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Mason Dixon Lions 16U Fall Baseball Club
Welcome to the website for the Mason Dixon Lions 16U Fall Baseball Club. We're offering an opportunity for high school aged players to get top level coaching and the ability to play against elite competition during the fall season. The Lions will play a full compliment of local and tournament games throughout the fall season beginning in August and running through October. Many fall programs are more 'instructional' or laid back, and this team is designed for players who want to challenge themselves against the highest level of competition featuring players looking for the same thing.
The Lions are a fall season only team open to players who are interested in playing top quality baseball. Players are under no obligation to play with any spring/summer team and summer team coaches need not worry about their players being recruited for any other program.
In 2004, the Lions enjoyed a very successful season going 13-4 with their only losses coming to older teams. The Lions went undefeated at the Sports at the Beach tournament in Rehoboth, Delaware facing some of the toughest competition in the region.
In 2005, the Lions enjoyed another fantastic season going 12-5 with two of their losses coming to older teams. The Lions played a total of four tournaments where they finished third in Allentown, Pa in the ECTB Heroes Remembered Invitational losing the semi-final game 1-0 to a tough team from New York. The Lions scrimmaged a high school varsity squad from Pennsylvania where they won in impressive fashion 28-9. The Lions next traveled to Ashland, Virginia where they run-ruled their way through pool play and lost the semi-final game once again, aided by a freak injury on the field. The next stop on the schedule was a trip back to Allentown which unfortunately got rained out. The following weekend, the Lions traveled to southern Maryland for the BPA Mid Atlantic Junior Varsity/Varsity championships. The Lions ended up winning the JV championships and finished as runners-up in the varsity division to boot! The final tournament of the season saw the Lions finish ranked number 1 in pool play at the prestigious Sports at the Beach Seaside Slam tournament. As a result, the Lions advanced to the championship where they lost a heartbreaker 3-2 to an excellent team from Delaware.
The Lions are managed by Rick Ringer. Coach Ringer has managed over 40 baseball teams of all ages, and his teams have won numerous titles and tournament championships. During his coaching career, he served as the Junior Varsity coach at Walkersville High School for three years, leading the Jr. Lions to a 27-7 record (.794%). His players went on to win the 2003 Maryland 2A State Championship. In addition, Coach Ringer has served as a varsity coach at St. John's at Prospect Hall High School in Frederick, Md. under former All-American and Chicago Cub player Kurt Seibert. Coach Ringer is currently the varsity pitching coach at Linganore High School. As a testament to his abilities to develop young players, Coach Ringer has coached 23 players who have gone on to success at the college level.
The team will be made up of players who will play at a 2006 season 14/15/16U age level. Players may not turn 16 before May 1, 2006. Any players who are interested in trying out must contact Coach Ringer in advance to indicate their interest. If you're a coach who is interested in setting up a scrimmage game with us, feel free to contact us at LionsBaseball@aol.com.
Taking the fall season off
The Lions will be taking the fall season off this year. This will be Coach Ringer's first fall season off in nearly 10 years. A suitable replacement has not been found to take over the team, so it looks like we'll not be fielding a team for the 2007 season.
Dillon Leads Calvert Hall to Perfect Season
The Lions' Michael Dillon had a perfect season leading his Calvert Hall Cardinals high school team to a perfect 33-0 record. Dillon led the team in wins going 9-0 including a championship win against rival Mt. St. Joe to secure the title in the MIAA "A" division. Here's a copy of the article that appeared in the Baltimore Sun:
Cardinals make it 33-0, win 'A' championship
St. Mary's edges Boys' Latin, captures B Conference title
By Pat O'Malley
Sun reporter
Originally published May 24, 2007
The perfect season -- one like no other in Maryland high school baseball history -- is complete.
No. 1 Calvert Hall completed an unbeaten season, believed to be the first in the storied program's history, by beating Mount St. Joseph, 4-0, last night at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen to finish 33-0 and 75-0 as a program.
The victory gave the varsity its third consecutive Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference title and its 15th since 1976, including the old Maryland Scholastic Association that became the MIAA. The Cardinals' junior varsity went 26-0, winning the A Conference title, and the freshman-sophomore team was 16-0, capturing the B Conference championship. "I really thought about it a lot coming into this game today and I feel really blessed and a little humble," said Calvert Hall coach Lou Eckerl. "To think how big of an accomplishment this was. One game could have taken it all away." Eckerl said he checked with Cardinals old-timers and former coach Joe "Snooky" Binder, whom Eckerl succeeded, and nobody remembers an undefeated Cardinals team despite all the championships. Mount St. Joseph (17-15) lost to the Cardinals, 12-2, in the final in 2005, the year Calvert Hall finished 31-1, winning 31 in a row. That record was broken this season, but the Gaels tried to be that "one game" last night. Danny Druzgala mixed his pitches well and shut out the Cardinals through four innings before Jeff Guthridge's single broke the ice in the bottom of the fifth, making it 1-0. Calvert Hall chased Druzgala the next inning, scoring three runs to make a winner out of junior right-hander Michael Dillon (9-0) who threw a three-hitter with five strikeouts and four walks on 99 pitches. Senior catcher John Collingsworth started the clinching rally with a homer over the left-field fence with one out, and Reid Chenworth doubled in a run. "Brooks [Kerr, third base coach] gave me a take sign and I missed it," Collingsworth said. "I can't say what he said when I was coming around third. We weren't the strongest team, but we were the best team every day for 33 games. It's amazing to go 33-0, amazing." As for Dillon's strong effort, Collingsworth said: "Michael mixed fastballs and changeups really well and kept them off balance." Speaking for the seniors, Chenworth, who is headed to Maryland, said: "This team fought to the end, every game. We never gave up and have a lot to be proud of."
Fall 2006 Lions Roster
Mason Dixon Lions
#38 Adam Cordell, 3B/OF/RHP, Catoctin HS 2008
#45 Daniel Miller, 3B/SS/RHP, Catoctin HS 2008
#5 Brian Smith, 2B/OF/RHP, Walkersville HS 2008
#9 Christopher Dube' 1B/C, Walkersville HS 2008
#29 Dani Ashbaugh, Utility/OF/RHP, Linganore HS 2009
#1 Houston Darling, Utility/OF/RHP, Brunswick HS 2009
#17 Tripp Staley 2B/OF/RHP, Linganore HS 2009
#8 Andrew Hodgkins, 3B/1B/OF/C/RHP, Linganore HS 2009
#19 Scott Earl, IF/OF/RHP, Urbana HS 2008
#15 Charlie O'Connor 3B/1B/OF/RHP, Walkersville HS 2008
#20 Michael Dillon, SS/3B/RHP, Calvert Hall College HS, 2008
#10 Mike Minch 2B/SS/C/RHP, Brunswick HS 2008
#22 Jacob Pendergraft 3B/SS/OF/RHP, Boonsboro HS 2008
#25 AJ Jamison C/1B/RHP, Williamsport HS 2008
16U Sports At the Beach After the Championship Game! (Oct 14/15 2006 Seaford, DE)
16U Sluggers Wood Bat Classic Champions! (Sept 23/24 2006 Richmond, VA)
Mason Dixon Lion's Team Manager Rick Ringer with his son Coach Michael Ringer
16U Triple Crown Fall Invitational Champions! (Sept 16/17 2006 Ashland, VA)
The Lions pulled off an amazing Cinderella story at the gorgeous Virginia Sports Complex in the Triple Crown Fall Invitational. The Lions had a dismal showing the week before in Allentown, Pa. going 1-3 as they played together as a team for the first time. The Mason Dixon boys worked hard during the week going back to fundamentals and it paid off in spades. Saturday's games were rained out in Ashland which made for a high pressure situation as the tournament became a single elimination contest with a "win or go home" sense of urgency.
In game one, the Lions were paced by Jacob Pendergraft (Boonsboro HS) and AJ Jamison (Williamsport HS), newcomers to the team who quickly made themselves a part of the family. Pendergraft threw a no-hitter against an impressive squad from Long Island, NY - the Long Island Lightning. Battery mate Jamison was an RBI machine, driving in many of the Lions runs highlighted by a cannon-shot 3-run homer which he deposited into the upper parking lot. When the final out was recorded, the Lions had prevailed 7-0.
Brunswick Railroader Houston Darling got the start on the hill for the Lions in game two against an excellent Burtonsville Dawgs team from Burtonsville, Md. Neither team was able to mount much of an offensive charge as both pitchers kept their opponents at-bay for much of the game. Burtonsville went up 1-0 mid way into the contest on a double into the left field gap scoring their lone run of the game. Andrew Hodgkins (Linganore HS) reached base for the Lions later in the game and then advanced to second. Calvert Hall Cardinal Michael Dillon provided a key RBI double depositing a shot deep into the right field gap scoring Hodgkins to tie the game. After 7 innings were complete, the tournament rules stipulated that each team use the International Tie-breaker rule where each team places their last runner on second base with no outs and the lineup continues. Burtonsville's opportunity to score was denied when Lions' catcher Christopher Dube' (Walkersville HS) threw a laser shot to third baseman Dani Ashbaugh (Linganore HS) who tagged out the advancing runner to end the threat. Michael Dillon pitched in relief for the Lions and shut down any further offensive threat. The Lions began their half of the frame with Brian Smith (Walkersville HS) on second base. Dani Ashbaugh laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt to move Smith to third. Houston Darling put down a beautiful bunt in an effort to safety squeeze the run in, but the Dawgs' defense was up to the task and prevented Smith from advancing. Smith stayed at third. The Dawgs then decided to intentially walk Chris Dube' who was enjoying a torrid afternoon at the plate. Lions' designated hitter Andrew Hodgkins took one for the team getting a fastball right in the elbow to load the bases with two outs. With the game on the line, Michael Dillon took matters into his own hands and crushed a fastball into deep centerfield to win the game for the Lions and move them into the championship game.
The Lions met the Midlothian Wildcats in the championship game. The Wildcats have won three tournaments at the Va Sports Complex this year and they enjoy the ability to borrow players from the local nationally-ranked Richmond Braves national travel team. But the real story on the night was Michael Dillon who was magnificent on the mound for the Lions. Dillon's fastball was virtually un-hittable and he kept the Wildcat batters off-guard with his crafty mix of off-speed pitches. Dillon got flawless defensive support from the rest of the Lions defense who played error free baseball behind him. Dani Ashbaugh came into the game in the 7th inning in relief and retired the side in order to get the Lions their first tournament win in dramatic fashion.
It was an amazing turn around for the Lions as they displayed an amazing competitive spirit and drive to find a way to win under enormous pressure. Over three games, the Lions only allowed a total of 1 run while scoring 12 themselves! Congratulations Lions on an outstanding tournament!
Important Quote
I saw this quote and I was really impressed by it. It says so much with so few words about the true essence of winning and winners. Winners take chances, they want the ball when the game is on the line. They're accepting of the accolades when they win; but they're also accepting of the criticism when they lose. But the bottom line is that winners take chances. And that's what makes them winners.
Here's the quote:
I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.
~ Michael Jordan
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