Orioles Beat Twins, Win 12U Club Championship

By Colin Murphy

Showing why they posted a league-best 9-2-1 record during the regular season, the 12U Orioles completed an exciting playoff run with a 15-6 defeat of the Twins in the Green Hornets 12U Club Championship game at Kinder Park on June 4. Having clinched a spot in the title game with an emotional walk-off victory over the Nationals in the tournament’s semifinal matchup earlier in the day, the Orioles carried momentum into the championship game and defeated the Twins with an overpowering combination of strong hitting and deep pitching.

Head Coach Kevin Howell was proud to see his team accomplish the goal they set on the very first day of spring practice. “I told them on day one we were playing for the championship, and they believed it,” said Howell. “I’ve coached a lot of good kids, and this group showed up every day with passion and commitment.”

The Orioles benefitted from some dramatic late-inning heroics en route to winning the championship. In the semifinal on the morning of June 4, an upset-minded Nationals team gave the Orioles just about everything they could handle, jumping out to an early lead and keeping the Orioles at arm’s length for nearly the entire game. Trailing 9-6 entering the bottom of the sixth and needing a rally to save their season, the Orioles shined under the pressure, loading the bases before tying the game on a clutch bases-clearing triple by Kevin Kobosco. In front of an electrified crowd, the Orioles’ next batter, Zach Howell, drilled a 2-2 pitch to center field, scoring Kobsoco and giving the Orioles the 10-9 walk-off victory.

“Everyone was ecstatic,” said Coach Howell of the nail-biting win in the semifinal. “[The players] and their families will remember that win for a long, long time.”

The Orioles did not have long to savor the win before taking on the Twins for the title, as the game was played that evening at Kinder Park. Still riding high from the morning victory, the Orioles came out focused and ready to play, taking an early lead over the Twins and never looking back. Pitchers Garrett Weiss, Kobosko, Howell, and Cullen Figlioli commanded the strike zone and prevented the Twins from threatening. The entire Orioles lineup of Weiss, Kobosco, Howell, Figlioli, Jacob Briganti, Jack Goode, Nicholas Seabolt, Phillip Irwin, Ryan Bramble, A.J. Dykstra, Kyle Carey, and Logan Vance did what they had done all season long: pound out hits and put runs on the board. The Orioles put their foot on the gas early and never let up, winning the championship by a final score of 15-6.

“Both teams played good, fundamental baseball during the championship game and demonstrated why they deserved to be there,” said Coach Howell of the matchup with the Twins.

He also acknowledged the families of the Oriole players, who provided their unwavering, “loud and proud” support throughout the season and playoffs. “[Assistant Coaches] Brandon Howell and Kevin Ciccone, the families, the parents, the grandparents, aunts, uncles, everyone; they were very supportive all year, and the kids really enjoyed that.”

Finally, Coach Howell once again gave credit to the players for the dedication and work ethic they showed throughout the year. “We had some new players, and our experienced players really helped them out. They were so easy to coach because they always came ready to give 100%. One through 12, every one of them produced. It was really a memorable season.”