WAYLAND BLAZERS EARN 11U SUPER DIVISION TITLE

The 11u Wayland Blazers learned a few lifelong lessons at the NEAAU Championships June 17-20, but there’s one that stands out: If you get a second chance, seize the moment.

That was part of Coach Sean Trindall’s pregame speech when the Blazers huddled before the quarterfinal game in Warwick, R.I.,
on Sunday, June 19, after unexpectedly making the cut for the tournament’s final rounds. The 29-7-1 Blazers had lost Friday night in Round 1, then finished with a 1-1- split on Saturday to go home with a 1-2 record and a minimal chance at making it to Sunday’s single-elimination action. It was 10 p.m. Saturday night when the players were informed they made the cut, runs scored against them was the final determinant.

They arrived in Rhode Island as the sixth seed out of six final teams.  The Blazers roared to a 10-6 win over the Bulldogs on
Sunday morning behind timely hits by several players, huge home runs by Jake Miller and CJ McKennitt, highlight-reel defensive plays by Max Meier and others, and the nasty pitching rotation of Miller, Bryan Simmons-Hayes and Sajaan May.

In  the semifinal game against the Noreasters, Wayland fell behind quickly 2-0 on back-to-back home runs by the Noreasters’ power hitters. More hits and more runs came for the red-hot Noreasters, and they led the Blazers 6-2 with an inning to go. The Blazers’ luck was running out and it appeared they’d be home in Massachusetts by dinnertime. But then in the fifth, a three-run homer by McKennitt started the momentum swing. A string of hits by Matt Marowitz, May, Nate Espelin, Simmons-Hayes and Meier completed the comeback, and then a sacrifice by Drew Metzdorf put Wayland up 9-8 in the sixth. Clutch shutdown pitching by Meier sealed the deal and amazingly sent the Blazers roaring into the 6 p.m. finals. It was a come-from-behind win that had players, coaches and parents ecstatic and exhausted. 

The Blazers took the field for the finals, and somehow, despite getting in a 2-0 hole in the first inning, things started to fall into
place. Pitcher Metzdorf  inexplicably got stronger and stronger as his pitch count rose, and the Royals weren’t able to sustain a rally. Then, as they’ve done all season, the Blazers’ bats erupted. May, Simmons-Hayes, Meier and Robert Crawford came through in the third; doubles by Metzdorf and Marowtiz in the fourth provided insurance, and more runs came in the fifth. From there,
it was simply a matter of holding the Royals with strong defense and poise. Final score: Blazers 8, Royals 2. 

“I couldn’t be happier with the way the boys fought and persevered,” said Trindall. “They never gave up. Every player on this team
played a major part in us winning the championship”

The postage celebration was filled with disbelief, pride, joy, and, yes, appreciation. The Blazers were given an unlikely second chance, they seized it, and they captured the 2011 NEAAU Super Division championship. They went home with shiny gold medals, silver rings, a large bronze trophy, and the impressive new title of champion. But even better?  They took home a
lifelong lesson learned. 

The Blazers will be one of 32 teams from around the country competing in the 2011 AAU National Championship at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla., June 25-July 1.  Stay tuned for tournament results and analysis.