For a team whose alumni include Alex Rodriguez and Joe Mauer, the USA Baseball 18 and under National Team showed the Greater New York Sandlot Athletic Alliance All-Stars (GNYSAA) why they are the best players in the country.
GNYSAA was off-balance all day long at Jack Kaiser Stadium, mustering only one hit against Team USA’s superior series of The All-Stars had some opportunities early in the game when Kenny Jackson led off the GNYSAA second inning with a walk, but was promptly picked-off first base. The only New York hit came off the bat of right-fielder Derek Hirsch, who singled in the third inning and then quickly stole second base. He was thrown out after taking off for third on a grounder to the USA short-stop Francisco Lindor.
The 30-man roster of the New York all-stars featured players from all over the metropolitan area, two of which were from Queens, 18-year-olds outfielder Luis Perez and third basemen Phil Loprete.
“It feels great to represent Queens but today we didn’t have it,” said Perez who played for the McClancy High School Crusaders in Flushing. “We have to get it back together for the final three games.”
“It’s a great opportunity. I think we can play much better if we play our game,” said Loprete, who received a full ride to play baseball at C.W. Post of Long Island University.
Phil Loprete Sr., who watched his son start a swift double play in the sixth inning, echoed Coach Zookie’s opinion about Team USA’s pitching performance.
“They are facing the best pitchers in the country,” said Loprete Sr. “That’s really the difference.”
Those performances only got better throughout the rest of the week at Hofstra University and Farmingdale State Baseball Stadium as the USA team was able to complete the five-game sweep during a double-header on July 10. The GNYSAA team was outscored 25-4 during the final three games of the series.
At the end of the month, the national team will play in the International Baseball Federation ‘AAA’ 18 and under Junior World Championship in Thunder Bay, Canada.
