Saratoga 12s take District 11/12 title
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » It’s been almost a decade since a Williamsport Division squad from Saratoga National Little League could lay claim to a district title and so much has changed.
Those players from 2009 have graduated both high school and college, the league has seen its boundary expand to all of Saratoga Springs under the new Saratoga Springs Little League organization and some players are now giving back to the same organization.
On Sunday afternoon this year’s Saratoga Little League squad erased any doubts about being the top dogs in District 11 and 12 with a 13-0- rout of Schenectady at West Side Rec and advancing to sectional play beginning next weekend.
“I think almost everybody except us didn’t believe in us,” Saratoga Little League coach Jeff Babcock said. “I think everyone was thinking that Schenectady was too powerful with their pitchers.
They had great pitchers and that second kid (Dave Bernard) threw gas but you know we overcame that today and just played our baseball.”
The blue shirts were confident in the plate and on the field as Babcock once again handed the ball to Mateo Avila in a must-win situation.
The tall right-hander stood and delivered a two-hit seven strikeout
performance Sunday afternoon at home, not giving up a hit until the bottom of the fourth inning and twirling his gem with a 13-run lead.
“I wasn’t doing really anything different, it was the same mechanics and everything,” Mateo Avila said. “I guess I was feeling better, my arm was feeling better today.
“I think I felt it in my grip and the forearm, not as tired, able to grip it better.”
Avila hasn’t given up a run in the all-star season and again flirted with a nohit performance in front of his defense.
His starting catcher, Joey Barreto had the best seat in the house at West Side Rec as his receiver for the early innings of the championship final.
“His fastball was good, they couldn’t catch up to it, they weren’t ready for him,” Joey Barreto said. “I’m calling the pitches and saying what location. His fastball outside, they didn’t really swing at it so I just kept calling it.”
Saratoga prepared for Schenectady’s hard throwing starter, Zander Canfield, with a trip to the Slugger’s Den before the afternoon tilt.
“We had the machine at 70, 65 mph and we were killing it in there and then today the first inning they were a little hesitant but after that we just started smoking the ball,” Babcock said.
After a tentative first inning at the plate it was Barreto who got the hit parade started with his two-run single out of the No. 8 spot in the lineup driving in Trevor Duthaler and Avila who reached on an error and single up the middle, respectively.
“I was thinking that I needed to hit one right into the hole, get both runs in and start the momentum,” Barreto said. “I was just happy that I was able to get some runs on the board, getting us started so we can with this game.”
Saratoga then exploded for six runs in the third on five hits and the third error of the contest committed by Schenectady.
Myles Pleasants led off with a double, scoring on Matt Sgambati’s RBI single followed by a walk issued to Matt Salway. Drew Adams pinch hit and reached on an error before Avila helped himself with his own two RBI double.
“I changed my bat because I have better bat speed with the bat that I was using today than what I usually use,” Avila said. “I tried that bat because I knew that we were going to get faster pitching. It feels lighter, but it’s the apparently it’s the same weight and size. I think the material is lighter.”
Alex Hicks cleared the bases with his own two RBI single and came around to score on a wild pitch and Holden Johnson’s RBI single.
With Avila dealing on the mound, the end was in sight and Saratoga looked to end the day early for Schenectady, pushing for a 10-run mercy rule win.
Sgambati felt it at the plate opening the fourth with a solo home run over the left centerfield fence and was greeted by each of his teammates at home plate, igniting the Saratoga slugging machine.
“It was right down the middle,” Sgambati said. “I was thinking there were two strikes, I wanted to protect the plate and I got a hold of it and I really drove it.
“It means a lot to me. It makes me feel good, I was excited and I’m just happy we won today. We had a great team win.”
Adams reached on another single with one out before Hicks delivered an RBI double into right field and advanced on a passed ball. After a Thompson walk, Hicks scored on John Goff’s single to left field before Johnson closed out the scoring, driving in the 13th run of the game with his double down the right field line, scoring Adams and Goff.
Schenectady’s Pat Kain was the spoiler Sunday, taking a walk in the top of the third to break up Avila’s perfect game and then Alex Peters stroked a single through the right side for the first of just two hits for the Electric City squad.
Babcock has an appreciation for the 2009 team, just missing the birthdate cutoff and a chance to be a part of that squad.
“I was the year before that and we lost in the sectional crossover, the game before today, we lost against East Greenbush,” Babcock said. “I do remember that team a lot. A lot of my buddies played on that team.
“It’s exciting that only one team from our league has gone to states, once in 2009 and for these boys to have that chance I think it’s unreal and I’m super excited for them and our coaches.”