U12 Oak Creek Storm lives the Dream in Cooperstown

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In early August, the u12 Oak Creek Storm participated in an open National Championship tournament at Cooperstown Dreams Park in Cooperstown, New York. Oak Creek finished 46th out of the 103 teams which represented 22 states across the United States and a team from Canada.

Oak Creek started the tournament strong by defeating a fine Great Neck Breakers (Va.) team 20-1. Zach Teschendorf led the hitting attack with 3 hits. DJ Ellifson, Gannon Goldensoph, Eric Wendt, and Alec Kent added 2 hits each. Joey Richter and Brad Bautch combined to throw a one-hitter. In Game 2, Oak Creek lost a heart breaker to the #8 ranked Roger Allen Rockets (NH) 9-8 in 7 innings. The Storm trailed most of the game; but would not give up and battled back to tie the game in the 4th and had an opportunity to steal one from the Rockets in the 6th. Matt McCarty had two hits and pitched very well in relief for the Storm.

The #1 ranked Hamilton A’s (NJ) was the next opponent for Oak Creek. A rocky start by the Storm enabled a very impressive Hamilton team to cruise to a 15-1 victory over the Storm. Ellifson homered for Oak Creek’s lone tally. The Extreme Heat (TX), ranked #22 at the time, and Oak Creek were locked up in a 2-2 tie in the 3rd inning of Game 4. Oak Creek was hitting Texas’ ace pitcher when the rains came. The next morning, the game resumed with the Texas' ace regaining his composure and being helped by 5 Oak Creek errors leading to a 12-2 loss. Teschendorf had two hits in the defeat.

In game 5, Oak Creek regrouped and beat a very good Setauket Patriot (NY) team 11-7 in a fantastic game. Oak Creek led the New York team, which was ranked #9 at the time, from the game’s first at bat as Richter led off the game with a home run. Ellifson also homered. RJ Traxel led the way with two hits,3 runs scored. Josh Duchniak, Teschendorf, Richter and Kent also had two hits. Mitch Magyar’s pitching was solid in relief. The Storm was in control the entire game vs. the Fairmount Braves (PA) and defeated the Braves 15-0. Offensively, Teschendorf and Duchniak homered; Magyar, Goldensoph and Bautch also had two hits to lead Oak Creek. Goldensoph, Traxel, Wendt and Kent combined to pitch the two-hit shutout.

A national championship was not meant to be as Oak Creek was eliminated by a very hot hitting Reston Warrior (Va.) team, 12-7. After falling behind early, Oak Creek did not quit and tallied 6 runs in the final 2 innings highlighted by a home run off the scoreboard by Traxel.

After the tournament, the team was inducted into the American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

The u12 Storm finished the 2010 season with 3 Tournament Championships.

A BIG Thank You goes to the community of Oak Creek, who supported us in our fundraising efforts. Cooperstown was such an incredible experience for the team and they truly Lived the Dream!!! We look forward to a great u13 season!!!!!

Team: Brad Bautch, Josh Duchniak, DJ Ellifson, Gannon Goldensoph, Alec Kent, Mitch Magyar, Matt McCarty, Joey Richter, Zachary Teschendorf, RJ Traxel, Eric Wendt

Coaches: Ron Traxel, Steve Bautch, Jeff Teschendorf, Grant Goldensoph