Brick American preps for Cal Ripken state tourney
BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI Staff Writer
Things are falling into place for Brick American, which will host the Cal Ripken Majors state tournament for 14-year-olds, starting July 17 and ending July 24. Well, almost everything.

"This is the one thing we always wanted (to host) and never did when we were with Little League," Brick American President Tom Nerney said.

"Preparations are going good," he said. "A lot of parents are involved in helping the tournament. It'll run about five days, with two games on weeknights and three on Saturday and Sunday."

Nine teams will participate, including Cherry Hill, Montgomery, Hamilton and Mays Landing. Brick American is the host team and has an automatic berth out of District 2. But if Brick National finishes first or second in the district with Brick American, Brick National is expected to be invited as the District 2 representative. That appears likely, because Bayshore is the only other team in the bracket and has lost to Brick National, 19-0.

The state champion advances to the Mid-Atlantic region, which begins July 30.

"The field is the one thing we're worried about," Nerney said. "It is so saturated with water from all the rain we've gotten that it has had no time to drain. But everybody has the same problem."

Nerney said that after the season, Brick American volunteers will work at moving the fences a little farther back, from 210 to 225 feet.

"We want to bring doubles back," he said. "The kids are either hitting the ball over the fence or off it or right at fielders."

Youth Sports Live, an online broadcasting service based in Georgia with a local office in Livingston, is broadcasting the game.

"People can buy the broadcast anywhere around the country," Nerney said. "People in California can watch their grandkids play. It's the fastest-growing thing."

Ray Mannon manages Brick American's Majors and is helping his wife, Cindy, run the snack stand. Charlie Marvin is taking care of the fields, with help from Majors assistant coach Gene Carafa and Majors player agent Mike Rytelewski, who also will do the announcing. John Hazelet Jr., who manages the 11-year-old All- Stars, is the travel coordinator. Duke Anderson also has helped in many areas, Nerney said.

"This is the first time we've hosted something this prestigious at this level

since we hosted the Juniors six or seven years ago," he said. "We have at least 30 to 40 people, and we're counting on the parents to step up to the plate. The excitement is building. Everyone in town is talking about it."

Under Cal Ripken rules, the tournament will be held on a field of 50 feet from the mound to home plate and 70 feet along the base paths. Both Brick programs changed their affiliations to Cal Ripken from Little League, which has distances of 46 feet from the mound to home plate and 60 feet along the base paths.

"I'm seeing the changes now," Nerney said. "There are more kids who have skills who want a chance to play baseball. Mr. Ripken can't be matched. This is real baseball. Soon, more towns will try it. It's inevitable."

The district in this age bracket is one of the lightest of all brackets with three teams — the two Brick teams and a Bayshore squad. But Nerney said he understands other towns are discussing the idea of joining Cal Ripken, as many programs in the northern and northwestern parts of the state have.

"It's gone better than I imagined," said Nerney of the response to the conversion to Cal Ripken rules. "Kids are stealing. They're getting thrown out at second base (stealing). They're getting picked off. This never happened in Little League. It has changed the game. Now it's being played the way it's supposed to be played."