Bandits Get To Semi-Finals In U10 Tourney In Aberdeen

Brookfield's U10 Baseball Travel Team the Brookfield Bandits continued their 2010 season success this past weekend in Aberdeen, MD, at the Cal Ripken-Under Armour Yard baseball tournament. Although the Brookfield U10s were optimistic about their first time playing outside at the tournament level, the Bandits continued their ongoing success by displaying their outstanding defensive talent and team determination by getting into the semi-finals in Aberdeen, before being defeated by the Lakeshore Grey Sox.

The Bandits weekend opened up Saturday morning with an overwhelming opportunity to play on a bran new Cal Ripken baseball field where the Bandits defeated ASBA Broomall, 8-1. The second game of pool play for Saturday brought the Bandits to Cal Ripken Sr Yard, where they would verse the Pennsbury Orange from Pennsylvania.  The Bandits were not denied and sparked by an offensive barrage of hits and winning 16-4.

On Sunday, the Bandits had to refocus their efforts from the prior day and achieve a bid into the single elimination Championship matches on Sunday afternoon. The Bandits third game of pool play matched them up against the NJ Young Guns, both 2-0 as Brookfield fell to them 6-2 despite flashes of spectacular defensive plays and solid pitching.  Brookfield was slotted the third pick in the semi-finals and now had the task to play the Lakeshore Grey Sox and needed to win to advance to seek a bid in the Championship game. The Grey Sox defeated the Bandits 12-5.

Once again, the action took place at replica Memorial Stadium, with the Bandits continuing their team effort and momentum by scoring runs on several crisp line drives, along with fundamental baseball skills and outstanding pitching performances from Alex Johanesen and Cameron Gleichauf. The Bandits defense however could not prevail against the Grey Sox, as they defeated the Bandits 12-5, eliminating them from the tournament.

The weekend offense was led by Niko Droukas, Chris Demarco, Dave Albanese, Cameron Gleichauf and Andrew Almeida and stellar pitching performances from Alex Johanesen, Connor Gruda, Mason Blanchette and Cameron Gleichauf.  Defensively, the Bandits continue to work as a team on fundamental baseball, which was demonstrated by some key plays, and showcased some memorable defensive plays by all the Bandits. The Brookfield team's success will be contingent upon the overall consistency and persistence of Lucas Joshi, Alex Johanesen, Dave Albanese, Niko Droukas, Connor Gruda, Mason Blanchette, Chris Demarco, Nick Ivey, Cameron Gleichauf, John Garizio, Andrew Almeida, Brendan Leslie and bat boy Zakary "Z" Droukas. The Brookfield Bandits team members have the flexibility in shared roles and responsibilities to succeed throughout the travel season and will continue their season this weekend participating in a Triple Crown Tournament in Branford, CT.