By Pat McGavin-Photos by Lauren Gray
** Additional Photos are Available at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p55353884 **
WEST CHICAGO—“Speak softly and carry a big stick, and you’ll go far,” President Theodore Roosevelt famously observed of his foreign policy objectives.
The names and the faces have subtly changed. The manner and methods of the Illinois Wolves 14U crosses through time and space. The focus passes from one group to the next.
The core ideas never change—be sharp, fundamental, disciplined and always ready to take the big swing.
“We’re playing pretty direct and straightforward so far,” first baseman Carter Huerta said. “Just get the bat on the ball, be aggressive and don’t make any errors.”
Huerta blasted a first inning home run to spark the Wolves’ 10-1 five-inning victory over the Raiders SBA in the quarterfinals of the Seminole Sports Tournament at McCaslin Park here on Sunday, April 12.
Starter Frankie Pintaura struck out two, walked none and scattered five hits for the complete game victory.
Eight of the Wolves’ 11 batters knocked in runs.
The Wolves’ quest to reach the championship ended with a 5-4 loss in the semifinals against EBT Chicago-Shelton 14U.
Outfielder Graham Johnson smashed a home run, a double and drove in three runs as the Wolves nearly came back from a 5-1 deficit.
The Wolves (4-1) generated a 48-10 run differential in easily winning their first four games.
Coach Brandin Muniz identified fielding as an Achilles’ heel for the Wolves. His efforts to bolster that part of the team have worked out spectacularly in the early going.
Despite allowing two early singles to start the game, Pintauro coaxed a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat.
“I just stayed calm and I knew where to put the ball, or where they couldn’t hit it,” he said. “I’d describe my style as scrappy. I was able to work in my different pitches. They couldn’t really tell which pitch I was going to throw next.”
On a day with jagged and ferocious winds that seemingly broke in every direction, every ball hit up in the air proved an adventure.
The Wolves took care of business in the essentials of pitching and fielding. The hitters followed suit, and brought their own touch and perspective.
With two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the first, the sweet left-handed hitter Huerta patiently waited for his perfect moment.
“I was just thinking fastball, fastball, and I just reacted to the curveball that he threw, and I was able to take it out,” he said.
His rocket shot flew high and deep over the right-center faces for the opening run.
Not all runs are created equal. A big smash is deflating for the opposition, and the perfect ignition switch for the rest of the offense.
“Carter’s home run really got us going today,” outfielder Kane Wolf said. “That set the tone, and kept us up and ready to play. Pretty much every game we’ve had so far, we have a big first inning, and we get the momentum by scoring a lot of runs.”
The Wolves proved methodical and deeply efficient, scoring multiple runs in each of the second, third and fourth innings. The team collected 10 hits.
With perfect symmetry, the hot bats provided comfort and opportunity, and liberated Pintauro from any truly anxious moments or pressure-packed situations.
“I had great support behind my back in the field, and that really helped out a lot,” he said. “The runs were also great because it gave me some space, and I went up knowing I didn’t have to strike everybody out. Even if somebody scores, it’s fine, because we have a lot of runs.”
Shortstop Jacob Stary, who’s rangy and lanky, provides an ideal infield anchor. He scored two runs, drove in an RBI, and added a walk and a hit for the Wolves.
He brought a precision and poise to the position, throwing runners out with aplomb. The Wolves did not commit a single error. Everything was clean and smooth.
Stary was the catalyst of the three-run second inning by driving home Johnson with an RBI single. Outfielder Anthony Burger had the Wolves’ only other extra-base hit with a two-run double.
Through the balance of the game, the Wolves found gaps, and hit the ball sharp and hard.
Catcher Augie Ruffolo is one of the returning players. Hitting second in the order, he preceded Huerta, and demonstrated his all-around talents.
He managed Pintauro flawlessly, and finished with two hits and a sharp RBI single up the box.
He is a connective thread to the past and present. His savvy and experience is a crucial part of the equation. He also helped bring together the new factions.
“Ever since our workouts, we just bonded and everybody just clicked,” Ruffolo said. “A couple of the guys were a little shy.
“On the field, we found our shortstop, and we have a really good middle infield. We don’t make mistakes. We play hard. Carter set the tone really well with the home run. Once that happened, everybody else stepped up and started hitting.”
Wolf had a two-run single that sparked the four-run third inning. He helped chase the Raiders’ starter.
“I’m just being sharp and aggressive and looking to draw contact in that situation,” Wolf said.
Third baseman Brody Dambman was excellent in all phases of the game with two hits, an RBI and a run scored.
His alert play in the top of the fourth limited the Raiders from a breakout inning. With runners in scoring position and no outs, he fielded a ground ball and threw out the runner at the plate.
Ruffolo did a great job of blocking the plate, and making the tag on the sliding runner. The Raiders averted the shutout with an RBI groundout the next play.
No further damage was done.
“I think we have all just bonded really well together,” Huerta said. “You can see it and feel it when we’re in the dugout together.”
The Wolves delivered in ways subtle and pronounced.
Burger punctuated the dominant performance with a spectacular diving catch in left field to end the game.
“Pretty much everybody who played really contributed in some way today, and it really shows the depth of our lineup,” Wolf said.
The Illinois Wolves 14U team had many standout contributors in the 10-1 quarterfinal victory. Their members included Jaxon Culver, Gianni Jimenez and Jack Rose.
