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NEWS
Valley Falls Short in Regional Tourney Final
The (U14) Candlewood Valley Baseball Club turned heads with an impressive run through the Hudson Valley Regional Tournament, but came up short in the Championship game - losing to a perennial ECTB powerhouse, the Salt Point Highlanders of NY.
Candlewood began their run with a 2-2 tie vs. the Clarkstown Stars in a game which featured terrific pitching and several impressive defensive plays by both clubs. After giving up an early two run lead, Valley Tri-Captain and Closer, Steven Kuss, was brought in to stave off the surging Stars, he proceeded to strike out four of the last six batters he faced while Jimmy Medrano and Mark Sottile made key defensive plays behind him to secure the tie for Candlewood.
In game two, Candlewood beat the #3 seeded Walden Vikings 4-2 in another thriller. Tri-Captain, Bryson Herr, went 1-2 from the plate with 2 RBI while Lenny Rodriguez helped to anchor a stingy Candlewood defense.
Tri-Captain Jimmy O’Reilly and center fielder Jimmy Medrano propelled the Valley offense early in the semi-final game, going a combined 4-5 from the plate with 3 RBI and 4 runs scored. In spite of the early heroics, Candlewood found themselves tied in the bottom of the last frame, setting the stage for a dramatic walk-off single by right fielder Dean Tresca, sending Candlewood to their first Championship game of the year.
Pitching ace, A.J. Morrissey, earned the semi-final win and newcomer, Jack Sexton, earned his first career Save while Steven Ford and Gavin Hauspurg turned in gritty defensive performances.
After surrendering 2 runs in the bottom of the first inning of the championship game, Kevin Butler muscled out a two run single to right field in the top of the second, knotting the game at two runs a piece. Kuss followed with an RBI double in the third inning, giving the Valley a one run lead going into the fourth inning, but the one run one lead proved not to be enough as Highlanders answered back with a four run fourth, giving them a lead which Candlewood was not able to overcome.
With the second place finish, Candlewood Valley moved into first place in Connecticut and carries a #5 national ranking with Elite Championship Tournament Baseball. They will next face the NY Blue Sox at Sarah Noble School on Saturday, April 12th.
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The Coach's Box
(Thoughts from Coach Tony Morrissey)
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