Mathewson McCarthy 12U picks up second straight title

The Mathewson McCarthy 12U Tournament team beat West Seneca, 5-2, to become West Seneca Tournament champions. It was the team's second straight tournament victory. Members of the team, pictured from left, are: first row - Brian Bookbinder, Jimmy Honsberger, Alex Radice; second row - coach Jim Honsberger, Adam Panfil, Tommy Kline, Peter Moran, Matt Jungier, Devin Stives, Jordan Honsberger, coach Tim Stives and Timmy Coulter.

The Mathewson McCarthy 12U tournament team captured its second straight title on Sunday afternoon, winning the West Seneca Tournament. It was the team's final tournament of the 2007 travel season. Mathewson McCarthy belted out 13 home runs.

Finals

Mathewson McCarthy 5,

West Seneca 2

Mathewson McCarthy was looking for their second straight title in as many weeks as they faced host-team West Seneca in the finals of the West Seneca tournament on Sunday afternoon.

Peter Moran set the tone as he led off with a solo home run, giving Mathewson McCarthy the early lead. Pitching took over for both sides as West Seneca was able to keep Mathewson McCarthy off balance through the next four innings.

Adam Panfil and Devin Stives once again combined for a masterpiece on the hill, allowing just two hits and striking out 11. Mathewson McCarthy found themselves in unfamiliar territory as they were tied at 2-2 after four innings. Tommy Kline broke through in the fifth with a leadoff double when Matt Jungier was plunked with high heat, which sent him to the bench for repairs. Jungier was replaced by Panfil as the runner at first base when Jordan Honsberger stepped up to the plate. Honsberger delivered a two-strike, two-out triple, plating Kline and Panfil with the go-ahead runs.

Timmy Coulter added a single to score Honsberger, giving Mathewson McCarthy a 5-2 lead going into the sixth. Stives took the ball and closed the door on West Seneca with a brilliant sixth inning of work, striking out the side and leaving no doubt for Mathewson McCarthy. Mathewson McCarthy earned their second title in two weeks to wrap up their 2007 tournament and travel season.

Mathewson McCarthy 9,

District V 5

Mathewson McCarthy entered the semifinals with red-hot hitting and pitching, which did not let them down on this Sunday.

Lightning struck in the first for Mathewson McCarthy in the form of back-to-back-to-back home runs from Devin Stives, Adam Panfil and Matt Jungier. The hitting continued in the second as Jordan Honsberger's timely two-out single plated Panfil and Stives, giving Mathewson Mc- Carthy a lead they would not relinquish. Timmy Coulter once again added a double to his big weekend.

Panfil and Stives dominated on the mound, giving up just four hits and striking out 10 through six innings.

Mathewson McCarthy 15,

South Cheektowaga 1

Will Carroll once again dominated on the mound as he pitched his way to three shutout innings, striking out seven of nine batters and allowing no runs and no hits.

Carroll gave way to Peter Moran, who finished the game striking out three batters and allowing a single run. Mathewson McCarthy's hit machine kept rolling as they scored three runs in the first, seven in the second and five in the third.

Adam Panfil delivered the early blow for Mathewson McCarthy as he crushed a three-run home run in the first as Mathewson McCarthy never looked back. Peter Moran added yet another home run to his weekend tally with a grand slam in the second, scoring Carroll, Alex Radice and Brian Bookbinder. Mathewson Mc- Carthy wasn't done as Panfil delivered yet another blast in the third for his second homer of the game. Jordan Honsberger stayed steady with another two hits and run scored.

Mathewson McCarthy 10,

River Rock 0

The Mathewson McCarthy bats showed up early and often in their 10-0 rout of River Rock in Game Two of the West Seneca tournament.

Will Carroll's imposing frame threw off the River Rock hitters during his three innings of work. Carroll pitched no-hit ball through three and struck out eight of the nine batters he faced. Mathewson McCarthy's bats stayed alive as they belted two home runs in the first inning, including a leadoff job by Peter Moran that stunned the River Rocks, followed by Devin Stives' rocket to left field for a home run.

Jordan Honsberger chipped in with two hits, including a double and two RBIs and scoring twice. Brian Bookbinder had another solid game with a hit and run scored.

Mathewson McCarthy 7,

Lakeview 3

Mathewson McCarthy started its final tournament in West Seneca against a tough Lakeview team.

Mathewson McCarthy was able to pull out the win on the strength of tough pitching and timely hitting. Will Carroll started for Mathewson Mc- Carthy on the hill and was able to pitch his way through three innings of shutout baseball, allowing only two hits and striking out six.

Devin Stives came in and closed out the game, pitching well over the final three innings, allowing three runs and striking out seven.

Mathewson McCarthy was kept at bay through three innings when the bats woke up in the fourth. Peter Moran led off the inning with a single when Tommy Kline stepped to the plate and belted a monstrous two-run home run. Devin Stives sent shock waves through Lakeview on the very next pitch as he crushed a solo shot. The fifth saw the same three runners score as Kline pulled out the lumber again for his second homer of the game, leading Mathewson to its first win of the tournament.