Admirals Sail Past All Opponents on Way to Cooperstown Championship

– Courtesy Photo

The Admirals Elite 12U Baseball team completed a superb inaugural season by going undefeated in eight games last week en route to taking the championship of the prestigious Cooperstown Baseball World annual tournament.

While the Admirals traveled clear across the country to play teams from several states, it was two California opponents who stood in their way at the end of the weeklong tournament.

In the championship final on Thursday, the Admirals played perhaps their most complete game and defeated previously unbeaten JGB of Fontana, 9-0. Julian Eskridge of Arcadia completed a remarkable week with his fourth home run and two RBIs, and Steven Arellano of East Altadena also homered and had a two-run double—all on 0 and 2 counts—to pace the Admiral office. That was more than enough offense for Michael Gruppie of Arcadia, who pitched five scoreless innings, striking out eight and allowing only three hits before giving way on the mound in the final inning. Gruppie pitched ahead most of the day, throwing strikes on the first pitch to 19 of the 23 hitters that he faced and was not fazed by a rain delay of more than 90 minutes that stopped the game after 3 ½ innings.

Gruppie was helped by some strong defense, including a diving catch by Eskridge in left, and two runners thrown out by catcher Arellano.

The victory gave the Admirals, comprised of little league all-stars from East Altadena, Arcadia, and Pasadena, yet another tournament championship and a 23-11 overall record for their first full season together playing for Manager Barry Bacon and coaches Eric Felix and Steve Arellano. Even more impressive is that the Admirals ended the season with an 11-game winning streak and a 14-1 record since December against a number of quality opponents.

As exciting as it was for the Admirals to win the tournament in the center of baseball’s birthplace, their victory in the semifinals Wednesday against the Nor Cal Padres is one that will be remembered as long, if not longer. For the second time in their two meetings, the Admirals fell behind early but then came back to win in walk-off fashion.

In the early pool play round, the winning run scored on a bases-loaded walk. This time, the bases were loaded and the Admirals trailed, 5-2, with one out when Eskridge lived up to his nickname of “King” by slamming a prodigious grand slam to center field that gave the Admirals a stunning 6-5 victory. Eskridge’s memorable home run completed a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate and also made him the winning pitcher. Up to that point, the Admirals had sometimes been their own worst enemy, making several base running mistakes that cost them scoring opportunities and when they did hit the ball hard, it was usually right at someone.

But in part because they had come from behind to beat the Padres just a few days before, the Admirals approached the bottom of the sixth inning with quiet confidence. Ryan Rizzo of Arcadia led things off with a solid single, then Kellen Gewecke of Arcadia drilled a single to put the Admirals fans on their feet. Colin Noble’s perfect bunt single really put the crowd in a frenzy, loaded the bases, and set the stage for Eskridge. The right-handed power-hitter who had already impressed by winning the pre-tournament home run derby, driving an 0-1 pitch to deep center field that at first seemed catchable, but carried, and carried and ended up clearing the 220-foot fence with plenty to spare as the Admirals and their fans went absolutely wild in upstate New York.

Besides the earlier 7-6 win over the tough Padres, the Admirals generally dominated their Cooperstown opponents, averaging more than 10 runs and 10 hits per game on the way to several victories shortened by virtue of the mercy rule. Solid pitching performances were turned in by East Altadena’s Issac Fields, Jackson Stewart, Jaxon Bacon, Arellano and Noble, by Arcadia American’s Rizzo, Gewecke, Gruppie and Eskridge, and Pasadena American’s Jack Clougherty. Eskridge led the Admirals with 10 total hits (seven for extra bases), Arellano, Gewecke and Gruppie each had nine, Fields and Clougherty had eight apiece, and Gutierrez and Noble six each, reflecting the deep’s depth and balance on offense.

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