Mathewson McCarthy 8U puts on offensive clinic, posts tourney victory

The Mathewson McCarthy 8U team won the Lou Gehrig tournament. Members of the team, pictured from left, are: first row - Nate Berke, Matt Cohen, Dylan Utz, Tommy Shantler; second row - Ryan Hann, batgirl Jenna Woods; third row - Michael Steffan, Michael Woods, John Genau, Travis Lickfeld, Peter Christy, Jordan Martin; fourth row - head coach Tony Woods, coach Rick Cohen, coach Joe Genau; missing from photo - Kurt Haumesser.

The Mathewson McCarthy 8U baseball team has been an offensive juggernaut throughout the tournament season but heartbreaking losses in the semifinals of one tournament and the finals of another the past few weeks left them wondering what it would take to capture a crown.

Last weekend, the team finally put it all together, exploding for 70 runs over five games against strong competition to win the Lou Gehrig tournament in East Amherst.

Mathewson McCarthy defeated South Cheektowaga, 11-5, Lou Gehrig Red, 12-5, and North Tonawanda, 15-0, in pool play Friday night and Saturday before beating Clarence, 14-4, in the semifinal game Sunday morning.

Mathewson McCarthy spotted Lou Gehrig Blue an early 5-0 lead in the championship game Sunday afternoon and trailed 13-8 in the fourth inning before exploding for 10 unanswered runs to win 18-13 and take the title.

The tournament victory was a true team effort as every player made key contributions at the plate and in the field. Catcher Matt Cohen led the team with 14 hits in 17 at-bats and scored 13 runs during the team's five tournament games. Speedsters Peter Christy, Tommy Shantler and Cohen set the table all tournament long for power hitters Mike Steffan and Nate Berke, each of whom drove in more than a dozen runs.

Defensive wizard John Genau, Ryan Hann, Travis Lickfeld, Dylan Utz, Michael Woods, and Jordan Martin all contributed timely hits throughout the tournament as well. Defensively, the infield combination of Steffan (third base), Genau (shortstop), Berke (second base), Woods (first base) and Christy on the pitcher's mound proved nothing short of spectacular, turning gem after defensive gem. Outfielders Hann, Martin, Shantler, Lickfeld and Utz were solid defensively as well with each making excellent plays in what was a complete team effort. Cleanup hitter Steffan was named tournament MVP for his extraordinary effort on both sides of the ball.