The Herts All-Stars were in devastating form sweeping the Bracknell Blazers 23-0 and 15-4. The team was the runner-up in last year’s National Youth Championships and today’s results are a sign that the team from Hertfordshire is eager to do even better this season.
While the Herts Little League rests this week, the Herts All-Stars travelled south to Bracknell to play two of their six games which count towards the seeding in the National Youth Baseball Championships this season. The Herts All-Stars are a selection of the best players under the age of 13 from the six Herts Little League teams competing this year.
In the first game Herts took the lead early and never looked back. Nickolas Martinez, Marty Cullen Jr and Jesse Reinebold combined for a shutout win. Offensively Herts scored 23 runs with some very productive hitting from the first to the ninth batter in the lineup. Jose Morillo with 2 triples and Marty Cullen Jr with 3 doubles stood out in the box scores, but the highlight of the game was a grand slam by Nickolas Martinez which went deep over the outfield fence.
Despite trailing early in the game Herts recorded a convincing 15-4 win in the second game of the day. Jose Morillo once again shone with the bat coming very close to hitting for the cycle (i.e. hitting a single, double, triple and a home run). He only needed a home run to complete it. Zack Longboy, Carlos Casal Jr and Marty Cullen Jr were the pitchers in the game with Lewis Green coming in at the end to close the game and complete a very successful day for the youngsters from Hertfordshire.
Herts Little League Commissioner Marty Cullen was pleased with the performance. He said: “The hard work which our players have put in is paying off and we hope to continue the good progress.”