HLL 10-Year Old National All-Star Team
Manager: Corey Labasky
The 10-Year Old National All-Star Team will be participating in the District 5 Little League Tournament hosted by Huguenot Little League starting June 25
Click here for Tournament Bracket
6/25 Update
HLL 10U National began the tournament with a heart breaking loss in the opening round, 4-2. We played a well-coached Mechanicsville LL American team that barely came out on the winning end.
HLL struck early by Conner scoring the first run of the game in the bottom 3rd. He had a base on balls, took 2nd and 3rd on 2 passed balls and then scored on Trevor's fielder's choice. MLL's defender committed an error and we were on the board. After Parker W. had pitched 3 2/3 strong innings, MLL finally got on the board with a couple of hard hits and a base on balls in the top 4th to take a 2-1 lead. HLL tied the game, 2-2, in the bottom 4th when Alex hit a hot smash to 3rd base and proceeded to take the next 3 bases and scored on a passed ball. Parker W. had reached his pitch limit and Nathan came in relief for the last 2 innings. MLL used 3 pitchers in their arsenal to stifle HLL's potent offense. MLL scored their final 2 runs in the top 5th and shut down HLL's offense in the bottom 5th and 6th innings.
The defense on both teams was tremendous the entire game. Parker W. had 7 K's and only 2 walks. Tyler made a nice catch while playing CF. But the webgem of the day came when MLL's 1B hit a bomb for a sure double to LF in the top 6th, but Liam got the ball in, which bypassed our 2B, but Drew, playing 1B, was "johnny-on-the-spot". He smartly backed up the missed throw and threw the batter-runner out at 3B who was trying for a triple. Trae applied the tag and got him.
Unfortunately, with the opening loss, HLL moves to the loser's bracket. HLL plays again Monday 27 Jun at 5:30 pm against the loser of Richmond LL/Ashland LL.
6/28 Update
With the team still reflecting on Saturday's tough loss, the first round game in the loser's bracket proved to be just what the doctor ordered. Going up against an Ashland LL team that was playing its third game in as many days, HLL National came out on fire.
On the defensive side, the group effort on the mound from Skylar, Drew, Alex and Trevor was too much for Ashland to handle. Those 4 combined for a no hitter and getting 7 K's and only 3 walks. The final score was HLL- 11 Ashland- 0.
Everyone contributed on the offense tonight after the 1st inning jitters got out of their system. HLL was 3 up 3 down in the bottom of the 1st, but only needed the next 2 innings to put up an 11 run barrage and end the game by the slaughter rule. One of the key hits came with bases loaded and 1 out, Conner smacked a bomb to LF that cleared the bases, but Ashland was able to throw him out at 3B (on a controversial call) trying to leg out a triple. Alex did his job as the lead-off batter tonight going 0-1 w/2 walks and running the bases. Trevor went 2-3; Drew was 2-2; Tyler was 2-2; Trae was 1-1 with 2 RBIs.
HLL National continues on Tuesday night at 8pm under the lights. HLL will be facing Central Chesterfield LL, who eliminated Chesterfield LL tonight. In other loser's bracket play, HLL American defeated Mechanicsville LL National, 11-1.
Please continue to come support both teams as they continue on their quest for the District 5 championship!
6/30 Update
Coming back tonight from a washed out schedule last night, it took everything HLL National had and then some to beat a gutsy Central Chesterfield LL team, 6-5. It looks like we live another day. It took another outstanding performance on the mound utilizing 5 pitchers to throw a 5 hit, 6 K's gem. Trevor started the game for the Green Machine, followed by Drew, Nathan, Alex and finally, Skylar. CCLL only managed to muster 2 runs with their first 18 batters while striking out 5 times. They did manage to score 3 more runs in the top 5th with only 1 out, but Alex settled down to get the last 2 outs while stranding their go ahead run at 2B. Skylar started the top 6th giving up a walk to the lead-off batter, but managed to get the next 3 batters to ground out.
But the real tale of the tape for the National team started in the 1st inning when they were able to strike first. Conner was the first runner for National, but was actually caught trying to steal 2B from the throw of an exceptional 10 year old catcher. Logan did reach 1B on a single, Trevor walked and Drew hit an RBI single to score Logan. Trae followed Drew's hit with his own single, but the inning ended when Tyler flew out to CF. The 2nd inning produced 2 runs off 4 hits from Conner, Logan, Trevor and a big double from Liam, who actually scored on a passed ball by the catcher. CCLL held National in check in the bottom 3rd, but HLL came right back in the 4th with 2 more runs behind Alex's single and Conner's double and 2 fielder's choices. The 5th inning only provided a huge 1 out double from Tyler and unfortunately, left him stranded at 3B. So going into the bottom 6th, the game was knotted at 5 runs each. Alex led off the inning with a single, took 2B on a passed ball, then took 3B on a fielder's choice groundout to 2B. With Logan at bat, Alex saw daylight when a passed ball went to the catcher's left and the pitcher was late covering the plate. Alex touched the plate and BINGO! That's the ballgame! The bench cleared to congratulate Alex, but immediately came to our senses realizing we had to play again tomorrow. What an exciting finish to an intense, pressure-packed game.
HLL National will now face Tuckahoe LL National, who lost 12-1 to a strong hitting Atlee LL. First pitch is scheduled for tonight at 5:30 pm on Field #2 (the American Field). We look forward to seeing our supporters there!
7/1 Update
Unfortunately, last night, the road to the District 5 championship was closed for HLL National when Tuckahoe LL National defeated HLL, 11-9. It was a hard fought game for both teams as the contest lasted 2:38.
On offense, HLL struck first in the bottom 1st as Alex led off with a walk, stole 2B, advanced to 3B on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball. In the 2nd inning, Tyler led off with an awesome double down the 3B line, but was called out at home trying to score. Liam and Skylar both scored later as Conner hit a ball to 2B who committed an error as well Parker hit a ball to SS, who also committed an error. At the end of 2 complete innings of play, HLL was leading 3-0. But TLL struck back in the top 3rd by scoring 4 runs on a walk, a double and a few errors in the field. In the bottom 3rd, HLL was held scoreless. The score was still TLL-4 HLL-3. In the top 4th, HLL's defense went out and got 3 up 3 down. In the bottom 4th, HLL struck for 3 more runs on an infield hit by Liam, Skylar reaching base on error, Alex got walked, a single by Parker W. and a fielder's choice by Drew. At the end of 4 complete, HLL- 6 TLL- 4. Then Uncle Mo (momentum) swung towards TLL's dugout. Parker W. was pitching for HLL and TLL's leadoff batter flew out to Conner in RF. Then back-to-back walks set the table for the TLL's #5 hitter to hit a 3-run dinger to LF. After that, Parker struck out the next 2 batters, but TLL was now up 7-6. Then it was HLL's turn in the bottom 5th. HLL scored 3 runs on 3 singles by Logan, Tyler and Skylar. Liam mixed in a walk in between Tyler and Skylar. Now HLL took the lead after 5 complete, 9-7. The top 6th proved to be the dagger for HLL when TLL's #8 batter was hit by the pitch, the next batter struck out, then a walk, 3 singles and another hit batsman. They scored 4 in that inning to regain the lead, 11-9. The bottom 6th came for HLL with Trevor, Drew, Logan and Tyler batting. After Trevor got a base on balls, the next 3 were able to hit the ball hard, but right at the defense. The final blow came when Tyler hit a hot line drive smash down 3B and he caught it; thus ending the hopes of HLL National advancing to play tomorrow.
All-in-all, HLL had a good tournament and hopefully had a lot of fun along the way. 2011 proved not to be HLL's year with neither American or National advancing further in the tournament.
The boys played with 100% effort and just ran into a TLL team that was able to make some key plays at the right times. Great All Star season for these boys. HLL has nothing to be ashamed of as they proved they can hang with even the supposed best of the district.
