The Holbrook Little League Junior League all-stars returned home to Jackson from the Little League Junior League World Series in Taylor, Mich., earlier than hoped after splitting their four games in pool play, but they were encouraged by the impressions left on the fans and opposing teams.
Tyler Pallante, seen here in action vs. Freehold Township during the Little League Junior League Eastern Regional Tournament on Aug. 13, helped pitch the Holbrook Little League all-stars to a berth in the Little League Junior League World Series. “The kids played well,” said Holbrook manager Doug Benecke. “It was a long two seasons of 18 games in the spring (the regular Little League season) and 21 games in the postseason. With that, [13- and 14-yearold] kids have got to be tired. It was a great run. We did everything right, but in World Series play you’re going against teams just as good.”
After losing its final game in pool play to eventual champion Arizona of the Southwest Region, 10-8, on Aug. 20 to lose its chance of advancing into the tournament semifinals, Holbrook went on to beat Saipan, the Asian Pacific champion, 13-6, in a consolation game the following day.
“I’m very happy with the guys. They did not embarrass themselves,” said Benecke. “They were the talk of the tournament as one of the powers in it.”
But the team from Jackson was dealt a setback against Arizona when the manager’s son, Brendan, developed soreness in his pitching arm after the first inning when Jackson had taken a 6-0 lead.
“He threw three pitches in the second inning and complained that his arm hurt,” said the elder Benecke.
Shortly after a pitching change, Arizona connected for a grand slam in the second inning and took a 7-6 lead.
Arizona gradually increased the lead to 10-6 off two relievers, before Holbrook scored twice in the last inning and left two runners in scoring position on a game-ending strikeout. Angel Garced beat out a bunt to start the rally and Jordan Mundell, who was one of the hot hitters throughout the tournament, lashed a base hit.
Against Saipan, Mundell lined two doubles and young Benecke chipped in with two hits. Normally a catcher when he is not pitching, Brendan Benecke was moved to third base for the first time in the tournament because of his sore arm.
Holbrook also got timely hitting from Garced, Ryan Cullen, Mike Breazzano and Jake Byford, who customarily contributed to the team as a reserve. Byford pitched the first two innings against Saipan and Tyler Pallante relieved over the next three before Garced and Cullen finished the game.
Holbrook stayed in the running and made the Arizona game significant when it won its previous game against Southeast champion South Carolina, 3-2, on Aug. 17.
Pallante pitched superbly, strengthening his four-hitter with eight strikeouts and two walks before James Sofield came in to throw the final pitch as a runner was thrown out stealing second base to end the game.
Sofield drove in a run on a groundout in the second inning and the other two runs scored in the third when Mundell’s bunt was mishandled as both runners who were in scoring position were able to cross the plate. Pallante yielded a two-run homer to a South Carolina hitter in the third inning.
Most of the players on this summer’s allstar team will move up to Holbrook’s Senior Division in 2010, but two players are expected to remain on Junior level — shortstop Sofield and Garced, who played second base, shortstop and caught, depending on the pitching situation.
“This was a very fundamental team,” said Benecke. “People said they noticed that our players did not make too many mistakes. And we had a good hitting team.”
Along with Benecke and Mundell, Cullen was a stalwart at first base, with T.J. Perl as his backup. Ariel Rivera anchored the outfield superbly in center field. Breazzano excelled in left field, where he shared innings with Brian Delesky, while Bill Carlock and Greg Pascullo handled right field.