Bagel Bombers 14U play up in Firecracker Classic

The Bagel Bombers Hocker 14U team played up in the 16U bracket July 2-5, going 2-4-1 in the Firecracker Classic Tournament at Sports at the Beach in Georgetown.

The Bombers won the first game 5-4 over the Delmarva Aces Coastal 16U squad. Hunter Chambers delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning to score Barritt Ross. Ross was hit by a pitch to get on base, then stole second and moved to third on a sac bunt by Zane Adams.

Both teams scored four runs in the first inning before settling into a defensive battle until the seventh.

Chambers and Gavin McIntyre each went 1-for-3, while Brian Fleming went 1-for-2. Graham Buckson, Chambers and Brenn Scott each had an RBI in the game.

McIntyre threw one inning and struck out one. Adams pitched six innings in relief, striking out four batters.

A highlight for the Bagel Bombers was the second game, where they had a dogfight with the DCP Rawlings 2022 National team, falling 6-5. The DCP Rawlings is a 16U showcase team that faces competition up and down the East Coast with players from the around the Eastern Shore.

Bagel Bombers' McIntyre went yard in the first inning with a two-run homer. Fleming also drove in a run, going 2-for-4 in the game. Buckson went 1-for-3, while Ross and Chambers each went 1-for-4.

"It was a great game." said Bombers coach Mike Fleming. "Our age group was canceled, so we played up and they used wooden bats for the first time. The players loved it."

The Bombers fell behind 3-2 in the first inning, but managed to tie the game in the fourth. Down 6-4 in the top of the seventh, they could only muster a single run to fall 6-5.

Ocean Johnson threw five innings for the Bombers, striking out six DCP Rawlings batters. Ethan Hazzard pitched one inning, striking out one.

The Bombers battled the Etters Pennsylvania Patriots 15U team to a 2-2 tie in the third game. McIntyre, who went 1-for-3, went yard to tie the game in the seventh. Buckson went 2-for-2 at the plate. Ross and Isaac Terhune went 1-for-2, while Stephen Wade and Fleming went 1-for-3. Wade drove in a run.

Owen Daminger pitched five guest innings, striking out one.

The Bombers couldn’t get the bats going in a 4-0 loss to CK Cardinals of Morganville, N.J. Wade and Chambers each garnered a double for the Bombers. Brogan Evick was the guest pitcher, throwing four innings, striking out three.

Team XP from Howard County, Md., handed the Bombers a 2-0 loss in the fifth game. Chet Mariner led the Bombers going 2-for-2. Will Hocker and Ross went 1-for-2 and 1-for-3, respectively. Guest pitcher Josh Reinhold threw six innings, striking out 10 batters.

The Bombers set off some early Fourth of July fireworks, as they used the long ball to down the First State Hornets 15/16U squad 6-3.

Home runs were slammed by Buckson, Scott and Wade. Scott picked up two RBIs, while Buckson, Fleming, Mariner and Wade each had one. McIntyre had three stolen bases in the game.

Eddie Grace teamed with Fleming, Buckson, and Mariner to strike out five Hornets.

The final game of the tournament found the Bagel Bombers getting shot down by a tough Delmarva Aces Coastal 16U team 9-6.

The Aces scored all nine of their runs in the first three innings, but the Bombers couldn’t recover despite two RBIs from Wade and Fleming. Ross also drove in a run. They scored all six runs in the final three innings. Fleming and Wade each slammed a double in the contest.

Fleming struck out six on the mound in his four innings. Chambers and Wade each pitched one inning, with Wade setting two batters down with the strikeout.

“We went 2-4-1 in the tournament,” said coach Mike Fleming. “That’s not bad considering we were our normal [14U] team [with] guest 16U pitchers to level the field. The team played great under those conditions. It was fun.”

The Bagel Bombers 14U team is managed by William Hocker, and coached by Zach Reynolds and Fleming.

“I thought the boys played well playing up for the first time and swinging wood bats,” said Hocker. “We were in every game. The final game on Sunday, we had a few errors and some pitching issues giving up nine runs. But finding themselves down 9-0, they finished strong by putting up six runs in the last two innings and just ran out of time. They are a resilient bunch. We play again this weekend at SATB, off the following weekend, then we are at SATB the next three weekends.”

The 14U Bagel Bombers will be back in their normal age group this weekend in the Clash of the Titans Tournament at Sports at the Beach.