Nationals win Myrtle Beach Tournament
Contributed Photo – Niagara Nationals players and coaches celebrate capturing the Myrtle Beach Titdal Wave Tournament championship.
The Niagara Nationals were crowned champions of the Cal Ripken 13U Tidal Wave Experience Baseball Tournament held at Myrtle Beach, S.C. from July 3-8.
Going 8-1 for the week, the Nationals edged past the Western Massachusetts Warriors 4-3 in the championship game.
The Nationals opened up the tournament on July 4 by defeating the Oswego Cobras out of Illinois by a score of 11-1. Chris Goyette, Trevor Luthart, and Liam Ward combined on the mound giving up 2 hits and striking out a combined 11 batters over 6 innings. Offensively the Nationals were led by Hunter Briggs and Liam Ward who each had 2 hits. Ward homered and added 4 RBI’s with Briggs adding 2 RBI’s.
In game 2, the Nationals defeated Team Missouri by a score of 17-2. Joe Dell’Oso and Maverick O’Neill combined on the mound for the win. Offensively, Nate Sherman went 2-2 at the plate with 2 walks and four runs scored. Brian Fry scored 4 times and added 2 RBI’s. Team Missouri walked 19 Nationals batters.
On July 5th, the Nationals opened up the day by defeating Legends Baseball from Wisconsin 19-4. Sam Murphy and Mitchell Holtz combined for the win on the mound allowing 4 unearned runs while not surrendering a hit. At the plate the Nationals were led by Aiden Johnston who was 3-3. Sherman, and Dell’Oso added 2 hits a piece with Dell’Oso doubling. Luthart added a triple.
In game 2, the Nationals defeated 5-Tool Baseball out of Michigan by a score of 16-1. Johnston and Fry combined for the win on the mound. The Nationals took advantage of 16 walks given up by 5-Tool pitchers. Luthart was 2-3 while Briggs, Dell’Oso and Sherman chipped in with singles. Dell’Oso and Sherman also added 3 RBI’s apiece.
The Nationals finished up pool play on July 6th with a hard fought loss to the Coral Springs Colts from Florida by a score of 11-8. Fry and Johnston led the offensive with 2 hits apiece including triples for both. Dell’Oso tripled and added 2 RBI’s. Sherman chipped in with a double.
On July 7th, the Nationals opened up single elimination play by defeating the Michigan Blue Jays 7-0. Holtz threw a complete game no-hitter. He struck out 5 and walked only 1 batter. Dell’Oso led the offensive by going 2-3 at the plate. Fry, Sherman, Johnston, Murphy, Briggs and O’Neill all singled.
In the quarter finals, the Nationals needed 8 innings to defeat the Yorktown Thunder from New York by a score of 1-0. Dell’Oso and Johnston held the Thunder to only 4 hits over 8 innings of play. Offensively the Nationals were led by Murphy’s 3 hits and Ward’s 2 hits. The Nationals scored the only run they would need in the top of the 8th when Sherman walked and moved to second base on Ward’s fielder’s choice. With two outs Johnston stepped to the plate and scorched a double to the left center gap scoring Sherman. The win set-up a rematch with the Coral Springs Colts in a semi-final contest.
In the semi-final game, the Nationals avenged their only loss earlier in the week by defeating the Coral Springs Colts 9-1. Goyette threw a complete game allowing only 3 hits and striking out 5. Offensively the Nationals were led by Murphy’s 3 hits. Sherman and Luthart added 2 hits apiece for the Nationals. Holtz tripled while Ward chipped in with a double.
In the championship game, the Nationals defeated the Western Mass Warriors 4-3. Johnston went the distance on the mound scattering 5 hits while striking out 3. Johnston was named game MVP for his strong performance on the mound.
The Nationals opened up their scoring when Goyette doubled to lead off the bottom of second inning. He moved to 3rd on Luthart’s ground out and scored when Murphy hit a sharp ground ball to the third baseman. The Nationals took the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Dell’Oso singled and then scored all the way from 1st base when the Warriors catcher tried to pick him off of first base. Fry and Ward both scored in the frame as well to give the Nationals a 4-1 lead.
The Warriors would add on 2 runs in the seventh as the Nationals held on for the victory.
In the four single elimination games, the Nationals only surrendered 4 runs and did not commit an error. With the wins, the Nationals record improved to 32-3 on the year.
