Medina U12 Travel team tops Pembroke

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 22 July 2020 at 10:41 am

Contributed Photo – Brody Fry delivers a pitch during the Medina Mustangs u12 team’s win at Pembroke Monday.

Like all other youth teams the fledgling Medina Mustangs U12 Travel baseball team has had a challenging start to its first season due to the Covid 19 Pandemic. However the team opened this week on a positive note by defeating the United Travel team in Pembroke 8-5 on Monday.

Brody Fry registered 4 strikeouts over the first 3 innings. Luke Grimes then had a strong showing pitching the next three innings and Tyler Kroening came on in the final inning throwing 2 strikeouts to secure the win.

At the plate, Jimmy Dieter started the scoring for the Mustangs with a two-run single and he also scored a run. Preston Woodworth had a double and scored a run, Carter Woodworth a single, RBI and scored a run, Aidan Papaj a single, double, RBI and scored a run and Kroening a double. Colton Smith and Luke Duffina each had a single and Fry, Nate Gibson and Grimes each scored a run.

Coach John Dieter notes that the Mustangs travel team was formed in the fall of 2019 and had planned to play in the 2020 Spring Premier League out of Amherst and in five Tournaments in the WNY area through the Summer of 2020.

“The team started practicing two days a week starting in November with close connection and guidance with the Medina Mustang High School Varsity Coaching Staff, with the goal to provide a training ground for future JV and varsity baseball players,” said Dieter. “The team worked very hard over those winter months to train on the basics and improve and keep their baseball skills sharp.”

“Unfortunately, Covid-19 hit and suspended all practices and put the season on hold and in question,” added Dieter. “Once the outlook improved in mid-June with the announcement that baseball could return after July 6th, the coaching staff new we had our work cut out to find teams to play games and tournaments.”

“We currently have played three games under the Premier League Rules and competed in the Buffalo New Era Cap Classic for another four games” Dieter added. “We currently are scheduling more Premier League Games with teams but there are many challenges, for one many baseball team’s home fields are not being allowed to be used due to Covid restrictions which makes it hard to find places to play a game. We are currently scheduled to play in two tournaments in August which will give good experience for the team, we are hoping they will go on without incident. The boys and coaches are just happy to be able to play baseball in the current environment.”