HTRBA poised to make noise in D-12 tourney
The boys of the HTRBA Little League have found success in the District-12 Tournament of late, and this summer’s group is hoping to do the same.
HTRBA last won the title in 2017 and followed that up with a runnerup finish in 2018. This group, a solid mix of 11 and 12-year olds, is confident that it can make a deep run.
“It’s pretty obvious by looking at them that they are excited,” manager Joe Formica said. “It’s a fun group of kids who are excited to be able to play baseball, to play All-Star baseball.”
The eight-team double elimination tournament, which was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, is scheduled to get underway on Friday with two games at Sunnybrae LL and two at Nottingham LL. All games after Friday’s opening round will be held at Sunnybrae, with the championship round set to begin on Saturday, Sept. 12.
HTRBA’s tournament begins against Nottingham at 8:15 p.m. on Friday.
Formica thinks the field is wide open.
“I don’t know if that’s a product of the age group or because we’re in the COVID era,” he said. “I’m not sure how it worked out like that, but it does look like that, and we’re looking forward to it.”
Just what does HTRBA have to do to be successful?
“We have a very good defensive team, a very good hitting team and a strong group of pitchers,” Formica said. “We’re hoping to make a run at it. I’ve got a great power first five or seven and some speed down at the bottom.”
As for the pitching, Formica said, “no walks. Once we control that, we’re good to go.”