The New Jersey Nationals, a Middletown based travel team, captured the USABL 13U championship.
The Nationals defeated the Middletown Lynx, 6-1, at Middletown’s McMahon field to win the league championship.
The victory completed a big comeback by the Nationals, who started the season 1-3. They won their final eight games, including the win over Lyn, to finish the season at 9-3.
Mike Chiusano, one of the Nationals’ coaches, said it was “a lot of hard work” on the part of the players that helped the team turn its season around.
In the championship game, pitcher Ian Sheuer gave the Nationals five very strong innings, allowing just one earned run. Michael Chiusano pitched the final two innings to pick up the save. He fanned three of the six batters he faced. Chiusano (3-3, and an RBI), Austin Markmann (2-3), Ryan Oneidas (1-1, two walks, two RBIs) were the hitting stars for the team. Alex Reina, Sheuer and John Miller each had a hit, and Brad Siminsky contributed an RBI.
Matt Mosquera, Tom Frandsen, Lucas Geiselman and Dan Mishlen led the Nationals’ flawless defensive effort. The team did not commit an error in the championship game and turned a double play.
The coaching staff consists of Mike Chiusano, Rich Siminsky, Glenn Oneidas and Bobby Mishlen.
The Nationals have been together for four years, and this was their first championship. Most of the players on the team attend Thompson Middle School.