The West End Babe Ruth League has earned an enviable record for sending teams to post-season competition, and in some cases winning those competitions. This year’s 13-year-old All-Stars are continuing this splendid tradition this year by advancing to the Babe Ruth World Series as champions of the Mid-Atlantic Region, which they earned with a 4-0 win over the Hamilton-Burlington League All-Stars.
Webb Weekly asked West End Manage Marc Hess to provide a run down on the members of the team and what it meant to coach them to this Series. What follows are his comments:
Trey Damschroder displays great speed on the bases, he’s a very aggressive baserunner. He covers a lot of ground in center field and is a good contact hitter. Trey has one of the strongest arms on the field and is a jokester in the dugout.
Deshaun White is a positive team player. He squares up the ball nearly every at bat. Deshaun is always putting pressure on his opponents with his speed on the bases and is a fantastic guy in the dugout.
Briar Persing is definitely team leader and our number one pitcher. He works hard at all aspects of the game and is one of our best hitters. Briar can play anywhere we ask and is a great teammate and good role model on the team.
LJ Hill is a great middle infielder and pitcher; he can locate pitches better than anyone on the team and gives us a lot of good at bats. LJ is always putting the ball in play and works very hard — I’m proud of him.
Noah Kirby is a good first baseman and pitcher, who always hits the ball hard. Noah is one of the best hitters on the team — in starting role or relief, can come in and get the job done.
Zack Neill is a great middle infielder with a strong at bat. Zack always throws strikes on the mound and comes up with some big hits at the plate.
Nate Crowe has had many clutch hits and RBIs as the extra hitter. He’s very coachable. Nate is a great teammate and one of our ‘talkers’ in the dugout.
Zion Hughes has transitioned well to the outfield making several plays that change the outlook of the game. He’s a good baserunner and his bat is getting hot. Zion is a solid hitter and is always putting the ball in play.
Lincoln Miller is one of the best catchers around; he blocks everything and makes his pitchers job easier. Lincoln is always looking to improve and has a great understanding of the game. He is also becoming a vocal team leader — a very well-liked kid.
Jaxson March finds a way to get on base for the top of the lineup to hit him in. He has been working hard at learning a new position at 3rd base. He’s a good teammate and always talking on the field. Jaxson works hard, always gives 100%, and tries to pump the team up in the dugout.
Mason Hess has had some big hits when called upon. He’s a great teammate and always looking to improve. Mason is hard working and very coachable. He puts the team first and will always do what is asked.
Cade Lusk is a true coach’s player whether in the outfield or at the plate — you get 110%. He always does what is asked of him and has given us some key pinch hits. Cade is also a very important pinch runner for us.
Kason Ulmer is the first kid you hear in the dugout — always cheering on his teammates. He’s a solid outfielder and runner on the bases. Kason is always ready and willing to go out and warm up the pitcher for next inning.
Jahvon LaRosa has a good knowledge of the game, and whether it’s getting down a bunt, running the bases, playing defense he will get it done. Jahvon is very coachable, a great dugout mentor and teammate.
“It’s an amazing group of kids that I have had the pleasure to coach a few of them over the years, and the rest we have played against throughout Little League,” Hess said about the team. “To finally get them all together on one team has been a dream come true. We have always thought we would have an opportunity to put this group together and know they would be able to win some games but to be heading to a World Series is awesome.”
He continued, “The kids have worked very hard at practice to get where we are today. When you have 14 players on your team it can be tough because all 14 were starters on their regular season teams and now some of them have to come off the bench for the big hit, or to help their team and run the bases, lay a bunt down in a key situation, Just happy that it has all come together and they get to enjoy a World Series.
“My coaches are amazing, Fred March is my right-hand man, Shane Miller is a great guy and can keep the kids ready to go and Mike Damschroder heads up the kids in the dugout to keep everyone ready.”
The trip to the Mid-Atlantic tournament was not cheap. Hess spoke about that aspect saying, “We are always looking for donations to help offset the parents’ expenses. We just spent the last week in Atlantic City during the summer so rates were extremely high and now families will have to travel to the World Series in Virginia for 10 days. We have a donation letter that we will be putting out for donations; they can be sent to Marc Hess, 65 Vista Lane, Cogan Station PA 17728.”
