Frederick Hustlers (8U)

After finishing the CRAB League regular season with a League best 19-4 record and winning the 10U National Division with a 7-1 record, the Hustlers grabbed the #1 overall seed and opened postseason play against a tough Maryland Warriors squad. As has been the case for the most of the season in big games, the Hustlers handed the ball to Justin Ropp (Yellow Springs) and he did not disappoint. Ropp held the good hitting Warriors scoreless for three innings while the Hustlers went to work with their bats. JT Sachar (Green Valley) led off with a double in the first and scored on a Ropp base hit. Dustin Isanogle reached on an error to start the second and later scored on singles by Hayden Bailey (Walkersville) and Brandon Buschman (Walkersville). The Hustlers picked up two more runs in the third on a Ropp walk and singles by Andrew McElwain (St. Johns) and Joseph Pippin (Oakdale) to take what seemed like a commanding 4-0 lead. The lead grew to 5-0 before the Warriors mounted a huge comeback. Brandon Buschman pitched a shutdown inning in the 4th but struggled in the 5th with a couple of walks sandwiched between two hits and an error. The Hustlers still felt good about themselves taking a 5-3 lead into the last inning but the first two batters reached via base hits. JT Sachar came in to put out the fire with the Warriors having the tying run on third when the last out was recorded. Ropp and McElwain led the way offensively with two hits a piece while Sachar, Pippin, Ryan Bennett (St Johns), Bailey, Buschman, Zach Rutter (Middletown, RBI), and Riley Donovan (Tuscarora) each had one.

The Championship game ended up pitting the two teams with the best records during the regular season. The Olney Pirates punched their ticket with an 11-10 win over HCYP and the Hustlers knew they would have to play well to stay with the extremely talented Pirate team. The Hustlers, sporting their Vegas Gold jerseys, did not disappoint. Andrew McElwain and Joseph Pippin each threw three innings and both had what could be considered their best outings of the season. The Hustlers fell behind 1-0 in the third when Zach Rutter answered with a “bomb” to left center. The two teams traded runs in the fourth and the Hustlers seemed destined for the win in the bottom of the fifth when JT Sachar doubled in Buschman who had reached on a hit-by-pitch. Sachar stole third and that’s when the Hustlers decided to go for the win. Sachar timed the catcher’s release back to the pitcher perfectly and headed home. The pitcher’s return throw was high as Sachar slid in. When the dust settled, the umpire ruled Sachar out. Olney then scored a single run in the top of the sixth to take a 4-3 lead and the Hustlers went quietly in their half and lost 4-3. Sachar led the way offensively with three hits against very good pitching. Rutter had the only other hit – the home run to left center.

Three Frederick Hustler teams went to Ripken this past week in Aberdeen, MD and all three came home with Tournament Championships. The 10U team won the 2014 In The Zone Tournament and the boys in black and gold were certainly in a zone defeating the Backyard University Gamers 11-8, Oxford Outlaws 13-1, the Ambler A’s 24-2, the South Jersey Titans, 12-1 and the Backyard University Gamers 10-2 in the Championship Game. Matt Cunningham was named the MVP.

The 11U Hustlers played some of their better ball of the season in taking home the 2014 Web Gems Tournament Title. The Hustlers beat the VBC Mudcats 9-1, the New Oxford All Stars 16-6, Capital City Crushers 9-4, the Delaware Sabres 11-1 and the GoWag Rockhounds 21-2 in the Championship Game. Andrew Stroka was named the MVP.

The 12U Hustlers continue to peak at the right time and won the 2014 Web Gems 12U Tournament. They played an inspired game against a tough Blaise Alexander Ford team and came away with a 1-0 win. They then beat the Mayslanding Muckdogs 7-4 and 11-1 before eliminating the New Bern Flames 13-4. The championship game was against none other than the Blaise Alexander Ford team and the Hustlers prevailed 8-7 and took home the Championship hardware. Kameron Walters was named the MVP.

The 10U Hustlers continued their solid CRAB League play with a Saturday sweep over a tough MD Warrior team by the scores of 4-0 and 13-1. Justin Ropp (Yellow Springs) and Andrew McElwain (St Johns) each tossed three innings in the opener and combined on a three-hitter. The defense took care of the rest as they came up with a variety of big plays including a relay from right-center to cut down a runner at third, a highlight catch by Riley Donovan (Tuscarora) in center, and an inning-ending 4-6 double-play to thwart another rally. JT Sachar (Green Valley), Mikhai Evans (North Frederick), Dustin Isanogle (Lewistown), and Brandon Buschman (Walkersville) each had a hit; Matt Cunningham (Green Valley) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

The Hustler bats came to life in game two. Sachar set the table and was on base all three plate appearances. Evans had two doubles and a walk, Cunningham had a bases-clearing double to deep left center, and Isanogle doubled in a run of his own. Ropp and Ryan Bennett (St Johns) each contributed singles. Joseph Pippin (Green Valley) and Cunningham handled the pitching duties and both were superb, once again holding a good hitting ball club to three hits and one run.

The Hustlers are back in action on Thursday and Friday in Aberdeen, MD for the Ripken “In The Zone” Tournament.

The Frederick Hustlers 10U hadn’t played a game in over a week so a trip to Olney to take on the always tough and well-coached Pirates seemed like a tall order. The young Hustlers answered with their trademark play: solid pitching, great defense and timely hitting. The result was a 3-2 signature win for the first year team. Matt Cunningham (Green Valley) got things going in the first when he doubled to the corner in right chasing home Justin Ropp (Yellow Springs) who had drawn a tough two-out walk. The Pirates tied the score at one in the fourth only to see the Hustlers respond with two of their own. Mikhai Evans (North Frederick) walked and stole second before Ropp singled up the middle. Ropp moved up to third with some heady base running before Andrew McElwain (St. Johns) delivered a key sacrifice fly. Ropp, McElwain, Joseph Pippin (Oakdale), JT Sachar (Green Valley) and Brandon Buschman (Walkersville) shared the pitching duties and all were effective. Sachar got the win and Buschman picked up the save. The Pirates outhit the Hustlers 6-3. Dustin Isanogle (Lewistown) had the other Hustler hit.

The Hustlers travel to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware this weekend for Sports at the Beach’s Clash of the Titans Tournament.

The 10U Hustlers played like champions on Sunday and came away with the 2014 Dig In Invitational Tournament Championship. The day started at 9:00am with a 7-4 win over Gambrills. The young Hustlers then put together one of their most complete games of the season and beat the #2 seed - a very good team out of Winchester, VA - 10-0. The Hustlers then waited for the winner of the other side of the bracket where the HCYP Raiders of the CRAB League nipped the tournament host Dig In team by a score of 9-7. The Hustlers refused to lose and won their first tournament crown by beating a well-coached HCYP Raider team 8-2.

The Hustler’s alarm clock sounded in the second inning of game one on Sunday. Trailing 2-0, Matt Cunningham (Green Valley) and Andrew McElwain (St Johns) got things started with back-to-back singles. Joseph Pippin (Oakdale) then created chaos by introducing the bunt game. Pippin laid down a perfectly placed bunt to load the bases. After a fielder’s choice at the plate, the Hustlers turned to the safety squeeze and Ryan Bennett (St Johns) laid down a gem. Riley Donovan (Tuscarora) moved the runners over before JT Sachar (Green Valley), Mikhai Evans (North Frederick), Cunningham and McElwain produced run-scoring singles. When the inning was over, the Hustlers had put a 7-spot on the board and turned to their pitching and defense. Justin Ropp (Yellow Springs), McElwain and Brandon Buschman (Walkersville) all pitched great in the win.

The Hustlers got an immediate scare in game two. Winchester’s leadoff hitter laced a line drive off the starting pitcher Mikhai Evans. Evans had to leave the game but returned later to take his place in CF. Meanwhile, Cunningham came on and tossed three shutout innings. The Hustler bats went to work getting one in the third when Sachar walked and stole two bases, and two more in the fourth when Ropp walked, Cunningham singled and McElwain doubled. The Hustlers scored four more in the fifth and three in the sixth to make in 10-0. Meanwhile, Ropp, McElwain and Pippin combined to slam the door on the Winchester bats. Sachar finished 1-1 with three runs scored, Ropp went 2-3 with two runs, and Cunningham and McElwain each had two hits.

The Championship game was against a familiar League foe in HCYP who the Hustlers have struggled with some in this young season. The Hustlers however responded and played like this game had a little more purpose. After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, the Hustlers came back swinging and got even at two apiece in the second. Evans gave his team the juice it needed by bouncing one over the fence in left center for a standup double to start the third. Ropp followed with single, McElwain doubled, Pippin got hit-by-the-pitch, and Dustin Isanogle (Lewistown) singled. The Hustlers then turned to their trademark pitching and defense with Ropp, McElwain and Cunningham each pitching like they weren’t willing to settle for anything less than the championship. The Hustlers kept the momentum going when Cunningham, McElwain and Pippin led off the fifth with consecutive singles. After a walk to Isanogle, Bennett scorched one to left and Zach Rutter (Middletown) singled to left center. The Raiders went quietly in the sixth and the young 10U Hustlers, playing in their first tournament ever, collected their championship trophies.

The Hustlers split two close games on Saturday to pick up the third seed in the eight team tournament for Championship Sunday. Isanogle caught all five of the Hustler games over the weekend and was so incredibly good. Sachar pitched an awesome complete game two on Saturday which allowed the Hustlers to have their full arsenal of starters available on Sunday.