Burlington has been a very productive one for both leagues, and a hungry group of 14-year old’s will be ready come the summer of 2019 to get through that door to the World Series.
A Special Babe Ruth Tribute to Two of the Best
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the names of George O’Gorman and Harry DeBonis in any season ending wrap about Babe Ruth baseball.
For many years, probably 50, George was there covering Babe Ruth from the regular season to the World Series when the Trenton BRL was playing at Cook Y Field over by Junior Two and winning World Series titles George was there.
George’s coverage was second to none when it came to all-star tournaments at the district, regional and World Series level.
His passing in July was well-documented and there are many grown men today that got to see their childhood heroics magnified by a George O’Gorman story.
I used to joke with Harry DeBonis that he was the ‘Ray Donovan’ of Babe Ruth Baseball. If you wanted something taken care of, just call Harry.
Harry was the epitome of what volunteering and doing it for the right reason is all about. He went from a highly successful manager in Little Lads and Babe Ruth to a very dependable and valuable Assistant District Commissioner, to a commissioner on both the state and regional staff.
Harry passed away suddenly in July, too, and both these men were not only invaluable to Babe Ruth Baseball, I believe they are irreplaceable.
They leave mighty big footprints for the rest of us to follow.