Hrudowsky is best in Jersey

Area boy is batting champion

By: Justin Feil – Assistant Sports Editor
Michael Hrudowsky will be honored tonight as the New Jersey champion of the Elks Batter Up competition 10-11 year old division.
"I feel kind of nervous and happy at the same time," said the 10-year-old Montgomery resident.
Hrudowsky might be more nervous for tonight’s presentation at the Princeton Elks Lodge 2129 that he represented in competition than he actually was in contending for the state title in Howell on Aug. 7.
"I was pretty confident in myself," Hrudowsky said.
The state championship is the highest level of the Batter Up competition hosted by the New Jersey State Elks Association. Hrudowsky had already come through a stiff challenge at the regional competition in Jamesburg, in which he had to deal with more than his competition.
His mother had to drive him from the Cal Ripken 10-year-old state tournament to Jamesburg early on the morning of Batter Up competition where officials allowed him to compete first in order to return in time to help the Montgomery all-stars finish third in the state. It was all worth it when he won the regional to reach the state final.
The Princeton Elks also had three girls as medalists. Andrea Katramados won the silver medal in the 5-7 age group, Emily Dembinsky won the bronze medal in the 8-9 age group and Leah Milano won the 12-13 bronze medal.
Each Batter Up competitor is given 10 chances to hit against a pitching machine. Cones in the field designate different point values, with the farther the hit, the better. Foul balls did not score any points. At the conclusion of the 10 pitches, the point values were totaled for each hitter.
"For me, it was kind of fun," Hrudowsky said. "I just relaxed and tried to do my best. I just tried to hit up the middle every time so it was in play."
Hrudowsky, who has also competed in a hockey skills competition, got his first taste of the Batter Up format in a big win at the district competition in Montgomery. Topping the local competition was the first step in building his confidence.
"Some of them were on my team," he said. "There were a couple kids who were older, too."
The competition continued to improve with each level, and Hrudowsky didn’t really know where he fell among the participants. He only knew how he was hitting the ball in each competition.
"In the districts, I felt better there," he said. "I had a lot of home runs."
At the state level, the competitors sat in the dugout and watched as the participants batted from youngest division to oldest. Hrudowsky made the most of his chance to claim the state title. It was the first time he has enjoyed such individual success at the state level, but not his first state trophy. He was part of the Montgomery 9-year-old all-star Cal Ripken team that won the District One and also the state championship last summer.
This summer, Hrudowsky batted second or third for the Cal Ripken 10s team that earned second in the district and third in the state. With this summer’s success behind him, Hrudowsky, who plays second base and pitches, will turn his attention to baseball tryouts for the Cal Ripken 11s all-star team in late September as well as the start of hockey, his other love. There’s no doubt where his heart lies now.
Hrudowsky got an early start on the baseball diamond. When his father coached the South Brunswick travel teams, he brought Michael along as soon as he could walk. When it came easily, he turned to lacrosse for a new challenge. But he quickly returned to baseball and hasn’t regretted the move.
"Not really," he said. "I like baseball better."
Especially the hitting part, and he has the hardware to prove it.