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Sunday
March 21, 2010 Since 1922 |
Highlands team competes in New York
From sports staff reports
Baytown Sun Published July 8, 2006 The 12-Under Highlands Cyclones recently returned from Cooperstown, N.Y. where they competed in a week-long tournament hosted by Cooperstown Dreams Park. The biggest challenge was Mother Nature. Torrential rains impacted the tournament by changing the format from a seven-game seeding to a two-game seeding.
After their first two games, the Cyclones were 1-1 which seeded them 33rd out of 96 teams. When single elimination play started the Cyclones had to win three consecutive games to advance to the semifinals, but over six straight hours of baseball proved too much for the team, as they lost to the fifth-seeded team from Florida, Team Launch Pad, 4-2. The Cyclones’ overall tournament record was 5-2.
Several of the Cyclones turned in stellar performances:
John-John Cortina pitched two complete games, with one being a no-hitter and the other a one-hitter and also hit a homerun.
Romeo Cortina made several outstanding outfield blue plays and one included laying out to save his brother’s no-hitter. He also had a batting average of .533.
Manuel Galvan was not only the lead-off man, but also the team leader in homeruns, with four for the tournament — three in one day — and he had a tournament batting average of .526.
Jake Garcia’s superior defense at third base prevented teams from earning hits and giving his pitchers no-hitters. Justin Green had one home run and his hypnotizing knuckleball baffled his opponents. Brandon Hamm stroked the ball, earning him two home runs and also pitched well.
Bryan O’Bannon found his bat when it mattered, while batting near the bottom of the order he had a tournament batting average of .583 and pitched a one-hit five-inning game. Armando Reyes led the team with a batting average of .600 and also supported the team with his aggressive base running. Charlie Rooks had great defense on the infield while Kyle Tucker supported the team with aggressive base running and he had a critical sacrifice RBI. Michael Walker hit two home runs and pitched a complete game in a 9-1 victory.
Team members and coaches were also inducted into the Youth Baseball Hall of Fame and each received commemorative rings. Players and coaches left behind various items such as baseball cleats, autographed jerseys, game balls, etc. which will be displayed in the YBHOF.
Although the team was very disappointed with how the rain impacted the event they had looked forward to for over a year, they each soaked up memories of playing baseball in Cooperstown where baseball all began, visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame, touring New York City, Ground Zero, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Central Park, Wall Street, attending a Mets and Yankees game and much more.
Baytown Sun Published July 8, 2006 The 12-Under Highlands Cyclones recently returned from Cooperstown, N.Y. where they competed in a week-long tournament hosted by Cooperstown Dreams Park. The biggest challenge was Mother Nature. Torrential rains impacted the tournament by changing the format from a seven-game seeding to a two-game seeding.
After their first two games, the Cyclones were 1-1 which seeded them 33rd out of 96 teams. When single elimination play started the Cyclones had to win three consecutive games to advance to the semifinals, but over six straight hours of baseball proved too much for the team, as they lost to the fifth-seeded team from Florida, Team Launch Pad, 4-2. The Cyclones’ overall tournament record was 5-2.
Several of the Cyclones turned in stellar performances:
John-John Cortina pitched two complete games, with one being a no-hitter and the other a one-hitter and also hit a homerun.
Romeo Cortina made several outstanding outfield blue plays and one included laying out to save his brother’s no-hitter. He also had a batting average of .533.
Manuel Galvan was not only the lead-off man, but also the team leader in homeruns, with four for the tournament — three in one day — and he had a tournament batting average of .526.
Jake Garcia’s superior defense at third base prevented teams from earning hits and giving his pitchers no-hitters. Justin Green had one home run and his hypnotizing knuckleball baffled his opponents. Brandon Hamm stroked the ball, earning him two home runs and also pitched well.
Bryan O’Bannon found his bat when it mattered, while batting near the bottom of the order he had a tournament batting average of .583 and pitched a one-hit five-inning game. Armando Reyes led the team with a batting average of .600 and also supported the team with his aggressive base running. Charlie Rooks had great defense on the infield while Kyle Tucker supported the team with aggressive base running and he had a critical sacrifice RBI. Michael Walker hit two home runs and pitched a complete game in a 9-1 victory.
Team members and coaches were also inducted into the Youth Baseball Hall of Fame and each received commemorative rings. Players and coaches left behind various items such as baseball cleats, autographed jerseys, game balls, etc. which will be displayed in the YBHOF.
Although the team was very disappointed with how the rain impacted the event they had looked forward to for over a year, they each soaked up memories of playing baseball in Cooperstown where baseball all began, visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame, touring New York City, Ground Zero, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Central Park, Wall Street, attending a Mets and Yankees game and much more.