Eight teams competed this past weekend for two 2024 Boro Classic titles in the 10 and under, and 8 and under, age groups. One team dominated the 10U class of six teams, while two 8U teams competed in a simpler bracket to decide that championship. These competitive squads, consisting of regular season All-Stars, not only battled their opponents, but intense July heat.
As the 10U tournament started on Saturday morning, all half-dozen teams from Pen Mar, Fairfield, Mercersburg, Fulton County, and Waynesboro (with two squads) had high hopes, but two heavyweight contenders emerged during the first two rounds of games.
Fulton County won both their games against Fairfield and Waynesboro’s ‘B’ team by respective scores of 22-3 and 16-1. Their run-scoring juggernaut, outscoring rivals 38-4, was an early warning they were the team to beat. Equally impressive was FC’s pitching and defense, which kept rivals off the bases, allowing few scoring opportunities. For the five other teams, the road to the Boro Classic championship seemed likely to require an uphill climb through Fulton County.
Waynesboro’s ‘A’ 10U team also shined on Saturday. They outlasted Pen Mar in the first contest 4-2, then polished off Mercersburg 17-0. The blue and gold looked confident after two recent tournament victories, which included defeating Fulton County. Having a hometown crowd behind them at the Clayton Avenue baseball complex was also an advantage, as they started the Boro Classic with two victories.
Mercersburg and Fairfield had the toughest draws on Saturday, losing both games, while Waynesboro B and Pen Mar split their two games. That trend continued Sunday, with Pen Mar and Waynesboro B eliminating Fairfield and Mercersburg in the early quarter-final games, earning those two winners a shot at the big dogs. But in the semi-final, their luck ran out as Fulton County beat Pen Mar 10-0 with another solid performance, while Waynesboro A edged Waynesboro B 12-7 to earn a spot in the title game against Fulton County. The stage was set for another showdown between two talented rivals.
During Saturday’s games, the 10 and 9-year-olds treated the crowd to a variety of good defensive plays, graceful athletic form, and adventurous base-running. The players took batting advice from sideline coaches, conducted pitching mound conferences, and took a few called third strikes with maturity and poise.
Meanwhile, the Boro Classic’s 8U division was an easily decided contest, with only two teams competing. Waynesboro and Mercersburg played a simple best of three series and the local team made short work of Mercersburg with 13-2 and 17-1 wins, earning Waynesboro the championship on Saturday.
Throughout the weekend, organizers of the Boro Classic sponsored fun events and held outdoor activities for both players and spectators. The snack bar and Antietam Dairy ice cream truck were popular, keeping everyone fed, hydrated, and cool, as parents, friends, siblings, and grandparents took shelter from the sun in welcome shade of hillside trees.
Sunday’s 10U championship was a 3:15 game between home team Waynesboro A and visiting Fulton County. Garrett McCarty was on the mound to start for FC, while Isaac Fortney took the hill for Waynesboro. In mid-90 degree heat, Fortney went to work first. After initial struggles finding the strike zone and a few key hits from Fulton County batters, the Waynesboro team came to bat already behind 6-0.
Mesmerized by McCarty’s pitches, Waynesboro’s A team was shutout in the first three innings, while Fulton County added four in the second and two more runs in the fourth to take a commanding 12-1 lead. Their hitters stayed patient at the plate, drawing numerous walks, and FC was also adept dropping singles in between the infield and outfield. Fulton County also ran the bases intelligently and made the most of scoring opportunities. As a tribute to both pitching staffs, neither team hit the ball deep into the outfield during the game.
By the fifth, the game was out of reach as Fulton County added three more runs to make the final score 15-1. In total, FC outscored their opponents 63-5 during the tournament, a truly dominant performance. Waynesboro couldn’t get their offense going in the title game, leaving runners stranded on base, as they were unable to string a group of hits together.
But Waynesboro A only lost one game all weekend, and finished as a worthy runner-up, beating three of the other four competing teams by playing solid baseball.
After the contest, the two deserving teams took to the field one last time to receive awards and take team photos. Each player received a ring and both teams lofted a hefty trophy to mark a successful weekend of spirited baseball and good sportsmanship.
