Texas wins in big fashion
 

Aug. 21, 2008: Nederland, Texas, center fielder Stephen Schlett (8) gives teammate Hunter Knox a high-five after scoring in the bottom of the second inning in their quarterfinal game against Syracuse, N.Y., of the Babe Ruth 14-Year-Old World Series played at Adams Field. Lisa Bul photo/The Patriot Ledger
 

By GUS SHLIMBAUM
The Patriot Ledger

QUINCY -- The 14-year-olds from Nederland, Texas, are a pesky bunch of ballplayers.

Their hard-nosed brand of baseball, in which they almost always hit the ball hard and are aggressive on the base paths, has given them the ability to force opposing teams to make errors throughout the Babe Ruth 14-year-old World Series.

That was once again the case in the Southwest Regional champion’s 13-0 victory over Syracuse, N.Y., Thursday night at Adams Field.

Their ability to capitalize on errors and avoid making them has been the key to their success in this tournament, Nederland manager Steven Pitts said.

“I would agree that some of our aggressiveness puts pressure on other teams,” Pitts said, “but it still comes down to us executing our game plan.  It’s about putting the ball in play and minimizing our errors.”

Having great pitching doesn’t hurt either, as Trent Fontenot tossed an outstanding game for the Texas squad, hurling five innings of one-hit shutout ball with four strikeouts  to pick up the win and send his team to the semifinals against Tallahassee, Fla., tonight at 8:30.  Fontenot also added  two doubles.

Nederland took control of the game in the bottom of the second inning, scoring six runs.  The biggest blast was provided by center fielder Steven Schlett, who drilled a two-run triple off the fence in left field.  He drove in another run with a single in the fourth inning.

“I’ve been seeing the ball well all week,” Schlett said.

Fontenot hit an RBI double, and Hunter Knox drove in a run with a single in the inning as well.

Syracuse’s lone hit came from Nick Sinay, who doubled in the second inning before getting thrown out at third.

Nederland had another big frame in the bottom of the fifth inning, when they scored five runs. Jordan Wood provided the biggest blow with a two-run single.

The Texas bunch will have a tough test against Tallahassee, which is the same group of players that won the 13-year-old Babe Ruth World Series last year.

Pitts is aware of the difficult task at hand and said his team just needs to continue to play like they have been.

“Like tonight, we’ve got to put the ball in play, we’ve got to get strikes across the plate with out pitchers and let our defense work.”
   
Gus Shlimbaum may be reached at gshlimbaum@ledger.com.
 

 
Aug. 21, 2008: Syracuse catcher Nick Sinay can't believe he is called out at third base after trying to stretch a double in the top of the second inning. Sinay's hit was the only one off Nederland, Texas, pitching in their quarterfinal game of the Babe Ruth 14-Year-Old World Series played at Adams Field. Lisa Bul photo/The Patriot Ledger