SIBL 11U All-Stars Capture Tourney Title in Easton

The 11-year-old all-stars (10- and 11-year-old players) of the Swansea Independent Baseball League won four of five games last weekend to claim the 11-Year-Old Division championship of the Donald Claris Memorial Tournament hosted by Easton Youth Baseball at Militia Park.

          Bolstered by timely hitting and solid pitching, the SIBL stars bested the Easton Americans (12-1) and Hanover (7-2), and lost to Raynham (5-4), in the pool-play phase of the tournament. Advancing to the semifinal round, Swansea eliminated Maplewood of Fall River (11-2) and blanked Braintree (5-0) in the title contest.

          Swansea’s roster included Brandon Medeiros, Connor Carey, Devin Machado, Colby Campos, Evan Thro, Josh Ferreira, Alec Jancarik, Robbie Costa, Matt Silvia, Luke Escobar, Nolan Potter, Brandyn Durand, Jared Rapoza, Manager Blake Campos and coaches Ernie Rapoza, Jason Machado, Mike Durand and Peter Ferreira.

          In the championship clash opposite Braintree, Swansea broke open a tight contest with a four-run outburst in the bottom of the fourth inning and went on to claim the tourney title. Winning pitcher Ferreira scattered five hits and struck out six batters in five frames of work before giving way to Potter, who pitched a perfect sixth stanza.

          Durand topped the winners with two hits, including a solo home run, and Medeiros and Campos also finished with two hits.

          In their semifinal-round triumph over Maplewood, the SIBL stars jumped out to a 9-0 lead after three innings and never looked back. Costa (four runs batted in), Durand and Potter all paced the victors’ assault with two hits and Potter and Machado also drove in a pair of runs.

          Campos tossed four scoreless frames and whiffed six batters to earn the win, while Machado fanned two batters during the final two chapters.

          Swansea had opened tournament play with a resounding decision over the Easton Americans, scoring all its runs in the second, third and fourth innings. Campos, Durand and Carey all collected two hits for the winners and Escobar knocked in a couple of runs.

          Pitchers Campos, Ferreira and Potter collectively surrendered just one hit and seven strikeouts.

          The SIBL entry staved off Hanover in its second outing, breaking a 2-2 draw with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Jancarik and Costa both cracked two hits in a victorious effort and Silvia contributed a two-run single, while pitchers Thro and Ferreira yielded only three hits and one earned runs and combined for six strikeouts.

          Raynham posted its lone victory in the tournament by shocking Swansea, thanks largely to a three-run surge in the fourth frame. Campos and Ferreira spearheaded the SIBL squad’s 11-hit attack with two safeties apiece, while pitchers Medeiros and Costa gave up just three earned scores.

          Swansea will make its next tourney appearance this coming weekend in an event sponsored by the Harwich-Chatham Little League. The SIBL stars will then host the North Region Tournament of the Bronco League-11 division of PONY Baseball at their Nike Site Playing Complex on July 10 through 13.