FBC Wins Championship!!!

"My father is John Lennon!" said the stranger proudly, standing before the gathered throng, huddled together in a field outside the Pizza Hut in Sullivan, IL.
"And I am the father of Damien and Donovan Ferguson!" I replied enthusiastically.
"You are!" asked the astounded and incredulous onlookers, their eyes widening in amazement. "How great is that? They are the champions!"
--From a dream I had this morning, just before awakening at 4:45 AM. So what do you think it means?
The FBC Kid Pitch Boys Baseball team won the post-season tournament by sweeping YMCA 8-7 and 12-2 on Monday, June 29, 2009. The wins give FBC an overall record of 14-8, while YMCA finished second with a record of 14-9.

The opening game, which was a must-win contest for FBC, was nip and tuck throughout. FBC, winners in the double-elimination tournament from the loser's bracket, were the visitors, and they failed to score in the top of the first inning, going down in order as they could not get the ball out of the infield. YMCA came out and scored 2 runs on 3 hits to take a 2-0 lead after 1.

FBC fought back by tying the score at 2 apiece in the top of the second inning. Dalton Stephens led off with an infield single, and the throw to first was wild, putting Stephens at second base. Dalton Armes singled to the right side of the infield to drive in Stephens from third where he had advanced on a stolen base, and Armes was thrown out trying to stretch his hit into a double for out number 1. Following a strikeout of Brayton Sparrow, Donovan Ferguson had a 2 out double into right. He scored on a single up the middle by Joseph Rader to pull FBC even at 2-2 as the boys in purple scored twice with 2 outs. YMCA retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning as they scored a single tally off of Trevor Edwards, who had taken the mound for FBC. The inning started out well for Edwards as he got 2 quick outs, striking out Reese Bergstrom looking on a full count fastball, and inducing Jordan Easton to ground out to second baseman Donovan Ferguson. Left-handed batting Logan Coartney went with a ball delivered to the outside of the plate, plunking it cleanly into left field where Michael Brown did a good job of getting to the ball and preventing Coartney from moving into scoring position. Edwards walked leadoff hitter Mitchell Kremer to put runners at first and second, bringing up Rayme Hamilton. Hamilton drove the first pitch offered into right center field for a double, knocking in Coartney from second base. Kremer tried to score all the way from first base, but right center fielder Dalton Armes' throw to the plate nailed Hamilton to end the inning, leaving FBC trailing by 1 run 3-2.

FBC struck back by scoring 4 runs in the top of third. Trevor Edwards singled with 1 out to start the rally. Edwards stole second and third before being driven home on a single into center off the bat of Damien Ferguson to tie the game 3-3. Damien stole second before taking third on an infield single by Drake Jeffries. Jeffries stole second, and both he and Damien came home on a 2 out single hit by Dalton Armes. Arnes stole second and he took third when Brayton Sparrow hit a single into shallow center field, but both runners were stranded as FBC held a lead of 6-3 going into the bottom of the third. YMCA came roaring back to tie the game with 3 runs of their own, and it looked as if they were well on their way to blowing the game wide open. Alec Raboin worked the count full before receiving a free pass from pitcher Trevor Edwards. Gabe Black followed the walk to Raboin by hitting a double down the left field line, placing runners at second and third. Jacob Watson hit a roller to Edwards, and his throw was dropped by first baseman Dalton Stephens for an error, allowing both runners to score. Edwards got ahead 0-2 in the count before losing Nate Browning to a walk, placing runners at first and second base. 2 wild pitches moved Watson to third and Browning to second, and Dru Baker turned a 3-0 fastball into a swinging bunt single, as Edwards' throw to first base was late. Watson appeared as if he would be out at the plate as he tried to score from third, but the throw home from Dalton Stephens to Skyler Hood catching was high, and Watson was able to slide under the tag attempt safely, tying the score 6-6, as Browning took third on the play. Reese Bergstron hit a fly ball into center field, but Drake Jeffries hauled it in for out number 1, as both runners were unable to advance. Jordan Easton turned a 0-2 deficit into yet another walk, and Damien Ferguson was called upon to pitch with the bases loaded and the game on the line. Damien fell behind 2-0 to Logan Coartney, but the next pitch was hit by Logan back to Damien. Damien fielded the ball and threw home to force Browning from third. Catcher Skyler Hood threw the ball back to Damien, who noticed that the runner at first had not gone to second base, so Damien took the ball himself and ran to second base, forcing Easton and completing the rare 1-2-1 double play. I am not sure what happened on the play, but I believe the runner (and possibly the first base coach) thought the ball hit by Coartney had been caught in the air by Damien, so he held for that reason. That is the only explanation that makes sense, but I am just guessing. But as it turned out, it was a huge play, and you could just feel the momentum shift from YMCA back to FBC, although it was a bit slow in coming, as neither team was able to score in the fourth inning.

The fifth inning rolled around, and Drake Jeffries started the 1 out rally for FBC by walking. He was joined on the basepath by teammate Dalton Stephens, who also had been issued a free pass, and both runners executed a double steal to place runners at second and third and bring up hot-hitting Dalton Armes. Armes unloaded on a 1-1 fastball, driving it into deep right center field, and both Jeffries and Stephens scored with Armes' fifth RBI of the game. Armes was stranded as shortstop Alec Raboin's throw to first base just nipped Donovan Ferguson speeding down the line for out number 3. Donovan appeared safe from where I was standing, but since the umpires in the game did an excellent job of getting into very good position to make the calls, I cannot, nor will I, complain about their performance. In fact, it was really nice to see the games decided by the play on the field, instead of by an official missing a call or not understanding the rules. So FBC's at bat in the fifth inning ended with them holding an 8-6 lead. Drake Jeffries took over the pitching duties in the bottom of the fifth, and he made quick work of things, striking out the side in order. FBC did no better in the top of the sixth inning, also striking out 1-2-3, setting the stage for the evenful and exciting bottom of the frame.

The coaches for FBC met and discussed strategy on how to approach this inning in terms of whom to pich, as well as for the upcoming next game if things worked out to their advantage, and it was decided to bring Trevor Edwards in to start the sixth and have Damien Ferguson prepared to come in if necessary, and hopefully, have him be available to start the next and deciding game. Once again, Edwards got two quick outs as his first pitch to Jordan Easton was hit right back to him, and he threw the runner out easily. Logan Coartney went down swinging for out number 2, bringing up YMCA's top of the order. Mitchell Kremer hit a ball into right field for what looked like a single, but he did not stop as he rounded first base and headed towards second. The aggressive play caught the FBC players by surprise, and the throw to Damien Ferguson at second base was late, and Kremer was credited with a hustling double. Momentum, again, was something that could be felt shifting, and Rayme Hamilton responded by hitting a ball into center field, plating Kremer and making the score 8-7 in favor of FBC. Edwards lost Alec Raboin on a full count walk, bringing Gabe Black to the dish. 3 pitches later, the game was over as Edwards struck out Black swinging to end the game, and giving FBC the chance to play again for the championship.

That inning seemed to prove pivotal for the next game as the wind was taken from the sails of YMCA. Even though they won the coin toss and elected to be the home team, they were not able to recover, and FBC stormed out by scoring 5 runs in the top of the first.

4 pitches were thrown, and 4 base hits ensued as Trevor Edwards, Damien Ferguson, Drake Jeffries and Dalton Stephens all jumped on first pitch offerings from Alec Raboin, and FBC was well on its way. Trevor Edwards singled and quickly stole second before a pitch was even thrown to Damien Ferguson. Edwards then scored as Damien singled up the middle, and Drake Jeffries drove Damien home by hitting a triple. Jeffries then followed Damien home when Dalton Stephens hit an infield single to the first baseman. Hamilton's throw to first with the pitcher covering was late and errant, so Stephens took advantage and headed safely into second base before promptly stealing third. Dalton Armes picked up right where he left off, lofting a full count breaking ball deep into right field for a run producing triple. Brayton Sparrow singled to drive in Armes for the fifth and final run of the inning as the shell-shocked YMCA squad headed to their dugout, victims of a 5-0 deficit.

Great moments create great opportunities, and Damien Ferguson was called upon to be the starting pitcher in this crucial game which would decide the championship of the 2009 Kid Pitch Post-Season Tournament. Damien had only been asked to be the starting pitcher once before, a game in which he won and he earned a save, so this was somewhat unfamiliar territory for him. I still do not believe he even realizes right now this very moment what a great job he did in an extremely difficult and pressure-filled situation, but he rose to the occasion, nonetheless. Damien shut down the big bats of YMCA. He struck out the first 2 batters he faced before allowing an infield single to Alec Raboin. Damien's throw was wild, allowing Raboin to reach second safely. This could have spelled disaster for another player, but not for Damien. Gabe Black also had an infield single that went off the glove of Damien, and Raboin took third. Damien did not let this bother him, either, and he struck out Jacob Watson to end the inning.

FBC scored their sixth run of the game when Damien Ferguson hit a 2 out single into left. He stole second and third before coming home on a single by Dalton Stephens. Damien took the mound in the bottom of the second inning. He gave up his third infield single, this time to Nate Browning. Dru Baker and Reese Bergstrom both walked to load the bases, bringing up Jordan Easton. Damien struck out the batter for out number 1, and Logan Coartney came to the plate. Coartney had the fourth infield hit of the game for YMCA, although if there had been a more experienced catcher behind the plate at the time, no run would have scored. Instead of staying at home to take the throw from the pitcher, catcher Dalton Stephens went after the ball, and Damien was not able to get the out at the plate as he should have been able to do. This brought up the top of the order for YMCA with the bases loaded and only 1 out, but Damien seemed unfazed. He struck out Mitchell Kremer swinging on a back door, 2 seam fastball for out number 2. He then received some great defensive help from his younger brother, Donovan, who was playing second base at the time. Donovan took a hit away from Rayme Hamilton, as well as runs for YMCA. Hamilton's smash appeared headed into right center field, but Donovan ran and slid to his right to knock the ball down, keeping it on the infield. The ball went into the glove of shortstop Drake Jeffries, who stood on second base for the inning ending final out.

FBC made it 9-1 by scoring 3 runs in the top of the third. Brayton Sparrow singled, Joseph Rader was hit by a pitch, and both runners came home on a double by Skyler Hood. Michael Brown singled Skyler home for the third run. Damien went back to pitch in the bottom of the third. Alec Raboin lined out to shortstop Drake Jeffries for the first out of the inning. Gabe Black drew a 4 pitch walk and stole second, but Jacob Watson popped out in foul territory to catcher Dalton Stephens for out number 2. Damien then struck out Nate Browning looking on a full count, 4 seam fastball to end the inning.

FBC scored a single tally in the top of the fourth on a 1 out home run off the bat of Drake Jeffries. Dalton Stephens, Brayton Sparrow and Donovan Ferguson all singled in the frame, but FBC could not plate another runner as Dalton Armes was thrown out at home trying to score on Donovan's single, ending the inning.

Logan Coartney scored the second and final run of the game for YMCA in the bottom of the fifth. Logan walked off pitcher Dalton Stephens. Coartney stole second and third base before he came in to score on an infield single off the bat of Mitchell Kremer. Kremer stole second base before FBC turned their second unusual double play of the evening. Rayme Hamilton hit to shortstop Drake Jeffries, who threw to first baseman Damien Ferguson for out number 1. Kremer tried to reach third safely, so Damien fired over to third baseman Brayton Sparrow. Hamilton stopped in his tracks, reversed himself and headed back toward second base, caught in a pickle. Sparrow threw to shortstop Jeffires, and Hamilton attempted to go back to third. Jeffries' throw back to Sparrow at third was a good one, and Sparrow tagged out the runner, completing the double play. Jacob Watson struck out swinging following walks to Alec Raboin and Gabe Black, ending the threat.

Damien Ferguson started a 1 out rally in the top of the sixth inning for FBC when he was struck on his ankle by a pitch thrown by Rayme Hamilton. Damien stole second to get into scoring postion for Drake Jeffries, who singled Damien home to make the score 11-2. Jeffries also stole second base, but he could advance no further than third base on the Texas League bloop double into right hit by Dalton Stephens. Jeffries had to hold up on the play in case the ball would have been caught. Dalton Armes, however, drove Jeffries home with an infield single to shortstop Alec Raboin, who made a sensational diving stop of the ball to prevent Dalton Stephens from scoring. Brayton Sparrow struck out and Donovan Ferguson hit a ball that was heading for left field, but Alec Raboin made another fine play, catching the ball with his back to the plate, robbing Donovan of a hit and an RBI.

Drake Jeffries set down YMCA in order in the bottom of the sixth inning, bringing about the post-game celebration.

A story and pictures of the game can also be found at mattoonmessenger.net.