SIBL Stars Primed for Zone Tournament in Virginia

The 10U (9- and 10-year-old players) of the Swansea Independent Baseball League will open their quest for the East Zone Tournament championship of the Mustang League of PONY Baseball on Thursday at 8 p.m. in Chesterfield, Virg.

          According to team Manager Andy Fyfe, the SIBL stars will be one of four teams contending for the Zone title this weekend in a double-elimination tournament. The tourney titeleist will advance to the 2014 Mustang League World Series beginning July 31 in Burleson, Texas.

          According to Fyfe, the Swansea delegation to Virginia departed Wednesday and will be lodged at the Hyatt Place Richmond/Chester located in nearby Chester.

          Swansea will open its bid for the tournament crown on Thursday against host Chesterfield, which has captured the last three Zone Tournament championships. A SIBL entry last won the Zone event in 2007.

          Also Thursday, West Region champion Center Township, Penn., will face South Region champion West Raleigh, N.C., at 5:30. Games are scheduled Friday at 3, 5:30 and 8, and Saturday at 11 a.m.

          West Raleigh topped Western Branch, Virg., 7-3, to capture the South Region title and Center Township bested Morgantown, W.Virg., 19-6, to secure the West Region crown.

          The SIBL stars are coming off an impressive performance last weekend in Swansea when they snared the North Region Tournament title for the third successive season. The SIBL squad defeated Ballston Spa, N.Y., and North Haven, Conn. (twice) to lay claim to the region crown.

          Swansea’s roster in Virginia will include Cam Nadeau, Tyler Cabral, Jacob Aubin, Riley Tabicas, Riley Machado, Aiden Branco, Aidan Fyfe, Sam Watts, Aidan Ramaglia, Drew Crook, Ethan McElroy, Lucas McElroy, Manager Fyfe and coaches Tim Cabral and Scott McElroy.