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Summer trips await down south
The only thing hotter than the McLean/Great Falls 13-year-old All-Stars' bats will likely be the site of the team's next conquest.
After a 9-0 win – capping a three-game effort in which they outscored their competition, 34-0 – over Williamsburg in the state final last week, McLean/Great Falls has advanced to the Babe Ruth League's Southeast Regional, a 10-team, double-elimination tournament in Live Oak, Fla.
“It was a real team effort,” said pitcher/first baseman Andrew Culp, who was named the state tournament's Most Valuable Player. “Our bats were coming through for us and everybody was contributing.”
McLean/Great Falls will square off with Florida's Suwannee County (the tournament's host team) on Thursday at 8 p.m., with the winner earning a 1 p.m. date on Friday against Alabama's Cottage Hill.
“Going to Florida from Virginia is pretty big,” said center fielder/catcher Thomas Dungan. “To think that we're the best in Virginia ... it's really an honor.”
Though technically considered Virginia's second-best team in its age group, the 14-year-old squad from McLean/Great Falls will make a separate trip to Mobile, Ala., advancing because state champion Eastern Loudoun declined to make the trip.
Coach Dave Roffman's team will open its tournament with an 8 p.m. game Thursday night against Cottage Hill (Ala.), and with a win, McLean/Great Falls would advance to face Bull Creek (Ga.) on Friday at 1 p.m.
Relying on two steady arms – left-hander Brock Hunter and right-hander Nate Flagg – as well as benefiting from contributions at the plate by Hunter, Michael Byrne, Daniel Richardson and James Vivenzio, Roffman and Co. would love to extend their summer while down south.
“We're just hoping for the best,” Roffman said. “Our guys just want to play some more baseball. They figured that their summer isn't over yet, so they were up for going there and doing the best that we can.”
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