PCYBL 9U Pirates beat Pelham Pelicans to win GHVBL title at Danbury park

June 5, 2024 at 10:03 p.m.

The Port Chester Youth Baseball League 9U Pirates after winning the Greater Hudson Valley Baseball League title for their age group on Sunday, June 2. Back row, from left: Coaches Anthony Rende, Andy Ianello, John Umbro, Rob Brenzel and Chris Bosch. Middle row, from left: Adrian Fernandez, Michael Capozza, John Umbro, Mason Sabando, Sebastian Martinez, Jake Giron, Anthony Rende, Jayden Bautista, Isaiah Di Bella, Luke Liebenstein, Ava Ianello. Front row, from left: Jose Samano, Zachary Brenzel and Joe Rende, an honorary Pirate. (Courtesy photo of Robert Brenzel)

With John Umbro and Jayden Bautista doing the solid pitching and six players doing the heavy hitting, the Port Chester Youth Baseball League's 9U Pirates beat the Pelham Pelicans 17-5 last Sunday (6/2) at Roger Memorial Park in Danbury, Conn., to win the Greater Hudson Valley Baseball League age group championship. It was their fourth straight win on their way to the title.

Over those four playoff games, the Pirates outscored their opponents by 47 runs with their pitchers giving up just 12 runs over that stretch.

That makes it sound easy.

Nailbiter in semis

But it wasn't because one of those games turned out to be a 3-2 nailbiter against the Brookfield Bombers in the semi-finals.

The first game (5/18) was a 16-5 romp over the Armonk Bobcats in four innings that saw John Umbro and Luke Liebenstein hold Armonk in check while Zach Brenzel went 2 for 3 with a triple and three RBIs, Anthony Rende click on 2 for 2 and an RBI and Adrian Fernandez get a base hit and two RBIs. The pitchers racked up six strikeouts and the Pirates started off on the right foot.

Mahopac no match

It was even better next time out (5/21) because the Pirates beat the Mahopac Indians by a football score-like 23-0 shutout. Umbro struck out 12 batters in four scoreless innings. And the batters went wild. Jakie Giron went 2 for 2 including a triple and six RBIs. Jayden Bautista was 3 for 3 with five RBIs, Isaiah De Bella also went 3 for 3 with three RBIs while Sebastian Martinez was 2 for 3 with two RBIs.

And the going was deceptively easy.

Until it wasn't.

Brenzel walk-off base hit

The Pirates had to pull out all the stops to beat the Brookfield Bombers 3-2 in the semis.

And it took a Brenzel one out base hit with the bases loaded to knock in the winning run when he lined a 1-1 pitch into right field to score Michael Capozza who was off and running with the pitch.

Capozza was the game's defensive hero with his plays including a diving catch of a sharply hit ball between second and third base and a bang-bang play at home that was right on the money to Rende who was able to get the tag down to end the inning.

Umbro and Bautista combined to allow just two runs on four hits through six innings to defuse the Bombers. Especially with Umbro striking out seven.

But it still took the Brenzel walk-off base hit to enable the Pirates to escape with the win.

Pelicans pleasant surprise

The Pirates didn't know what to expect in the finals against the Pelicans.

So what happened was a pleasant surprise because Port Chester out hit Pelham 19-2 on their way to a 17-5 romp.

Umbro stuck out nine batters while scattering two hits and allowing four runs in four innings. Bautista closed it out by striking out two batters and giving up an unearned run.

Multiple hit parade

This time around it was Liebenstein who led the hit parade by going 4 for 4 with two RBIs. Brenzel was 3 for 4 with four RBIs. Bautista was 2 for 4 with an RBI, Umbro helped his own cause by going 2 for 3 with three RBIs while Rende was 3 for 3. Other Pirates who notched multiple hits included Capozza who was 2 for 3 with two RBIs while Mason Sabando went 2 for 2 with two runs scored.

It was a nice way to start the young season for the Pirates.

And they hope it is just the beginning of a season to remember.