By JOHN ANDERSON
On June 23 at 2 p.m., the first game of the 10u Little League All-Star bracket took place as LeRoy downed Wellsville, 7-4.
That dropped the Wellsville team into the consolation bracket and the team would not only have to fight all the way back, but even if they were to win, they would go against the champions from the Cattaraugus County bracket with a loss.
But Wellsville Little League 10u Manager Dan Helveston said the loss was the best thing to happen to the team.
As each day and week went by, the Wellsville kids kept winning. And winning.
On Friday, July 5, the mission was completed as Wellsville downed Ellicottville-Cattaraugus-Little Valley (ECLV), 11-3 for the New York Little League District 2 championship.
To get there, Wellsville downed Bolivar-Richburg, 16-0 then the next day Fillmore, 11-4. With those two wins, it was back to the finals and the one loss against undefeated LeRoy. Wellsville downed LeRoy, 8-5 on July 1 and then 7-3 on July 3.
ECLV also entered the finals with one loss, so a win would determine the champion. Wellsville pulled off the 11-3 win for five wins in a row and now advanced to the Section championships in Rochester, the final steps before the state tournament.
“I told the boys I thought the loss was the best thing for us. It was a close game and we were not mentally ready to win,” Helveston said. “The adversity from that gave them the motivation to go on the run they did. I think it taught them not to give up until the game is over and keep fighting.”
To come back through the bracket and beat LeRoy twice means you need pitching. And Braidon Potter was up for the challenge, as he threw 13 innings over the five games, striking out 27 batters. Wyatt Green, Matt Helveston and Maddoc Johnson all hit over .400 in the final two games as well.
“Another thing that really helped us was our baserunning and the strength of our catcher, Jace HerrNeckar. He led the team in RBI’s and did a phenomenal job catching for us,” said the manager.
There were also players who stepped up, Dan Helveston said.
“What I love about all-stars, different kids will step up. Mason Wieszczyk didn’t get a hit the first two games then stepped up from there and is fifth on our team in hitting,” he said. “To get this far, it took a team effort and results from everybody.”
The game championship game against ECLV was close in the fourth as Wellsville pitcher’s Matt Helveston and Wyatt Green were keeping the game close. However, that’s when the Wellsville bats came alive as the young Lions scored six runs in the fourth to put the game away.
From there, Green tossed four innings of no-hit ball to earn the win with three strikeouts and one run allowed. Helveston struck out four in two innings and allowed two runs.
At the plate, Helveston had a monster game going 2-for-3 with a triple, double and 2 RBI’s.
Wellsville center fielder Maddoc Johnson set the table for RBI’s going 3-for-4 with a run hitting out of the No. 3 spot in the lineup. Green, who also led off and started at shortstop, went 2-for-4 with an RBI double.
Mason Wieszczyk had a big day at the plate as he went 2-for-3 with a double and a run.
The hits kept coming as catcher Jace HerrNeckar went 2-for-3 and scored two runs. Mason Wieszczyk went 2-for-3 with a run.
Braidon Potter was 1-for-2 with a 2-RBI single, scored a run and walked. Sullivan Kehrer drove in two runs, had a hit and scored a run.
Colsin Short had a RBI, walked and scored a run. Luke Aftuck had a walk and a run and Kaysen Grover had another solid game on defense.
Roster
Luke Aftuck, Wyatt Green, Felix Grimes, Kaysen Grover, Matthew Helveston, Jace HerrNeckar, Maddoc Johnson, Rhett Joyce, Sullivan Kehrer, Braidon Potter, Colsin Short and Mason Wieszczyk.
Coaches
Manager Dan Helveston, coaches Ryan Kehrer and Kris Green.
Photo gallery thanks to District II and parents:
