Team Select 12U took the most challenging path to prevail in its third Fall Season Tournament, having to get by the national #3 MVP Pines Team (7-3) in the Quarterfinals, defeat the tough Pembroke Lakes Bulldogs (Red) 9-1 in the semi-finals, and the nationally-respected Miami Prospects in the championship, to emerge victorious from the Pembroke Lakes Brawl Tournament Championship on Saturday.  Congratulations to all the kids that endured the weather delays and heat to compete at South Florida 12U Baseball’s top level.  Despite the fact that the tournament had to be extended by a week due to weather, the championship game was exactly as expected, a back-and-forth affair throughout.  Both Teams made big plays in the field and with their bats, but it was Team Select that managed a slight edge with its explosive first inning barrage of runs than featured Isaiah Hood and Brandon Ortiz scoring on J.J. Toler’s line drive to left field.  The 4-0 lead built during the 1^st inning was one which the Prospects’ great group of players and coaches could not quite recover.   It was a superb effort by the kids from both teams, but Team Select’s Ryan Pinto, Nikko Boza, Jet Lica, Hunter Furtado, Isaiah Hood, Keanu Torres and Chris Satcher made sure that Select kept their lead.  Pinto and Satcher had fence-ringing doubles while Lica, Boza, Hood, Toler, and Ortiz had multiple hit games and the outstanding pitching efforts of Hood & Ortiz in the Championship were just enough to allow Select’s players to earn their Championship rings.  Though unable to participate in the final day’s games, Team Select’s football players who are performing double duty (Tim Manning and Colin Flynn) were instrumental in achieving a top seed and getting by MVP Pines in the quarter-finals, setting the stage for the final day.  All of Team Select’s Players and Coaches pointed toward the Team’s outstanding offense & pitching of Ryan Pinto, Hunter Furtado, Nikko Boza, Brandon Ortiz, Isaiah Hood and especially J.J. Toler (Tournament MVP), who combined with Torres in the semi-final to defeat the host Pembroke Lakes Bulldogs!   Congratulations also to the Miami Prospects, a very talented team which deserves its national acclaim, all agree it was truly a valiant effort by their Coaches and Players!      

Coaches for Team Select noted afterward that “any time you can play even with a team as talented and well-coached as the Miami Prospects, it is a real indication that we have our boys on the right path moving forward.  We are extremely pleased with the effort and heart of our players, as well as the commitment of our special group of Parents.  Though Select has had some initial success, their coaches and players insist they will remain the humble, extremely hard working, and praying team for the future.”  In addition to Manager Calabrese and Coaches Toler & Satcher, Team Select 12U are led by Coaches Steve Lica, Frank Boza, Tim Manning, Tom Flynn and Milton Torres.  Congratulations Select 12U Players, Coaches and extraordinary Parents!  GREAT JOB & GO TEAM SELECT