PF Flyers 13U wins second straight tournament

PF Flyers 13U Canan battled all weekend to win the team’s second straight tournament championship.

The Flyers won the competitive Cincinnati Shootout, put on by Tournaments for a Cause, on Sunday.

The Flyers went 5-0 in the tournament, but the boys battled back from late deficits in three of the five games, scoring in their final at-bat twice.

The weekend started with the Flyers coming from behind in both pool play games on Saturday.

In the first pool play game, the Flyers trailed 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth with a rain-shortened game already at its time limit.

This was the last chance.

Wes Canan worked a leadoff walk. Gavin Rutherford was hit by a pitch. One out later the bases were loaded for Alex Madrigal. He hit a hard ground ball to short that ended up as an error, to cut the deficit to 3-2 with the bases loaded again. After a strikeout, Jack Andolina was hit by a pitch to tie the game, bringing up Corwin Wang who was hit by a pitch as well for the walkoff win.

In the second pool play game, the Flyers trailed 5-3 in what would be the final inning. The rally started with two outs when — once again — Wang was hit by a pitch. Henry Sims worked a walk before Shea Dillon ripped a double to center field, scoring Sims and Wang to tie the game.

Rutherford singled next to put the Flyers ahead 6-5. The team went on to add three more runs.

Dan Cafferky came in to close the door in the bottom of the inning with a scoreless inning and two strikeouts.

That put the Flyers in as the two-seed.

The Flyers won 10-2 and 13-3 in bracket play games on Sunday morning.

That set up a pitcher’s duel in the championship game.

Joe Cafferky was dealing, but the opposing team scored in the top of the third to take a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the inning, Rudy Glotfelty led off with a line drive single to left. He stole second and after a strikeout, moved to third on a wild pitch. Canan drove him home with a sacrifice fly on a line drive to center.

The score remained tied until the fifth when the visitors led off with a walk, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a fielder’s choice.

Corwin Wang

The Flyers now trailed 2-1.

But in the bottom of the fifth, Rutherford ripped a two-out, two-run bases loaded single to put the Flyers up 3-2.

Meanwhile, Wang came in to relive Joe Cafferky.

After a 1-2-3 sixth inning, Dan Cafferky provided some insurance with a long, over-the-fence home run to left center to make the score 4-2. It was Dan Cafferky’s second shot over the fence on the day.

Wang closed out the game in a scoreless top of the seventh inning to secure the victory and the championship.

On the weekend, Wang pitched five scoreless, hitless innings.

Wang and Joe Cafferky combined to allow only one hit in the championship game.

Dan Cafferky hit .455 in the tournament with two homers and a double.

The Flyers have now won 11 straight games and are 11-2-1.