9U Pirates summer season ends on a high note

Luis Sherwood pitches gem over D1 Stars

July 26, 2023 at 9:53 p.m.

The Port Chester Youth Baseball League 9U Pirates. Back row, from left: Jared Friedman, Luke Petriello, Noah Klauck, Derek Lovallo, Dylan Rivera, Myles DeBari, Nolan Brown, Kyle Renaldo. Front row, from left: Luis (LJ) Sherwood, Gabe Rieke, Robert Berlingo, Daniel Sherwood. (Courtesy photo of Karen Brown)

It was a great way to end the regular 9U Port Chester Youth Baseball League (PCYBL) Pirates’ summer season at Lyon Park last Sunday (7/23). Luis Sherwood struck out 10 batters while pitching a complete game to beat the D1 Stars Baseball Academy, the 2022 summer championship team that ended the Pirates’ season last year.

But it wasn't a revenge game. Instead it was the latest highlight in what coach Jeremy Brown calls "an exciting and eventful season filled with growth, learning and memorable moments...for a team that worked hard to improve their skills, build camaraderie and showcase their love for the game."

Season highlights

What a season it has been starting with a 9-7 win over Stamford Travel Navy in which Derek Lovallo hit a pivotal triple on his way to three RBIs. The team then reeled off three straight wins that included Luke Petriello and Jared Friedman leading the hit and RBI parade during an 11-7 win over the 10U Warriors and Daniel Sherwood throwing a four-hitter with six strikeouts in a 6-1 beatdown of the TYA Tigers with Dylan Rivera doing the heavy hitting.

But the streak couldn't last forever, and the Pirates lost a deuce to the YBNR Huguenots, Nolan Brown losing the first game 3-1 despite striking out three batters in four solid innings while knocking in a run with an RBI. In the rematch, Kyle Renaldo singled, doubled, scored a run and had two RBIs in a game the Pirates wound up losing 13-11.

The ups and downs

And so it went during a learning season that had its ups and downs with different players stepping up at different times.

In a game-changing play against the LMLL Tigers Black 9U team, for example, Gabriel Rieke was the offensive/defensive standout with a double while also nailing a player trying to steal home. Robert Berlingo gave up just one run in pitching his team to a 2-1 win over the MP Colonials. Noah Klauck had a double, two RBIs and walked twice in a stellar performance during the Mount Laurel, N.J. tournament. And Myles DeBari singled, doubled, stole two bases and scored a run against the Thunder Blue.

'A resounding success'

So, it has been quite a summer season, winding up as what Brown called a "resounding success."

"While the final scores mattered, the growth, development, and fun experiences shared by the players were truly the most valuable aspects of the journey," he said.

And it's not over yet. Because the Pirates are looking to make a run deep into the upcoming Greater Hudson Valley Baseball League playoffs with the schedules to be announced Tuesday (8/1). And win or lose, the young Pirates are guaranteed to produce their own highlight reel and learn from whatever happens.