SPRINGFIELD BABE RUTH
1997 Quest For The Series
Note.
Ralph - If you go the World Series - you get your own page! Congrats to you, Joe, George, Buck, Doyle, and Rav.
SPRINGFIELD's 15 YO ALL STARS.
Back Row, L-R: Bobby Bump, Larry Caruthers, Mike Fratoe, Mark Frackner, Jeremy Cleveland, Andy Jewell, Paul Weisher, Matt Andrews, Andrew Buffington. Front Row, L-R: Jeffrey Lizama, Ethan Lare, Tim Grant, Billy Andreotta Doug Dagdag, Matt McCants. Not Pictured: Ralph DiBari (Mgr.), Coaches: Joe Bump, George Lare, Buck McCants, Doyle Weishar, and Tom Ravelette.
It all began in June, 1997. Springfield Babe Ruth was ready to embark on a journey that many people hoped would lead them to the State Championship that had eluded them in 1996. But for the 15 players and the six coaches there was a larger goal -- anything other than a Regional Championship and a trip to the World Series would be a disappointment.
For the next ten days, the coaches and players worked vigorously to take the individuals that made up the roster and mold them into a cooperative unit whose parts were interchangeable without effecting the efficiency of the whole. The feasibility of the ideal was realized almost immediately as Springfield entered the District VI Tournament.
In a four game sweep, the Springfield team outscored its opponents 47-9. The coaches rotated the lineup from day to day without missing a beat. It was soon apparent, that with this squad, there could be (and would be) different heroes for different days. The team batting average for Districts was .442 and the team ERA was 2.04. Tim Grant batted .875 and Doug Dagdag .750 for the tournament. Springfield’s District Championship was not without a price. Pitcher Mark Fackner went down with a broken arm and was sidelined for the rest of the tournament season.
The State Tournament proved to be a grand display of baseball. Initially, Springfield continued its offensive assault on opponents as they defeated a strong Vienna team 14-4, and moved on to beat Stafford County 9-2. Next came a show that was second to none - Springfield vs. Fairfax II. (FLASHBACK -- In 1996, Springfield defeated Fairfax 1-0 in the winners bracket final. In the tournament final, Fairfax came back to win twice - 3-2 and 2-1 to best Springfield and capture the State title). Once again, these two teams would meet in the winners bracket finale. Springfield won 6-4 in 8 innings. Could these two teams top their last four games? Fairfax went on to emerge again from the loser’s bracket and face Springfield for the Virginia State Championship. Tied at 2-2 after 6 innings, Fairfax scored two in the top of the 7th to take the lead. Springfield’s Andrew Buffington lead-off homer plus a manufactured run knotted the contest again. In the 8th Fairfax went down in order and Springfield scored a run for a 5-4 victory and the State Championship. Buffington was voted the Tournament MVP. Big defensive plays were turned in by Andreotta, Andrews, Caruthers, Jewell, and Weishar.
Springfield then went to Spartanburg, SC for the Southeast Regional Tournament. By now, a well-oiled machine, playing “team” baseball had emerged - everyone contributing in a timely fashion. Confidence was running high as Springfield opened tournament play. Their first opponent was from Alabama and the second from North Carolina. The Virginia State Champions systematically picked apart the opposition by posting scores of 18-1 and 8-0 respectively. This set up a greatly anticipated match-up with Florida. Springfield rose to the occasion to win by scores of 13-7 and 8-6 and garnered the Regional Championship. As the Regional Champion, Springfield advanced to the Babe Ruth World Series with an unblemished record through twelve games. Jeremy Cleveland batted .786, Ethan Lare .636, and Jeff Lizama .600 for the regional tourney. The relief tandem of Lare, Matt McCants, and Paul Weishar had a combined ERA of 0.00 while facing 41 batters. Through 12 games and two tournaments, the team batting average was an even .400 while the pitching staff produced a stingy 1.86 ERA behind starters Andrew Buffington, Bobby Bump, Jeremy Cleveland and Mike Fratoe. Defensively, Springfield remained air-tight.
It was off to Longview/Kelso, Washington for the Big Show! Springfield drew an opening game of the Series against Texas. Mike Fratoe threw a complete game and Springfield won 8-4. Next, the Pacific Northwest Champs - a local team from Kelso, WA would be Springfield’s opponent. Before a crowd of 6,000 people, Jeremy Cleveland tossed a complete game, 2-0 shutout. The Game 3 opponent was Prince Georges County, MD. and included the irony of traveling 3,000 miles to play an opponent less than 15 miles away. Maryland scored 5 runs early in the contest to take control. Behind a strong relief effort by Matt McCants, Springfield chipped away and took a 7-5 lead into the 7th inning. Springfield then ran out of magic as Maryland tied the score and then won 11-7 in the 8th inning. Rain postponed the tournament for a day and Springfield was ready to face Texas once again. The rebounding Springfield team took a 3-1 lead into the 6th inning. Texas erupted for five runs in the sixth to diminish Springfield’s hopes. Fighting back gallantly, Springfield tallied twice more but fell short 7-5. The quest for a World Series Title had ended - but what a ride it had been!
Springfield finished 5th in the United States and pitcher/infielder Jeremy Cleveland won the Batting Title for the tournament and was named to the All-Tournament Team.
This was truly an experience that all of us will remember for a long time to come. I would like to express my thanks to the players, coaches, and others that helped to make it all happen. I would also like to express my pride in all of the players for all that they accomplished as a team.
Coach Ralph DiBari
Other SBRL Information:
E-mail: bdelmore@iteq.com
Created 10 March 1998,
Last Updated 28 March 1998
