The Weston Hawks 13u team traveled to Myrtle Beach SC last week to play in the Cal Ripken Experience Tournament starting on July 12^th.  They went 3-2 in Pool play landing in the 3^rd seed going into the playoffs and went all the way to the championship game where they finished as runners-up.

Pool play began on Monday the 13^th against a tough Bullets team from Tampa.  The Hawks took the early lead with Danny Melgarejo on the mound and were tied after 2 innings.  The Bullets went ahead in the 3^rd and won the game going away 11-4.  Tommy Murphy was on base all 3 times with walks.  Luis Mercado was also on base all 3 times going 1-1 with 2 walks.  The Bullets went on to win the rest of their games in pool play and never allowed more than 2 runs against any other opponent.

Game 2 was against the Ocean Spartans from NJ.  The Hawks took the early lead and stayed in front to end the game early in 5 for a 12-1 victory.  Danny Melgarejo ended it early with an inside-the-park home run.  Aires Rivera was on base all 3 times going 1-1 with a single a 2 walks.  Luis Mercado was on base both times with a single and a walk.  Armando Hernandez was 3-3 with 4 RBI.  Juan Olavarria was 1-1 with a walk and SAC fly.  Luis Mercado and Sean Iacono combined for a 1-hitter pitching performance.

Game 3 was against the Warwick Renegades from NY.  The Hawks jumped out to another early lead after 2 innings and stayed in front to win it 10-4.  Tommy Murphy had another 3-walk game.  Magglio Ordonez was 2-2.  Juan Olavarria and Armando Hernandez combined to strike out 10 in their pitching performances.

Game 4 was against the Northwest Warriors from OH.  The Hawks exploded for 9 runs in the 4^th inning alone and won it going away 17-2.  Robbie Steirn was on base all 4 times with walks.  Enzo Clemente and Magglio Ordonez were on base all 4 times with 3 walks and a single.  Andres Vazquez was 2-2.

Game 5 in pool play was against the Massillon Heat from OH.  The Heat chose to throw their Ace against the Hawks and he was very effective getting the 1-hitter, complete game shutout.  The bats were quiet for the Hawks and we gave up a ton of runs on wild pitches, errors and passed balls.  Result was 14-0 Heat.

The quarter-final was against the #6 seeded Cooper City Cowboys (FL).  The game was close through 3 with the Cowboys looking for the upset but the Hawks took control after 4 and won it 10-3.  Magglio Ordonez was 2-2.  Danny Melgarejo was on base both times with a hit and a HBP.

The semi-final was against the Northwest Warriors who upset the Heat in their quarter-final game.  The Hawks took a quick 5-1 lead in the first and never looked back winning 13-5 to advance to the championship.  Aires Rivera was on base both times with a single and a walk.

The final was against the tough undefeated Bullets team from Tampa.  The Hawks had been the team that had scored the most against them but they did not really have a close game going into the championship.   It was tied 1-1 with the Bullets coming to bat in the 3^rd then the Bullets smashed a nightmarish 11 runs against the Hawks with key hits and taking advantage of a lot of errors, passed balls and wild pitches.  It would have been a lot closer without all the mistakes but the Bullets proved to be the best team that week.  The Hawks made it a bit more interesting by adding 5 more runs but could not come all the way back.  All in all a great week of baseball for the Hawks taking home 2^nd place honors from The Ripken Experience.

Roster: Enzo Clemente, Armando Hernandez, Sean Iacono, Brady McBride, Danny Melgarejo, Luis Mercado, Matthew Mogilevsky, Kevin Mora, Tommy Murphy, Juan Olavarria, Magglio Ordonez, Aires Rivera, Robbie Steirn and Andres Vazquez

Head Coach: Enzo Clemente

Assistants: Orestes Melgarejo, Tom Murphy, Angel Rivera