The Advance of Bucks County

UMYBL Mavs gallop to Suburban crown Throttling of top seed cements first championsh­ip since 2004

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On the evening of Wednesday, June 12, the Upper Makefield Youth Baseball ieague 10U Mavs travel team accomplish­ed something the league had not seen in nine years.

An 8-1 victory over salley AA at the Hulmeville ooad complex in Bensalem produced the first UMYBi Suburban Travel Baseball championsh­ip since the 12-year-old team won it all back in 2004.

Many of the current 10 Mavs were learning to walk around that time.

The victory was a tribute to hard work over the last three years, a collaborat­ive spirit through which every single player contribute­d in a significan­t way, and an opportunis­tic bent that has become contagious.

It was three innings of power pitching from ace lefthander Anthony Bencardino and three more from Mikey Sylvester, whose offspeed deliveries neutralize­d a potent salley lineup.

It was a towering

sec- ond-inning triple by oyan Coolahan, whose emerging strength at the plate is a treat to behold.

It was stifling defense from Sylvester at shortstop Edenying two certain salley runs on a two-out, leaping catch) and Dominic bdwards at his newly minted third base position Efive assists, several of them beating a runner by thin margins at first).

It was six more innings of masterful catching from iouis Bencardino, the rock behind the plate.

It was a superbly placed bunt by Nicholas Taylor, who also caught a dangerous fly ball from his post in left field.

It was great work at first base by Collin Manel, who made every play while squinting into a laser sunset and ended the game with a sprinting grab in foul territory.

It was second base artistry and hustle from Zachary san Arsdale, who helped send the Mavs to the title game with a leaping catch in the semifinal win over ienape salley.

It was leadoff magic from Josh Moss, whose return to the Mavs this season has brought versatilit­y, toughness and a tangible love for baseball.

It was solid contact hitting from Devon Pollock, whose addition to the 2013 Mavs roster has been seamless.

And it was the dugout enthusiasm of injured leadoff manLinfiel­der Josh Hampshire, who hopes to return with vigor for the upcoming District 3 Tournament.

The championsh­ip completed a run of three playoff games in which the Mavs outscored ianghorne, ienape salley and salley by a combined total of 25 runs.

It avenged a 6-3 regular season loss to salley back in May. It completed a 15-1-1 Suburban Travel overall record for the year. It brought out coaches and

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 ??  ?? The Upper Makefield 10U Mavericks claimed the 2013 Suburban Travel Baseball title with an 8-1 victory over Valley AA June 12 in Bensalem. Pictured in the first row, from left: Louis Bencardino, Josh Hampshire, Josh Moss, Zachary Van Arsdale, Mikey...
The Upper Makefield 10U Mavericks claimed the 2013 Suburban Travel Baseball title with an 8-1 victory over Valley AA June 12 in Bensalem. Pictured in the first row, from left: Louis Bencardino, Josh Hampshire, Josh Moss, Zachary Van Arsdale, Mikey...

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