Spartans Win! : Local AAU Baseball Team Captures 2 Championships!

Congratulations to the hometown Stratford Spartans AAU Travel Baseball team upon completion of their 2018 season by capturing two Championships! They captured the gold medal in the 30th Anniversary State Of Ct. Nutmeg Tournament Games 18U division. The other had been won during league play within the East Shore AAU Travel League. Over this two and a half week stretch, the Spartans overcame year long struggles to turn the outlook of their season around, going undefeated against high caliber competition.

Tyler Vancho helped start things off for the team in pool play of the Nutmeg Games at Beehive Stadium in New Britain, pitching a complete game, which included six strikeouts, in a 14-3 rout of the CT Pirates.

A pivotal moment within the tournament took place during a hard fought game 2 Vs. New Britain. With the game tied 2-2 in the top of the 7th inning, New Britain had loaded up the bases with only 1 out. One of the Spartans most reliable pitchers Billy Augustine had been called in to try and work out of the jam. With his cool and calm demeanor, Billy ended up striking out the next two batters, helping to preserve the tie score. By preventing New Britain from scoring, it allowed the Spartans to get runners on base in the bottom of the 7th which allowed Gabe Avilia to come to bat with 2 outs and score heads up baserunner Angel Salaman on a throwing error, giving the Spartans a 3-2 comeback victory. After the game, both teams shook hands and gave credit to each other for playing with heart and determination, a rare sight in the sports world today.

Stratford ended pool play with another all around strong team win in a 10-1 victory against Bridgeport. Highlighted by a complete game, six strikeout performance by Tyler Cartagena and a two-run home run by Jaysen Katz-Geeter, the Spartans punched their ticket into the Gold Medal game.

The Spartans again played New Britain in the championship game at Beehive Stadium. In another back and forth affair between two evenly matched teams, the Spartans came out on top, winning the game 7-4. Led by the pitching of Vancho and clutch hitting from all spots of the lineup, the Spartans celebrated their first tournament win of the season, but they knew that they had more work to do.

Other Nutmeg Game Notes:

Game 1:

Jaysen Katz-Geeter 3 for 3

Tyler Cartagena- 2 for 3

Gabe Avilia- 2 for 3

Game 3:

Tony Angelo- 2 for 3

Tyler Cartagena- 2 for 3

Jaysen Katz-Geeter- 2 run HR

Heading into the East Shore League playoffs, the Spartans were the ultimate underdogs, entering the tournament as the lowest seed. This did not matter to the coaches and players, who now held onto their momentum from the Nutmeg Games, with reinforced confidence of knowing that they very well could beat any team on any given day.

They started off the playoffs against the CT Patriots. On the first pitch of the game, leadoff hitter Patrick Browne launched a home run over the left-center field wall. This sparked a four run first inning for the team, giving run support to starting pitcher Tyler Vancho. Behind this strong start, the Spartans scored 9 runs in a victory to advance to the semi-finals.

In the semi-finals, the Spartans faced off against the CT Gators. Pat Browne continued his hot playoff run with a lights out pitching performance, holding the Gators offense to two hits tallying a whopping 12 strikeouts. The Spartans won the game 5-0, with the offense being led by Matthew Cerino who collected two hits. Browne and Josh Garcia both tallied for two runs scored in the game and Griffin Browne and Tony Angelo also scored in a three run 4th inning. The Cinderella run for the Spartans continued to the championship game against the number one seed, the Hamden Yard Dogs.

The beginning of the game started off very dull for the Spartans. The Yard Dogs jumped out early by scoring 2 runs in the second inning and adding another in the third, giving them a 3-1 lead. Starting pitcher Tom McCarthy pitched a gutsy three innings and gave the team everything that he had. The coaches then turned to Billy Augustine to do what he does best, get outs. Augustine kept the Yard Dog hitters off balance striking out 4 and no hitting them through the game’s final 4 innings.

The Spartans team began to feed off the energy with every out being recorded. The cheering of "Billy! Billy!" now echoed from the crowd. The atmosphere became electric.

In the top fifth inning with one out, Pat Browne again ignited the Spartans with a home run sent over the fence deep into the night sky. It was then that magic began on that night in North Branford. With Stratford still trailing by 1 run, Matthew Cerino started off the top of the 6th inning with a solid base hit. Tyler Cartagena was next to hit. With two strikes during a long at bat, Cartagena cracked a powerful line drive home run over the left field fence giving the Spartans the lead for the first time! The dugout came alive, knowing that they were six outs away from achieving the improbable.

The Spartans added 2 more runs in the top of the 7th. Tony Angelo scored from first on a triple by Pat Browne, who would later be brought home by a Jaysen Katz-Geeter sacrifice fly. In the bottom of the 7th, led by solid defense by year long vacuums John Merritt and Gabe Avilia, the Spartans were able to keep the Yard Dogs off the basepaths. The final out was recorded with a soft ground ball to third base, fielded by Katz-Geeter, and thrown across the diamond to first base for the final out. The final score was 6-3 Stratford Spartans! The celebration started with a dogpile near the pitcher’s mound, with the team swamping Augustine and catcher Miguel Heyer, who battled back from a dislocated shoulder to become the leader of the pitching staff, along with super-utility man Geo Gonzalez, who was willing to play anywhere in order to help the team. Taking photos with their trophy from their second title in as many weeks, the team showed who they truly were: a family.

“Extremely proud” is how Spartans team manager Bill Augustine explained it.

“Our boys had faced opposing players who are all-conference within their perspective high schools as well as players who will be playing Division-1 baseball in the 2019 spring season. When I am able to witness first hand our team’s expectations unfolding on the diamond it is rewarding.”

“The Stratford Spartans have really become something special over the years. Coach Rick (Cartagena) and I work hard trying to keep the players focused while remaining structured at practices. I like to carry these same principals into game days as well. I believe that this approach absolutely helps make the difference within our game. Players become more comfortable building the confidence that is needed to succeed. We teach that a loss too, at times can be as powerful of a learning experience as a win. We are always learning to play the game together, one team, a family, it has really been a great season.”

Preparation for the 2019 Stratford Spartan season has already begun.

If anyone maybe interested in becoming a part of the 2019 Stratford Spartans team, feel free to reach out to Coach Augustine at anytime.

Team Website: www.stratfordspartansbaseballct.com

Team Email: stratfordspartans@yahoo.com