Youth Baseball: Flossmoor Orioles Dig Deep to Win Mustang Championship

They learned a little something about themselves. And they learned what it takes to win a championship, too.

The boys who play on the Flossmoor Baseball Association Orioles team in the Mustang Division (8-9 year-olds) found themselves in a predicament when they lost their first game in the league's season-ending tournament.

They could hang their heads following an 11-10 setback to the Padres in a game that ended with runners on first and third and the Orioles' best hitter being robbed of potential game-winning homer on catch at the fence.

Or they could fight back.

The Orioles chose to fight back, stringing together five straight wins to take the Mustang tournament title. The string was capped by a 9-4 victory over the Yankees on Saturday. Jack Koyn hit a two-run homer in the first inning.

He also combined with Jake Friel and James Steiner to pitch the win. Myles Walker and Andrew Mulay delivered clutch two-out hits in the title game. And the defensive play of Bradley Moore at second base was critical throughout the Orioles' surge.

"We lost the first game, and the kids came back," Orioles manager Steve Perl said. "They had to play five in row, and they had to win them all. That was the story for me. Every single kid did something within that span to contribute. That was the cool part of it."

The Orioles roster included Koyn, Friel, Steiner, Walker, Mulay, Moore, Ethan Buck, Dennis Perl, Xavier Frasier, Jakhari Williamson and Jeffrey Steele. Wade Moore served as manager. John Friel and Eric Walker worked as assistant coaches.

Not to be outdone, Dennis Perl's twin sister, Evelyn, 8, was part of the Flossmoor Softball Diamond League championship run made by the Cubs. The Cubs defeated the Astros to win the title 6-5 on Sunday.

"Everybody was happy at our house," Steve Perl said.