The NJ Mariners 11-Under Club Baseball team ventured down South to Myrtle Beach, S.C. the week of July 28th to compete amongst a very talented field of 26 teams in the Cal Ripken Ocean Breeze National Baseball Tournament.

After a long week of competition, when the dust had finally settled at the Ripken Experience complex, the NJ Mariners (7-2) had made a highly impressive run and a remarkable finish, by defeating the previously undefeated West Pines Cobras from South Florida in the finals by a score of 4-2.

The Mariners ran into trouble out of the starting gate as they began the Tournament with only 9 players, with their 10th player (Josh Shaw) scheduled to arrive on Tuesday morning.  In their 1st game against the Jr. Dons out of San Francisco, California, things got grim early, as an outfield collision between Brett Kelly and Nicky Liaci forced the team to compete and finish a good portion of the game with only 8 players.  Despite being shorthanded, the Mariners showed a great deal of determination and effort and just fell just short in the game, losing by a score of 17-15.  In the next game on Monday evening, the Mariners played the Maryland Orioles (still with only 8 players) and soundly defeated them by a score of 12-0.

With the team lineup expanding back to 9 players for the remaining pool play games to be played from Tuesday through Thursday, the Mariners won 2 of their next 3 games, going up against solid competition from the Miami Enforcers, the Carolina Forest Storm from North Carolina and the returning Champion, the Frozen Ropes team from Stuart Florida.   

After completing pool play on Wednesday, the Mariners record stood at 3-2 and qualified for the Championship round single elimination games beginning on Thursday.  The Mariners struck quickly during single elimination play, with a hard fought 3-1 victory over Grizzly Baseball from Virginia.  Sean Regan went the distance on the mound, throwing a 3-hitter while striking out 9 batters.  Justin Picinic led the way for the Mariners going 2-3 and Connor Maupai also had a run scoring double in the game. 

In the quarterfinals played later on in the day, the Mariners came away with an impressive 5-0 victory over the Miami Angels.  Strong pitching from Antonio Velardi, Brett Kelly and Connor Maupai combined to shutout a very strong Angels team, holding them to 6 hits throughout the game.  The offense was led by Justin Picinic, who was 3-3 with a monstrous Home Run and a double, as well as by Josh Shaw, who was 2-3 with an RBI and Tyler Welch, who had a two RBI double to make the score 2-0 early. 

On Friday, the Mariners were seeking some revenge from an earlier loss in the Tournament and in their semifinal game; they showed true grit and determination with a 5-0 triumph over the Miami Enforcers.  The Miami Enforcers were the #1 ranked 10U team in Florida in 2007 having won the Triple Crown Tourney in Disney and many other Tournaments and in 2008, are still considered one of the Top 5 teams in Florida by Travel Ball Select.  Brett Kelly threw a gem of a game, going 5 innings, surrendering only 3 hits before turning the game over to Justin Picinic in the 6th to close the Enforcers out.  Hitting stars in the game were Sean Regan (3-3 with a tape measure Home Run and two runs scored), Brett Kelly (3-3 with a double and one run scored), Josh Shaw (2-3 with a double and one run scored), and Nicky Liaci (2-3 with a double and just some outstanding at bats).  The defense excelled in this game, with some outstanding plays turned in by Connor Maupai (RF), Anthony DiMeglio (LF), Tyler Welch (2B), Troy Andrew (3B) and Antonio Velardi (SS).

In the Finals, the dreams of winning a National Tournament were finally accomplished with a very impressive 4-2 victory over the previously undefeated West Pines Cobras from Florida.  The Cobras up to that point had breezed through the tournament, having allowed a total of only 17 runs in their first 8 games.  Antonio Velardi went the distance, scattering 6 hits throughout the game.  Solid defense was again turned in, especially from Troy Andrew (3B), Justin Picinic (SS), Anthony DiMeglio (LF), Nicky Liaci (CF) and Tyler Welch (2B).  The hitting stars were Sean Regan, the Championship Game MVP, who was 3-3 with a blast of a Home Run as well as a double and single, as well as Antonio Velardi and Anthony DiMeglio who each had run scoring singles in the 3rd inning of the game.

The Mariners as a team had a combined team batting average for the week of .410 and throughout the week, their defense was flawless and was commended by many opposing teams Coaches and Parents alike.

The NJ Mariners 11U roster consisted of the following Players and Coaches:  PLAYERS #1 – Antonio Velardi, #2 – Tyler Welch, #4 – Brett Kelly, #12 – Anthony DiMeglio, #13 – Connor Maupai, #22 – Justin Picinic, #23 – Troy Andrew, #41 – Sean Regan, #44 – Josh Shaw and #46 – Nicky Liaci.  
HEAD COACH – Mark Welch and ASSISTANT COACHES – Ron Regan, Marty Picinic and John DiMeglio.

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