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Philipstown Little League All-Stars Off to Williamsport
Defeat of Fishkill team just one step on the road
 | | Philipstown Little League All-Stars: 1st row (l-r): Jake Heitmann, John Rotando, Bailey Semple, Drew Ford. 2nd row (l-r): Bobby Vahos, Andrew Balducci, Ian Thom, Ryan koval, Matt Forlow, Henry Heintzman. 3rd Row (l-r): Tim Costigan, Sephen Zalys, Daniel Kinnaird. 4th row (l-r): Manager, Tom Costigan, 1st Base Coach Ruben Vahos, 3rd base Coach John Koval |
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On a sunny, crisp Sunday, July 1st afternoon on a beautifully manicured North Highlands little league field, the Philipstown All- Star selection easily beat the All-Stars from Fishkill. The final score was 13 to 3, and as a result of the 10 run mercy rule the game only lasted 5 innings. This was Philipstown's first game of the Little League All-Star Tournament, where the ultimate destination is the Little League Baseball World Series game to be played on August 26th in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
It is a long, arduous road to that game on August 26th, and the odds for any team are even more daunting, but on this day Philipstown took a step, albeit a small one, towards the road to Williamsport. It is a step aspired to by many little league teams throughout America, and even though most teams fall short, hope springs eternal for teams such as Philipstown that win their first game and by so doing can continue to dream for a few more days.
But there is, at this point, a broader basis for Philipstown's aspirations as a result of the impressive way in which they fashioned their win, as they flexed their muscles by hitting three awe-inspiring home runs - a splendid two-run shot by Matt Forlow, a three run bomb by Henry Heintzman, and a solo, majestic missile from Andrew Balducci.
The team, however, demonstrated their offensive diversity by also running aggressively throughout the game - consistently taking the extra base and scoring several times on passed balls and wild pitches; Jake Heitmann and Ryan Koval scored two runs apiece and exhibited their exceptional base running skills.
Koval also pitched a marvelous game, limiting Fishkill to 3 runs, 6 hits, and only 3 walks over 5 innings; he maintained his poise throughout the game, not allowing the umpire's tight strike zone to unsettle him. He changed speeds effectively and kept his pitches down in the strike zone, inducing 8 groundballs and striking out 4 batters. Fishkill hit only two outs in the game in the air, and that occurred in the first inning - an impressive accomplishment by Koval of keeping their hitters off-stride.
Moreover, Koval was assisted by a flawless defense which did not commit any errors, turned an eye-popping 1-6-3 double play in the top of the 2nd inning, and limited the damage in the 3rd inning when Fishkill mounted their most serious offensive threat by loading the bases with no out. At this point the next Fishkill batter hit a line drive into the right center gap, Ian Thom quickly tracked the ball down and made a perfect relay to the cut off man, Stephen Zalys, who then spun around and made a snappy throw to Forlow at 2nd base to cut the runner down. This was not only a seamlessly executed play, but it appeared to take the heart out of the Fishkill team. Instead of a bases clearing double, there was one out, runner on first, and only two runs in. In a game where pitching and defense is generally a difference maker, this play and this game truly epitomized baseball's model for winning.
There are high expectations for the Philipstown team, - a team where even the bottom of the order, (Tim Costigan, Daniel Kinnaird, Bobby Vahos, Bailey Semple, and John Rotando) pose a legitimate offensive threat; this group scored 4 of the 13 runs, including the winning run, and consistently reached base. In particular, Rotando made several noteworthy contributions - going 2 for 2, scoring twice and hitting a screaming double into the left center gap.
The team had practiced hard, and almost daily, since Thursday, June 21st and it showed on this day as far as the level of energy, the crisp execution, and the focused approach - characteristics which are personified by the entire team and leadoff hitter, Drew Ford. The team is managed by Tom Costigan, and he is assisted by Mark Forlow and John Rotando, with John Koval the 3rd base coach and Ruben Vahos the 1st base coach.
A very sincere thanks to everyone that came out on this beautiful day to support the team and Philipstown Little League; also, a heartfelt thanks to many for helping in the preparation of the field, particularly Kurt Heitmann, who it seems, sleeps in the dugout.
On to Williamsport……!! On a sunny, crisp Sunday, July 1st afternoon on a beautifully manicured North Highlands little league field, the Philipstown All-Star selection easily beat the All-Stars from Fishkill. The final score was 13 to 3, and as a result of the 10 run mercy rule the game only lasted 5 innings. This was Philipstown's first game of the Little League All-Star Tournament, where the ultimate destination is the Little League Baseball World Series game to be played on August 26th in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
It is a long, arduous road to that game on August 26th, and the odds for any team are even more daunting, but on this day Philipstown took a step, albeit a small one, towards the road to Williamsport. It is a step aspired to by many little league teams throughout America, and even though most teams fall short, hope springs eternal for teams such as Philipstown that win their first game and by so doing can continue to dream for a few more days.
But there is, at this point, a broader basis for Philipstown's aspirations as a result of the impressive way in which they fashioned their win, as they flexed their muscles by hitting three awe-inspiring home runs - a splendid two-run shot by Matt Forlow, a three run bomb by Henry Heintzman, and a solo, majestic missile from Andrew Balducci.
The team, however, demonstrated their offensive diversity by also running aggressively throughout the game - consistently taking the extra base and scoring several times on passed balls and wild pitches; Jake Heitmann and Ryan Koval scored two runs apiece and exhibited their exceptional base running skills.
Koval also pitched a marvelous game, limiting Fishkill to 3 runs, 6 hits, and only 3 walks over 5 innings; he maintained his poise throughout the game, not allowing the umpire's tight strike zone to unsettle him. He changed speeds effectively and kept his pitches down in the strike zone, inducing 8 groundballs and striking out 4 batters. Fishkill hit only two outs in the game in the air, and that occurred in the first inning - an impressive accomplishment by Koval of keeping their hitters off-stride.
Moreover, Koval was assisted by a flawless defense which did not commit any errors, turned an eye-popping 1-6-3 double play in the top of the 2nd inning, and limited the damage in the 3rd inning when Fishkill mounted their most serious offensive threat by loading the bases with no out. At this point the next Fishkill batter hit a line drive into the right center gap, Ian Thom quickly tracked the ball down and made a perfect relay to the cut off man, Stephen Zalys, who then spun around and made a snappy throw to Forlow at 2nd base to cut the runner down. This was not only a seamlessly executed play, but it appeared to take the heart out of the Fishkill team. Instead of a bases clearing double, there was one out, runner on first, and only two runs in. In a game where pitching and defense is generally a difference maker, this play and this game truly epitomized baseball's model for winning.
There are high expectations for the Philipstown team, - a team where even the bottom of the order, (Tim Costigan, Daniel Kinnaird, Bobby Vahos, Bailey Semple, and John Rotando) pose a legitimate offensive threat; this group scored 4 of the 13 runs, including the winning run, and consistently reached base. In particular, Rotando made several noteworthy contributions - going 2 for 2, scoring twice and hitting a screaming double into the left center gap.
The team had practiced hard, and almost daily, since Thursday, June 21st and it showed on this day as far as the level of energy, the crisp execution, and the focused approach - characteristics which are personified by the entire team and leadoff hitter, Drew Ford. The team is managed by Tom Costigan, and he is assisted by Mark Forlow and John Rotando, with John Koval the 3rd base coach and Ruben Vahos the 1st base coach.
A very sincere thanks to everyone that came out on this beautiful day to support the team and Philipstown Little League; also, a heartfelt thanks to many for helping in the preparation of the field, particularly Kurt Heitmann, who it seems, sleeps in the dugout.
On to Williamsport……!!
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