Led by their outstanding starting pitchers, who combined to allow only five total earned runs in four games, WEST Warriors 11U won the Championship at the 2024 Long Island Memorial Day Gold Glove Invitational in Central Islip, NY.
To win the title game, the top-seeded Warriors struck twice in the first inning and never looked back, behind a dominant pitching performance by Dominic Lipari, beating second seed New York Empire 11u National 4-2. Lipari surrendered only 5 hits in a six-inning complete game victory, allowing just one earned run, which came in the fourth inning. Lipari struck-out three and didn’t walk a batter.
Only hours before their Championship matchup, the Warriors held-on for a 6-5 pool play victory over the same Empire team. Starting pitcher Julie Krolick allowed only 5 hits in her own six-inning, complete game victory, yielding just two earned runs and striking out 2. She also contributed to five defensive outs from the mound, including starting a double play, and picking-off a would-be base stealer. A 2-run single by Aaron Gelman capped-off the Warriors’ 4-run second inning, during which the first four Warrior batters all reached base and scored. Parker Jones added 2 RBI, Nicolas Roseo scored 2 runs, and Alex Kleinman singled and scored in the win.
In the opening game, the Warriors used a four-run fourth inning, again in which their first four batters all reached base and scored, en route to a 9-3 win over Massapequa Cyclones-Rogan. With a one run lead, Lipari led off the inning with a double, stole third base, and was driven home by a Matthew Rivera Jr. RBI single. Then, Jones singled and Preston Gantt walked; both later scored, extending the Warrior lead to 7-2. Andrew Cahn singled and scored twice, and Luke Kilmer smacked an RBI double. Dylan Edwards added his first of two perfectly executed sacrifice bunts during the tournament. Starting pitcher Brody Glassman scattered 4 hits over 4 innings, striking out 5, to earn the win.
Following that game, the Warriors scored six first inning runs, on the way to a 10-0 shutout of the South Shore Bulldogs. Four Warrior starters: Lipari, Jones, Kilmer, and Thomas Spagnola each went 2 for 2. Spagnola scored three times, Lipari and Cahn each scored twice, and Aiden Rivera drove in two runs. Starting pitcher Gelman struck out 9 batters over 3 innings, and allowed only 1 hit, in the victory.
“Everyone contributed – a true team effort,” said Warriors head coach Joe Bender. “Each one of them came to play, worked hard, stayed focused, earned that celebration, and earned their championship ring.”
To learn more about the WEST Warriors, or to request a player tryout, visit GoWestSports.com.
