D-BAT Bonesio won the AABC Mickey Mantle World Series going 5-1 and improving their Summer record to 40-12-2. Winning the Mickey Mantle World Series was the team goal and this accomplishment tops the long list of accolades they have already achieved.
The tournament started out with D-BAT beating Foutch's Strike Zone from Michigan 8-0. Their next game was against the national powerhouse Midland Tomahawks, it was a tight game until the end when it was Midland that came up with the big hits to take the game. Caleb Kilian (Flower Mound) got the tough luck loss as he pitched a fantastic game.
Next up was the defending Mickey Mantle World Series Champions the Ontario Blue Jays. This was a thriller that went 11 innings with the Ontario pitcher throwing all 11 but D-BAT came up clutch in the bottom of the 11th with a 2 out base hit to win it. Pitching performances from Kyle Muller (Jesuit), Dylan Easterling (Plano East), Blair Henley (Arlington Heights) and Derek Wells (Flower Mound) were the difference getting D-BAT the big win.
D-BAT's next game was against the Union City Lookouts, the Northern California representative. They had just knocked off SGV Arsenal (Southern California), last years Mickey Mantle World Series runner up. The game was never close as it was led off with a home run from Brian Klein (Keller Timbercreek) and D-BAT never looked back winning 9-2. Derek Wells (Flower Mound) went all 7 innings to earn the win.
In the semi-final game D-BAT once again matched up with the Ontario Blue Jays and it was once again a fantastic game. The game ended 2-1 with D-BAT moving on into the Championship. Brock Figueroa (Palmer, TX) pitched 7 innings allowing 1 run on 3 hits against a tough hitting team, it was a big time performance in a big time situation.
In the Championship D-BAT squared off with Midland one more time in yet another great game. Blair Henley capped off his dominant week by pitching 4.2 innings of relief allowing 0 runs and scattering 3 hits. D-BAT was losing 0-1 in the bottom of the 5th when Josh Soward (Arlington Heights) led off with a single and with 2 outs Skyler Cox (Flower Mound) drove a double down the left field line to score him and tie the game. Then Ross Cadena (Southlake Carroll) hit a go ahead 2-run double to make the score 3-1. The next batter, Hudson Sanchez (Southlake, Texas A&M commit) then drove a double to the wall to make it a 4 run inning and that was all D-BAT needed to secure the World Series win!
Blair Henley (Arlington Heights) was the MVP of the World Series throwing 13.2 innings allowing 0 runs for the tournament and earning 2 wins. Ross Cadena (Southlake Carroll) was the Outstanding Hitter of the World Series batting .421.
Pictured is:
Back Row (left to right): Brock Figueroa (Palmer HS), Trent Allen (Southlake Carroll HS), Blair Henley (Arlington Heights HS), Caleb Kilian (Flower Mound HS), Dylan Easterling (Plano East HS), Hudson Sanchez (Southlake Carroll HS), Caleb Scires (Fairfield HS), Jake Moore (Hughes Springs HS)
Middle Row (left to right): Coach Brandon Chancellor, Brian Klein (Keller Timbercreek HS), Derek Wells (Flower Mound HS), Bailey Champagne (Flower Mound HS), Cameron Hupfer (Marcus HS), Nick Dayton (Wylie HS), Landon Gray (Granbury HS), Skyler Cox (Flower Mound HS), Josh Soward (Arlington Heights HS), Coach Ryan Bonesio
Bottom Row (left to right): Luke Cullum (Guyer HS), Nick Thornquist (Flower Mound HS), Cooper Rentfro (Marcus HS), Ross Cadena (Southlake Carroll HS)
Not Pictured: Kyle Muller (Jesuit HS)
WTG!