Semifinal tourney loss ends dominant 8U season

Although they outscored its first four opponents 58-9, the Mathewson McCarthy 8U baseball team finished up its tournament season with a loss in the semifinals of the Mel Ott Invitational on Sunday.

The loss ended a dominant campaign in which they won 18 of 23 games and outscored their opponents by nearly 200 runs (275-89). Of the team's five losses, one came in a tournament championship game and two others came in semifinal games. Two of the team's losses came in the last at-bat of the game, and three of the five losses, all late inning heartbreakers, were to a powerful Cayuga team whose only loss this season was to Mathewson McCarthy.

The average score of Mathewson McCarthy's 18 wins this season was 13-1. The team was an offensive juggernaut and each of the team's first six batters in the lineup homered at least once. The first four batters in the order, Peter Christy, Tommy Shantler, Matt Cohen, and Michael Steffan, all lightning fast, crossed the plate nearly every time they reached base all season long. Christy, the leadoff hitter and infielder, was an offensive catalyst, injecting speed and aggressiveness on the base paths. Shantler, an outfielder and backup catcher, sprayed the ball all over the field, and defensively, made two of the most spectacular diving catches seen all year long.

Catcher Matt Cohen, who hit third, led the team in batting (nearly .800), hits, including four home runs, and runs scored.

Cleanup hitter and third baseman Michael Steffan was simply dominant at the plate. He hit for average and for power, finishing second on the team in batting average, and leading the team in home runs (nine), RBIs, and extra base hits. He also played nearly flawless defense at the hot corner, making plays in every game.

Power hitting second baseman Nate Berke homered twice, was second in RBIs, and was perhaps even better defensively, accounting for several double plays in unassisted fashion and initiating countless others.

Shortstop John Genau made many magnificent defensive plays. Genau also contributed at the plate, hitting the ball hard to all fields and accounting for two home runs of his own. Although the team was explosive on offense, it was even more dominant defensively, and the infield of Christy, Steffan, Genau, Berke, and first baseman Michael Woods snuffed out dozens of would-be base hits with their amazing glove work.

But it wasn't just the infield that worked magic in the field. In order for a team to succeed, it has to be strong up the middle and center fielder Ryan Hann made a bushel full of exceptional catches patrolling the outfield grass. He and fellow outfielders Shantler, Kurt Haumesser, Travis Lickfeld, Dylan Utz, and Jordan Martin consistently took away extra bases with heady play and precision teamwork, and at the plate, each of them contributed timely hits that kept rallies alive.

Although the season ended on a sour note, all 12 members of the roster contributed significantly to the season's overall success. The team was managed by Tony Woods and coached by Joe Genau and Rick Cohen.