Cal Ripken presidents reflect on memorable season

The Brick American 12s' journey to the World Series in Aberdeen, Md., was a "magical ride," said Tom Nerney, president of the Brick American Cal Ripken organization.

His team was a steamroller, blasting through the District 2, state and Mid-Atlantic Region tournaments en route to the World Series, where the boys split four games.

"It was a spectacular group of kids who know how to play the game. They're ready for the next level," said Nerney, who said the team will be honored by the Township Council early next month. Championship jackets are on order.

"We've gotten calls from politicians, from members of the Board of Ed. congratulating us and asking how they could help," Nerney said. "Corporations and businesses helped us with the expenses of going to Maryland, and parents raised money. It was great to see the community behind us."

It was the best part of a successful summer by Brick American and Brick National programs. Brick American's Juniors and 8- year-olds won district titles, with the Juniors reaching the state finals, and its 11s, 10s and 9s were district runners-up. The 9s, as runner up, advanced to the state tournament because district champion Brick National was the host of the states and had an automatic berth.

"With [all-stars manager] John Hazelet bringing them around, the 11s will be a force to be reckoned with [in the Majors] next year," Nerney said.

Brick National also had great success. Its 11s and 9s both reached the state finals before losing, and its Big League team won the state championship and split four games in the World Series. Its Majors All-Stars, which lost in the district finals to Brick American, advanced to the state tournament because Brick American already had a berth in the states as the host team.

"Everything went great. Team-wise things went well," said Brick National President Gary Hulse, whose program played its first season completely under Cal Ripken guidelines, including 50 feet from the mound to home plate and 70 feet along the base paths. Little League, where the two programs were affiliated until the 2008 season, has 46/60 standards.

Both leagues have gotten a strong turnout for fall ball, with Brick American expanding to more than 20 teams on the various age levels. Brick American again is hosting a Columbus Day weekend tournament, with 19 teams registered.

But there are changes planned. Both leagues are moving the fences back — Brick American by 15 feet and Brick National by 25 feet.

"The fences are going back," Hulse said. "That distance will be about right for that age."

"We're going to renovate the field and drop the fences back 15 feet to get doubles back in the game, and triples," Nerney said. "We did it because with the greater distances at 50/70, we moved the infield 10 feet into the outfield."

It was evident during All-Star tournament play, when Brick American hit 26 home runs in six region games, including six in the region championship game against host Bridgewater. Brick American hit four home runs in its four World Series games.

Hulse voiced another concern that marred an otherwise memorable season.

"Too many kids too many times are on two, three and four different teams," Hulse said. "There's no commitment to the team."

His Senior team came out of the loser's bracket in the state tournament and then lost because its top pitcher who would have thrown in that championship game was unable to pitch because he had just pitched for another team, he said.

"That's at every level," Hulse said. "You're not sure when they're there and when they're not, and when they practice for two or three teams, it hurts their arms. It has hurt every league."

Hulse said some leagues have put into their by-laws that players who register for that league cannot play for another.

"We're not doing it yet," Hulse said. "This is a parent problem with the 9s and 10s, not a player problem. They want their kids on as many teams as possible, but in the end, it hurts the kid. We'll look at it in one more year."

Both leagues feel committed to staying in Cal Ripken and expect more teams in the Shore area to follow the lead of other parts of the state where Cal Ripken membership has grown significantly in recent years.

"I went down to Maryland and saw their [Brick American's third] game against Tampa, and it was a great game," Hulse said. "They lost it in the last inning. It was great baseball."

Nerney said he was excited about meeting Cal Ripken while in Maryland.

"He's a class guy in everything about him," Nerney said. "He really believes in that style of baseball. It's the rebirth of youth baseball. They try to do everything better, to run the bases, to read pitchers better [for stealing]. Now pitchers realize they have to hit spots, not just throw by people."

The changeover to Ripken has sustained interest in both leagues, both presidents said. The number of registered players has held steady despite the emergence of other youth baseball travel programs in the area.

"It's the way to go with 12s and 11s," said Hulse, who started to make the transition to Cal Ripken a year ago. Its 10s reached the regional finals before losing.

"We're just going to go on like we have," Nerney said.