The Boyertown 10U Advanced Play team finished their 2022 season on a high note, winning the Big Show Heat Wave Classic tournament. They went 2-1 in pool play and then won the single-game championship game to take the title.
The first pool play game was against Viking Baseball Club, and what started as a tight game ended as a blow-out. The score was only 1-0 Boyertown after three complete innings and 3-0 after the fourth inning. Although the Bears added six runs in the top of the fifth to put the game out of reach, the extra cushion turned out to be unneeded as Brendan S and Sam N combined to hurl a 7-strikeout 1-hit shutout. Stephen B was the standout offensive performer, going 3-3 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored.
Pool play game two against West Chester Dragons AL had a similar outcome - a lopsided Bears victory. This time, the offense wasted no time getting on track, scoring four in the first inning and an additional seven in the second. Isaac S and Logan S teamed up for another pitching gem, this time a three-inning one-hitter. Stephen B was again potent on offense, going 2-2 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Jon C had a similarly good game, going 2-2 with two runs scored.
The third and final pool play game did not go the Bears' way. This time, it was Boyertown who would be no-hit, by EABO Riverdawgs. Despite the 8-0 loss, Boyertown was the top seed coming out of pool play and would face Vikings Baseball in a single winner-take-all final.
Runs were at a premium for both teams in the championship game. Boyertown would strike first, plating a single run after Garret G notched a one-out hit and Hudson C drove him in with a double to left. Viking Baseball would tie things back up in the top of the fourth, and the game would stay that way until the bottom of the sixth. Hudson C again began the rally with a knock, this time a lead-off double. Isaac S dropped a bunt and reached on an error by the first baseman to put two on and nobody out. After an intentional walk to Sam N to load the bases, Liam M put the ball in play to walk it off with a 2-1 victory. Hudson C was the hitter of the game for Boyertown, going 3-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Brendan S and Hudson C shared the pitching duties, holding Viking Baseball to only four total hits while striking out six.