Brewers are back on top in National LL play

BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer

With an airtight outfield defensively, the Brewers are in first place in the Brick National Little League and recapturing the success it had when they won three straight championships in 2000 through 2002 under former manager Larry Foglar.

And that comes with only one home run hit by the team all season.

Of course, manager John Brower, who also is the league's player agent, realizes there still is a lot ahead. Although the team is riding a five-game win streak at 12-1 with five games left and a two-game lead on the Dodgers, there still is a league tournament. Starting on June 4, six of the top teams in the 10-team league compete in playoffs for the league crown.

That champion will get a chance to play in the District 18 Tournament of Champions, a new tournament mandated by Little League headquarters in Williamsport, Pa., that allows every league in the district to enter its champion as well as the traditional All-Star team.

That idea has gotten into the back of the minds of Brower and his players.

"I think it gives them a spark," said Brower. "I let the players know about it and talk to them before and after practices. I tell them that if they win [the league championship] they can play in the tournament and for some of the kids who are younger and not on the All-Star team, they get a chance to see what travel is all about."

Brower approves of the Tournament of Champions.

"I like it but it puts a lot of pressure to get the season done on time," said Brower.

Brower, who is working with the

11-year-old All-Stars this year, will have double-duty if his team advances to the Tournament of Champions. He envisioned good things ahead after last season when nine players were able to come back, helped by the earlier age cutoff rule mandated by Little League headquarters that moved the birthdate for 12-year-olds from August to April.

"We finished in fourth place last year and I did not expect that. I think we overachieved," said Brower who is assisted by coaches Dan Boyle and Chris Lopez. "I lost only three players. They know the system and some were on the All-Star team last year."

Two valuable players who graduated to the 13-year-old league were ace pitcher Tom Tressito and third baseman/pitcher Joe Spinella.

With consistent and deep pitching, consistent hitting, Brower is especially confident in what he calls the "strongest outfield in the league" in Evan O'Hara in center field, Jason Noonan in right field and 10-year-old Ryan Price in left,

"Not too many balls drop in. We get to 95 percent of them if they are normal fly balls unless they're in the gap," said Brower. "And we have no weak spot in the [batting] lineup. Everybody hits.

"At this point, I did not think we'd have only one loss but I thought we'd contend," said Brower. "With only three drafted players, I figured we'd be older and better. I'm not surprised we're doing well but I'm surprised at our record."

But winning does not always come easily for the Brewers, whose only loss came to the Diamondbacks, 9-3.

The team had to rally for two runs in the last inning on Friday to overtake the Rockies, 5-4. The Rockies came into the game in third place at 6-4.

Matt Kuras, who has seen some action on the mound, came through in his biggest outing of the season when he entered the game with the bases loaded and nobody out in the fifth inning and allowed only two runs.

"He did a great job because that could have been real trouble for us," said Brower.

The Brewers followed it with a 13-3 triumph over the Braves on Saturday as Tom Foiles hurled the victory.

"They get along well and know where each other will be [in the field]," said Brower. "They practice well and play well."

Mike Schirm leads the pitches with a 4-0 record by spotting his fastball well. Harry Eaton has been a "big surprise" as a pitcher for Brower. Eaton plays shortstop when he isn't pitching. There also is a newcomer in 10-year-old left-hander Ian Cole, whom Brower considers a "big prospect." Cole also platoons in left field.

"We have average pitching, with no one going six innings," said Brower of his six-player staff. "We pitch each guy three innings but we're strong defensively and we put the bat on the ball pretty well."

The rest of the lineup includes leadoff hitter Tyler Iannaron at first base, 10-year-old Chris Lopez at second and 11-year-old Anthony Miller, the team captain, at catcher. Miller bats around .470, second only to Voorhees' .500 hitting, as the No. 3 batter in the lineup.

Kuras and Schirm also have seen action as backups at shortstop and third base, respectively.