Dunedin D-backs Take First in Baseball Tourney

The Dunedin Diamondback boys’ 13-and-under baseball travel team earned a championship title at the Battle to the Bone III USSSA Baseball Tournament in Oldsmar over the weekend.

The Diamondbacks team is in its first full year as a travel baseball club. The team in December. The team's overall record is 10-14.

The following is Manager Rick Kroeger's account of the tournament weekend:

Battle to the Bone Pool Play

The Diamondbacks bounced back from a slow start. The first game in pool play started with a disappointing 7-3 loss against the Tampa Terror Blue on March 9, but the team rallied against a tough St. Pete Saints 14-2 in game No. 2 on March 10.

Tyler Heath and Cameron Kroeger shut down the Saints hitting rotation. In three innings, Heath struck out four and allowed no runs. Kroeger closed the game by striking out the last two batters. The win earned the Diamondbacks the No. 1 seed in elimination play.

Semifinal
Diamondbacks vs Tampa Terror Black

In the semifinal game, with Nick Lumpkin on the mound, the Diamondbacks jumped out to an early lead on the Tampa Terror Black and maintained it through four innings. Diamondbacks led 5-3 in the fifth, but four errors gave the Terror a chance to gain a 1-run lead. Heath was called to the mound with bases loaded full of Terror, and shut them down for the inning.

This gave the Diamondbacks a chance to strike back at the plate.

With nobody on base and one out, Leo Wagner did just that.

Wagner battled back from an 0-2 count for a walk. The Terror walked the next batter (Heath), and Jakob Sessa followed with a single to load the bases.

Then Connor Dabeck stepped up to the plate. The pressure was on. His team was down one run and still had an out against them.

Connor battled the pitcher. He fouled off several pitches and worked the count full. On the payoff pitch, Connor rocketed a line drive to a gap in right-centerfield, driving in Mike Milford and Heath for the winning runs.

Championship 
Diamondbacks vs Pro Bound Eagles of Clearwater 

The Diamondbacks fell behind 1-0 early against the No. 2 seeded team, but RBI hits from Sessa and Kroeger pushed them ahead 3-1 in the second inning.

Erik Freeman’s stellar pitching held the Eagles to one run through the first two innings. However, the Eagles rallied to score three runs on a 4-1 Diamondbacks lead. Heath came in to relieve Freeman in the third with the bases loaded and two outs. He worked them out of the jam, and held the Eagles to their 1-run lead. Heath continued his handiwork into the sixth inning, shutting down the Eagles offense and keeping the Diamondbacks within striking distance.

In the bottom of the sixth, Sessa, Lumpkin, Kroeger, Peter Andrade, and Freeman each RBI’d, bringing them ahead 9-5.

But the Eagles had one more chance at the plate.

The Eagles were able to put a player on base. The score was still 9-5 and the Diamondbacks needed just one more out.

That’s when Diamondbacks pitcher Mike Johnson came in for Heath and slammed the door on the Eagles for the 9-5 championship victory. 

Offensive Stats:

• Tyler Heath .750 batting average, two RBIs, six runs, five stolen bases.
• Cameron Kroeger .500 batting average, five RBIs, three walks.
• Connor Dabeck .500 batting average, three RBIs and three stolen bases.
• Jake Sessa .455 batting average, five RBIs, three stolen bases, four runs scored.
• Nick Bell .500 batting average, two stolen bases, two runs, two RBIs.
• Leo Wagner .400 on base percentage.
• Mike Johnson three runs.
• Erik Freeman .500 on base percentage, four walks.
• Kylan Franjesevic .428 batting average, four runs scored, .500 on base percentage.
• Nick Lumpkin with the game winning RBI in the title game.

Pitching Praise:

• Tyler Heath pitched eight innings, gave up no earned runs and three hits, struck out 9, earned one win and one save.
• Erik Freeman pitched three and two-thirds innings, gave up three earned runs and struck out three.
• Nick Lumpkin pitched five and a third innings, gave up six earned runs and struck out three.
• Mike Johnson tallied one save.  
• Jake Sessa pitched one and two-thirds innings, gave up no earned runs and struck out three.

Defensive MVPs for stellar plays in the field:

• Mike Johnson at third base,
• Peter Andrade at catcher,
• Cameron Kroeger at catcher,
• Nick Bell in centerfield,
• Kylan Franjesevic at shortstop. 

The 13U Diamondback Roster: Peter Andrade, Nick Bell, Connor Dabeck, Larry Dalla Betta, Kylan Franjesivic, Erik Freeman, Tyler Heath, Mike Johnson, Cameron Kroeger, Nick Lumpkin, Mike Milford, Jakob Sessa, Leo Wagner.

Coach’s Comment: "I was very proud to see our team rebound after losing the pool play game on Friday night. We have four new fulltime players to our team, but they have worked hard to improve their play and build great team chemistry. The boys really pulled together to beat some very good teams. I want to thank our families, and our sponsors Abe’s Mugs on Missouri Avenue, and the on Patricia Avenue in Dunedin for their support. Hats off to the teams that participated in the tourney, and special thanks to John Grant and his entire staff for running an excellent, well-organized tournament. USSSA baseball does a great job for the kids."