KAU going to Senior League Baseball World Series

Posted by Press Release on August 8, 2013

As a light rain fell at Union Field in West Deptford, N.J., early Wednesday afternoon, the KAU Little League Kings All-Star team peppered their Manager Todd Duerr with questions. Other than what time the bus would be leaving on Friday morning [7 a.m. from the Painters’ Crossing Shopping Center AMC Theater parking lot], the most-asked query was “will we get new uniforms for the World Series?”

And the answer was “yes.” The Kings will be fitted for new baseball uniforms with the word “East” across the chest after they defeated Quincy, MA, by a 6-2 score in the 2013 Little League Senior Division Eastern Regional Championship. Now that they can make a claim to be one of the top ten 16-year-old Little League baseball squads in the world, the 17 players and coaches are gathering their equipment and packing their luggage and electronics for Friday morning’s 7 a.m. bus ride to the Senior Division World Series in Bangor, Maine. KAU will play the Southwest Champion from Laredo, Texas, Sunday at 5:30 p.m. KAU becomes the first Pennsylvania team since 1999 to advance out of the East Regional to the World Series.

The Kings will join teams from Georgia, West Texas, Hawaii, Illinois, Canada, Panama and Italy in Bangor for opening ceremonies Saturday night.

“We’ve rallied this whole way, all the way from sectionals,” said Duerr, who has managed the all-star team for seven years. “I thought these boys might be a special group, but never in my wildest dreams did I believe we’d be going to the World Series. What coach would?”

Rallying on the diamond may have become a trademark for the KAU 16-year-olds, but rallying off the field and around their teammate Tucker Reese played as much a part in the team’s run to the World Series. Reese’s mother, Cathy, lost her battle with cancer as the team began the state tournament. In fact, the coaches and players made sure to let those around them know that they believed that the short shower was her crying tears of joy.

“Tucker has become an inspiration to me as a parent with how he has handled this adversity on and off the field,” said Coach Mike Pechin. “I use him as an example for my own sons that this is the type of young man you want to be. For a group of 16-year-olds, rallying around him has become a great maturation process. We’ve fought back many times in these games, but it’s nothing compared to what he fought through to make a difference late in this season.

KAU almost didn’t make it out of the first round of the Regionals. They were down to their last out against New York in the opening game of the tournament before scoring five runs to win and they came from behind over their other three opponents to capture the Regional crown.

The scenario was no different in the championship game. Down 2-0 in the third inning, Drew Jarmuz quickly tied the score with a two-run home run to left centerfield. “I think the home run loosened upo the team,” Jarmuz said. “We seemed a little nervous, but then we started playing our game.” Jarmuz, a .500 hitter, isn’t known for his power. “I’ve been waiting to hit a special home run for a long time,” he admitted. As far as his team was concerned , there was no better time.

“It was a good time for Chris to hit one out,” winning pitcher Alex Pechin said. He admitted to a case of nerves as well, although he has been the KAU All-Stars number-one pitcher since he was nine. In fact, he was the winning pitcher in the first championship—a district title—the team won together. “I did feel the pressure today, but I feel the pressure in every game. But then I do get annoyed when Coach takes the ball from me when I want to finish the game. “

KAU scored the decisive four runs in the fifth inning when the Qunicy squad seemed to become rattled after a few close calls didn’t go their way. Jake Freeman and Jarmuz hit back-to-back singles, with Freeman scoring on a sacrifice bunt by Pechin. Eric Duerr hit a hard ground ball to the Quincy shortstop, who enticed Jarmuz in to a rundown. Quincy’s third baseman was ruled to have missed the tag, setting up Jarmuz at third and Duerr at second base. After Joe Zirolli was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Reese blooped a single over second base for two RBI and a 4-2 KAU lead. As Andrew Jones beat out an infield hit, the Quincy second baseman overthrew his catcher on a play at the plate and the final two runs scored.