While the focus for Baseball U New England's college development program is on player development and helping place players in college, make no mistake about it, that when the organization wants to focus on winning they can put up their share of championships.

This weekend the team did just that and won Baseball U's 5^th Perfect Game

Northeast Championship is 7 years.

The team went undefeated in bracket play 3-0. On Monday, if they were to obtain their goal of PG WWBA Northeast Champions, all they would have to do is play 4 playoff games and win all of them. The players were at the field at 6:50 in the morning and did not leave the ballpark until 10:30pm that night.

In the 4 playoff games the Baseball U NE squad scored 32 runs with good aggressive baseball and timely hitting. It was a total team effort. The boys were told that if they had a chance to win the event on Monday it was going to take strong will and a contribution from everyone on the team.

This team of players was a Baseball U New England select team from our Elite and Grey 17U program. The New England based organization added 4 pitchers and 1 position player from the New Jersey based Prospect team to round out it's roster.

Our objective was to throw as many pitchers as possible in the bracket play (12) and bounce back with fresh arms for the playoffs and the team did just that. The team threw 11 pitchers in the playoffs and the strategy paid off.

Offensively the team was lead by “Tournament MVP” Dominick Luongo (Cardinal Spellmen HS, NY- Seen Above) who collected 14 hits in four days. Dominick made an adjustment after day 2 and was the spark the team needed. Jake Rouse (Jonathan Law HS, Milford,CT) earn a BIG Stick Award along with Loungo for his offensive output during the 7 game, 4 day tournament. (Bracket Games Wins: Langdon Baseball 6-1, Staten Island Orioles 3-1, Bayside Yankees Elite 7-4: Playoffs Wins Worchester Heat 6-1, Northeast Baseball Alliance Scout 6-1, NJ Marlins 9-8, New Jersey Saints 11-4: Championship) Rouse, Casey McCone (Foran,HS, Milford) and Ben Monte (Guilford HS,) all hit home runes during this event.

Rouse staked the U New England team to an early 1-0 led in the first inning of bracket game # 2 against SI Orioles. McCone's two run shot, in the top of the 7th broke a 1-1 as Ryan Testani (Shelton HS) picked up the save and Ryan Reuther (Wilton HS)  the win in relief of Cameron Stone (West Haven, HS) Monte's 2 run blast came in the 3rd inning with U New England trailing 4-1 to the NJ Marlins. This "Big Swing" allowed the team to climb back into the game and grind out the 9-8 win.

The Championship Game saw U New England fall behind 1-0 in the second inning, but it was the only time the team would trail in this game. The U New England team then exploded for 4 runs in the bottom half of the inning and continued to add to it's led. This "will to win" never gave it's opponent an opportunity to come back. The resounding 11-4 final score was a true indication of amazing day! Adam Thayer (Ansonia HS) and Simon Mathews (The Hopkins School) each picked up playoff wins. While Matt Osiega (NJ) pick up the win in the championship game.

Our players are always asked to be prepared, work hard, compete, never give up and focus on how to improve their themselves each day during a 3 hour practice. If everyone expects success, learns from their failures, and works on what they have to do on the field, the winning will take care of itself. These words were all echoed loud and clear as these players student behind the PG Banner that claimed them as the 2012 WWBA Northeast Qualifier #1 Champions!

The Baseball U New England team was coached by it's Director, Patrick Vigilio,Jr who is an associate scout for the San Francisco Giants. He was assisted by the organization's National Director, John Wells who also an associate scout with the Seattle Mariners. Both director's were on hand during the entire weekend coaching the young men and helping the players to leave it all on the field. This is a memory that will last a lifetime for these young men.

Winning 4 games in a playoff round, in one day, will be something that everyone in the Baseball U family will never forget. Go U!

Baseball U New England Team Members:

Sam Ellinwood: SS (Staples HS, Westport,CT), Mike Davis: RHP/1B (Newtown HS, Newtown, CT), Cameron Stone RHP/2b (West Haven HS, West Haven, CT)

Mike Giordano C (Brien McMahon HS, Norwalk, CT) Simon Mathews RHP (The Hopkins School, West Haven, CT), Dom Luongo OF ( Cardinal Spellman HS, NY, Darien, CT), Shawn Blake 1b/OF ( Fairfield Prep HS, Stratford,CT), Jake Rouse 3B (Jonathan Law, Milford, CT), Matt Toth Rhp/2b and Dan Rajkowski Rhp (New Canaan HS, New Canaan, CT), Mitch Williams C (Berlin HS, Berlin, CT), Ryan Bailey C (Fox Lane HS, NY),Casey McCone OF (Foran HS, Milford, CT) Ryan Reuther 1b/RHP Wilton HS, Wilton, CT), Ryan Testani Rhp (Shelton HS, Shelton, CT), Adam Thayer LHP (Ansonia HS, Ansonia CT), Kyle Dunster Rhp (Greenwich HS, Greenwich, CT), Grant Lamberton 2b (NJ), Justin Dunn Rhp (The Gunnery, Waterbury CT), John McCarren Rhp (NJ), Matt Osiega LHP (NJ), Eny Ruibal RHP (NJ)