Gershkoff wins at nationals

The Gershkoff/Top Notch Lightning Elite 14-U baseball team traveled down to Myrtle Beach for the Youth Baseball Nationals Tournament series, and came back champions. The tournament included the top teams from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Ohio, Texas, Georgia, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Ontario, Canada.

This was no easy feat as it had to play five pool games over a three-day span, and because of expected rain in the area last Thursday, it needed to win three bracket games in the final day to win it all.

The team finished pool play with a record of 4-0-1 and then swept the bracket playoffs to finish 7-0-1.

All 12 players had their moments. The team was shorthanded as starting shortstop and key pitcher Dylan Milano was down, but it overcame it with well-rounded play.

Aiden Neil, Anthony Campagnone, and Aidyn Pizzuti dominated the playoff bracket on the mound. Pizzuti picked up the first win in a 1-hitter as Gershkoff won 10-0 in four innings over Georgia. Neil picked up the semifinal win over a club out of Ohio in the same fashion, no hitter/mercy rule of 10-0. 

Prior to facing these clubs in the playoff bracket, Gershkoff came from behind to beat the Georgia club 4-3, and came from behind to tie the same Ohio club, 9-9.

“There were times where I wasn’t sure if we’d be able to come back, but they did, they were resilient. That was huge. It was such a great feeling to win a national championship. We’ve won some local tournaments, but we had never been able to get to a national tournament then win it,” said Gershkoff manager Dave Schiappa, who credited his strong pitching rotation for leading the way in SC. “We weren’t sure (if we could win) going in, but by the fourth game we felt pretty good considering the amount of rest for our top pitchers. If it wasn’t for the multiple pitchers we had in between, we wouldn’t have been able to get there.”

Campagnone and Neil combined to beat another Ohio club in the championship matchup. An extra-inning affair that ended in dramatic fashion. Luca Schroer knocked in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning as Gershkoff took the game, 5-4.

Pizzuti and Neil allowed no earned runs for the week and the team carried a 2.08 ERA throughout. In addition to those three, Matt Iannitti picked up a key win in pool play; and Schroer, Joey Nunez, Lucca Ricci, and Corey Ogden all contributed on the mound during. Neil had one of the more dominant performances with a 15-strikeout shutout in pool play, and Campagnone won the skills competition for velocity

In regard to offense, there was no shortage of scoring. The team scored 66 runs and batted just under .400 as a team for the entire tournament. Schroer led the team with a .615 average.

Andrew Schiappa and Max Pilkington were rocks behind the dish and at the dish. Schiappa’s ability to manage the pitching staff during intense moments was pivotal, and Pilkington provided solid play and hitting between catching duties and designated hitter.

Eddie Wenzl was a wizard at second base, making several challenging plays look easy. He also clubbed a few big extra base hits during crucial times.

Ogden and Lucas Santo patrolled the outfield with Pizzuti and Schroer. Santo batted leadoff and led the team in stolen bases and tied for runs scored. Ogden was able to pick up key extra base hits when the team needed it.

After a tough start to the season in which the team struggled to maintain a .500 record, Gershkoff turned things around in time to win the big one.

“I think they played down to their competition, but when they were faced with better teams, they rose to the occasion. I told them that if they didn’t get the energy up, they wouldn’t be winners this year. I challenged them and they responded,” said Dave Schiappa.

Dave Schiappa, who is also the Gershkoff program’s general manager, has made it his mission to build a nationally-recognized organization with local talent, strictly from Cranston and Johnston.

Winning this tournament was a step in the right direction.

“Ultimately, they just feel so confident. People ask us, ‘are you sure that you’re from one community?’ It’s surprising, it doesn’t happen often. It’s the old school way of keeping the community together. To be a community program and be able to compete in a tournament like this, it feels good,” said Dave Schiappa.

Dave Schiappa also wanted to give one last shout out to the ones that made it happen.

“I want to thank the players and the parents that supported us. I want to thank our sponsors Gershkoff and Top Notch for helping this program get going,” Dave Schiappa said.