December 27 - The Loudoun Aces 10U/11U Blue have been named the magazine’s 2016 Youth Travel Team of the Year as part of our year-end feature honoring Northern Virginia’s top teams.
Coached by Aaron Jones, the Aces went a combined 38-10-2 as a 10U team during the spring and summer seasons and a 11U team during the fall season, claiming five tournament championships and finishing runner-up in two others. Each of the team’s players also participated in the Central Loudoun Little League, and six members were on the CLLL American Majors All-Star team that won the District 16 championship.
“Most of these players were passed over by other teams,” Jones said. “They have worked hard to develop very sound fundamental baseball skills and high baseball acumen, which has lead to them now beating those same teams.
"This group does not rely on any early-developed 11-year-olds that have abnormal power for their age. Instead, the fundamental basis of our team is strong defense coupled with efficient pitching, high on-base percentage through quality at-bats, and aggressive base running.”
The team’s 13 players - Justin Goulet, Tyler Rowling, Bauer Burkart, Jacob Park, Dylan Blanc, Alec Jones, Dylan Smith, Isaac McIntosh, Matt Anderson, Cam Moore, John DeAnno, Abhishek Hari and Drew Manuel - each played a role in the Aces playing up an age level and winning the 12U Silver Bracket at the Northern Virginia Travel Baseball League’s season-ending tournament.
Additionally, the Aces won the USSSA NoVa Open in Fredericksburg in March, the CABA Jackie Robinson Run Down in Delaware in April, the ECTB Memorial Day Meltdown in Pennsylvania in May, and the Elite Baseball Labor Day Classic in Maryland in September. They advanced to the championship games at Ripken Baseball’s Pennant Fever Tournament and Veteran’s Day Tournament in Maryland, and were the top seed heading into bracket play before rain cut short the CABA Columbus Day Classic in Maryland.
The team placed 10th in the top bracket at the Top Gun World Series in North Carolina, and will play in the New Year’s Classic at the Disney Wide World of Sports facility in Florida later this week.
Other Nominees:
Aldie Senators 12U: Coached by Joe McDonald, the Senators went 22-4 and won three tournaments, playing up an age level at 13U for two of the five events they entered. The team claimed a title at 13U at a Sports at the Beach event in Delaware, and also won 12U events at Diamond Nation in New Jersey and Future Stars in Pennsylvania. Additionally, the Senators were runner-ups at the 13U Valley Baseball Tournaments Lumberday Tournament and at a 12U Top Gun tournament in North Carolina. “A really special group of kids from the Loudoun South Little League community who are hard-working and passionate about baseball,” McDonald said.
Arlington Storm 12U: Coached by Greg Knowles, the Storm went 33-9 overall during the summer season, advancing to the championship game of the 104-team Cooperstown Dreams Park National Tournament. Arlington played 12 games in five days at the event, including five in a 24-hour period during elimination play. The Storm won championships at the Winchester Showdown in Valley and Arlington Doc Bonaccorso events, and were runners-up at the the Raiders Summer Clash in Maryland. The same team participated in the Babe Ruth League’s Cal Ripken Division All-Star circuit, winning the 12U state championship and advancing to the Southeast Regionals. The team’s players included: Adam Astacio, Dillon Bass, Quinn Brennan, Patrick Church, Dean Kampschror, Nathan Knowles, Thor Koomey, Jake Lynes, Zach Moss, Ketz Murray, Jack O’Connor, James Tallon, and Andrew Vorst.
Herndon Crushers 9U: Coached by R.J. House, the Crushers went 20-18-1 and won championships at the Ripken Baseball Memorial Day Classic as an 8U team during the spring and summer, then claimed the Valley Baseball Tournaments Lumberday Tournament title as a 9U team in the fall. Daniel House tossed a 5-inning complete game in the championship game at the Lumberday event, while Cash Cardona paced the team offensively during the fall season by compiling a 1.460 OPS (on-base plus slugging) percentage. “Competitive young men who love the game and have come a long way in a short time,” is how House described his team.
Mount Vernon Patriots 10U: Coached by Michael LeMoeta, the Patriots went 35-13 and won two tournament championships while finishing runner-up in two others. Mount Vernon went 3-0 to claim the USSSA 804 Baseball RVA Fall Championships and were 4-0 in winning the USSSA Diamond Bash title. The team averaged 10.5 runs during its 48 games and hit .410 as a team for the year, led by Houston Hebert, who hit .655 with eight home runs and 78 RBI. “With the great record and great defense and offensive numbers, the best part of this season was how the boys grew as a team and know what being a teammate is, on and off the field,” LeMoeta said. “The bond these boys have, and friendships they made will last a lifetime and it's all through this great game called baseball.”
Virginia Stars 12U: Coached by Mike Colangelo, the team went 36-8 and won several tournaments as an 11U team in the spring and summer and as a 12U team in the fall. The team was led by Jaeden Carter, Brandon Cassedy, Brett Renfrow, and J.P. Williams.
Note: All nominees were submitted by league administrators or team coaches.
Photo courtesy of Loudoun Aces
