U10 Bulldogs Put it All Together This Summer

MONTCLAIR - The 10U Montclair baseball team had a rollercoaster 2011 that ended as the Bulldogs hit the high note.

After 10U Montclair struggled during the spring season, they made it all the way to the summer season title game.

And the Bulldogs made the most of it in defeating the Tri-Boro Extreme, 8-7, and won the Suburban Essex/Morris/Passaic championship game in exciting fashion on the night of July 29. Montclair U10 finished with a 13-2 mark during the summer.

In the bottom of the sixth inning at Glenfield Middle School, Montclair's Kyle McLaughlin smacked a pitch over the Extreme's centerfielder and scored Conor McGrath from second base for the game-winning walk-off double.

"I have to say that it was a big moment," said Kyle McLaughlin whose favorite team is the Yankees and favorite player is Mark Teixeira. "The pitch was a little bit high, but I just wanted to hit it."

McGrath opened up the inning as he smacked a low pitch for a double of his own. "It wasn't that hard of a hit, but it went right into the gap," said McGrath who said that he is a Mets fan whose favorite player is Jose Reyes.

Both McLaughlin and McGrath pitched in the game along with Ari Westreich.

Montclair head coach Richard McLaughlin said that it was a team effort for the 2011 season.  "We did it the right way," said Richard McLaughlin. "Every kid played at least three innings and batted in every game all season, including the playoffs."

Richard added that the spring was good prep for the summer season. "They were able to refine their skills in the spring and the boys did a great job," said the Montclair U10 coach who also coached with Eric Boehlert. "We lost the close games in the spring and we won the close games in the summer."

While the 10U team had success, they joined the 8U, 9U and 11U baseball squads that found themselves in the championship games. In addition, the Montclair U10 softball team also made the Essex County championship game.

To get to the title tilt, Montclair won decisively over Lincoln Park, 11-1, in the semi-finals. After a tough spring, the Montclair Bulldogs put everything together and only dropped decisions to the Triboro Sting and Lincoln Park during the summer regular season.

Before victories over Lincoln Park and the Extreme, Montclair U10 won two preliminary games.

Along with Kyle McLaughlin, Westreich and McGrath, the U10 Montclair Bulldogs roster received mighty contributions from Ben Boehlert, Clyde Hunter, Alex Karanikolas, Ryan McGeehan, Guillermo Morgan, Kenny Nedzi, Gabe Schreiber, Bobby Smallman, David Veldran and Ben Zucker.

With the summer season over, the Montclair Baseball Softball Club is having tryouts on the weekend of September 24 and October 1. Rick McLaughlin said that they are looking for as many area youth to come out as possible. “We’re trying to get more kids out that are interested in the sport,” said Rick McLaughlin.

For more information about all of the Montclair baseball and softball teams, check out the website at www.montclairbsc.org.