Travel baseball
New Era 12U wins third tourney of season

Team New Era 12U won the Battle of the Falls Tournament held at the end of July in Lockport, N.Y. Members of the team, pictured from left, are: first row - Brian Dudek (Cheektowaga), Ben Haefner (Lancaster), Tyler Hoffhines (Depew), Brett Bauth (Lancaster); second row - coach Joe Bauth, Chris Kwitzer (Depew), Mike Wood, Bucky Breton, Josh Snopkowski, Jonah Heim, Matt Michalski, Tyler Piasecki (Williamsville); third row - coaches Clayton Brigham Jr, Chris Hoffhines, Gene Dudek and Rusty Brenton.

Team New Era 12U won the Battle of the Falls Tournament held at the end of July in Lockport, N.Y. It was the team's third tournament victory of the season.

Offensive firepower and a stingy defense led undefeated Team New Era to outscore their opponents, 48-10. Team New Era gave up only three runs over four games to cement the first seed going into the championship rounds.

Team New Era emerged victoriously after a hard fought battle, 8-6, with the WNY Stars to capture the 12U division trophy. The 10 teams participating in the 12 and under tournament were Team New Era, Inferno Baseball, WNY Stars, Westside Bandits, Hamilton Cobras, Aurora Jays, Markham Mariners, Richmond Hill Phoenix, Mississauga Majors and Oshawa Legion Minor Baseball.

The Battle of the Falls Tournament is sanctioned by Elite Championship Tournament Baseball and United States Specialty Sports Association Baseball and sponsored by New Era Cap Company, www.neweracap.com. This is the third consecutive year for this sanctioned event. The event has completely sold out the last two years in all age divisions with over 60 teams from nine states plus Canada.

Team New Era also dominated the Summer Blast 12U tournament held in Hinsdale, Mass. from Aug. 3 to 5 sponsored by Dan Duquette Sports Academy to secure its third tournament win this season. The team returned with 12 trophies.

The Team New Era travel team will end the season this month with a trip to Cooperstown Dream Park, where they are invited to play 96 other teams around the nation. Cooperstown National American Tournament of Champions Championship Week is a national invitational youth baseball tournament.