Babe Ruth: Tri-Valley 14s Win World Series Championship

Below is a personal account from Tri-Valley Babe Ruth parent Ron Dronkers

Saturday started out like most days — the sun rose in the east and we switched on the morning news to catch the weather update with a hot cup of coffee. History does repeat itself occasionally, because that's exactly how our day started the last time we were scheduled to play Tallahassee in the World Series final game in Utah in 2009. Saturday, we would face them again at 1 p.m. at Fireman's Field in Purcellville, Virg., to avenge our loss last year and with no other goal than to bring home all the hardware and the National Title.

History not only repeats itself, but mirrors the present sometimes as well.  I did a little research and discovered an amazing set of time-warped parallels.

The entire area we called home for the past 10 days is filled with the ghosts and legacies of the American Revolution and the Civil War.  During the Civil War, Florida joined the Confederacy and California aligned with the Union.  In August of 1863, a regiment of California volunteers known simply as "The Hundred" joined the ranks of the 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry and descended into...believe it or not, Loudoun County, Virg., and set-up base camp not far from Purcellville.  It was here they did battle against Mosby's Raiders, a detachment of the famous Col. Jeb Stuart, and on Aug., 24 The Cal-100 sent the Confederate troops packing!

Now, 147 years and four days later, Californians returned to Loudoun County and sent our Southern opponent home after one hell of a fight!

This blog is going to be so much more fun to write than last year's. 

As visitors we were at the plate first and rotated right out going 1-2-3.  Jake Dronkers then took the hill and on his first pitch, gave up a deep fly ball for a double to right of center, induced a pop-up to the mound, another pop-up to Casey Soltis at first base and struck out the final batter of the inning.

Jake led off the second with a Texas League-double to shallow right-center which found the grass instead of leather. Ryan Anderson hit a fielder's choice to second moving Jake to third and was followed by David Gomez' long fly ball to right to score Jake.  The bottom of second was over in a flash with Jake retiring the side with five pitches

After a scoreless third, the fourth inning started with Casey Soltis popping up to the shortstop and followed by Noah Robbins' ground out to short.  Jake singled to right, but was stranded on Ryan's fly-out to left.  The pace of this game was incredible as the it reached the middle of the fourth in less than one hour.  Jake induced the first two Florida batters to fly out to right field, both apparently swinging pretty late on his fastballs.  Another batter drew a walk on a full-count before a single followed to give Florida runners at first and third. With runners threatening, Jake struck out the final batter of the inning. 

In the thick of a pitcher's duel, it oddly felt in favor of TVBR at this point despite our weak offense.  D-mez led-off with a pop-up to first and Shawn Vincent popped-up to second.  DJ then hit a long ball to center for an out.  Man, the game seemed to be accelerating now.  Not to be outdone by Taddeeo (Florida's starter), Jake retired another Florida inning facing only three batters with a ground-out, a strike out and a fly ball to left.

The sixth started with Cam grounding out to short on a 3-2 pitch, followed by a Sprugasci strikeout.  Casey singled but Noah stranded him with a fielder's choice.  If Jake experienced any trouble with control, I guess you could say it was in the bottom of the sixth.  He got his first batter out with a grounder to first, then hit a batter with his first pitch.  It took Jake six pitches to strike out the next hitter and DJ quickly extinguished the inning by throwing out a steal attempt with a laser strike to second.

Jake led off the seventh with a ground out and was followed by Ryan's deep center fly out.  D-mez hit a shot to third and ran hard through the bag for a basehit, then stole second.  Sam Nathan came in to pinch hit and drew a walk on six pitches followed by DJ's walk to load the bases. Cam stepped up and roped his first pitch for a grounder to short to strand all three runners.

At this point, standing on a ladder filming the game from right field, I am hardly breathing and starting to shake.  Why didn't we get more runs?  Florida is notorious for coming back with hot bats when they're down.  Why couldn't we be the home team?  Why? Why? Why?  I should have been more confident and Jake made me look really dumb.  Florida's leadoff batter grounded out on his second pitch, followed with another grounder to short on an 0-2 pitch.  With everyone holding their breath, Jake threw strike one, then strike two and with the next pitch the Florida hitter grounded hard to Cam at short who gathered it up gracefully and threw to Soltis at first just like any other routine grounder.  Game.  Set.  Match.  World Series Champions and the dog pile was on in front of second base.

Cam Santos and Casey Soltis were awarded All-Tournament Offensive Team honors with engraved Rawlings bats; Jake Dronkers and Josh Sprugasci received Golden Glove trophies and named to the All-Tournament Defensive Team.  Jake Dronkers was awarded Player of the Game and Casey Soltis, breaking all-time Babe Ruth World Series records for most hits and most RBI's, received the All-Tournament World Series Most Valuable Player trophy! 

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