The U10 and U11 squads of the Farmingdale Devils Travel Baseball Organization participated in last weekends Taylor Ryan Wood Bat Baseball Tournament in Islip. The tournament, named after a local teenager who is battling a life threatening illness attracted the best teams from Long Island . All funds collected went to help Taylors family off set the cost of her medical treatment. The tournament featured a return to 20th century baseball with wood bats. The sound of baseballs pinging off high tech metal was replaced with the comforting sound of ash and maple bats cracking when struck at just the right place.
The 11 U Devil team defeated the LND Reds in a tight 4-3 game Friday night before winning big over the Connetquot Chiefs ( Red team ) and the LI Ducks . The Devils advanced to the final game against the Connetquot Chiefs ( Black). The game was tied into extra innings when Nick Franco hit a walk off home run to send the Devil crowd home happy. The U10 team won tight games over the Islip Owls( black ) and Islip Owls ( red) before facing off against the powerful Long Island Titans. The Titans got the better of the play and won 5-2, with both team qualifying for the playoffs. On Sunday morning the Devils defeated the Connetquot Chiefs to advance to the championship rematch against the Titans. Gavin Weinstock went 2-3 including a triple which drove in two, and a massive home run. Weinstock and Timmy Purack, supported by perfect defense combined to shut out the Titans and give the Devils the championship.
— Submitted by Dan Napolitano
