January 8, 2017

The Hawks GOLD Nugget team is a developmental group made up on 5, 6, 7 & 8 year old players.  The purpose of this team is to train, instruct and develop these young players for more serious travel baseball in years to come.

On Saturday, January 8th the HG-Nuggets team took the field in Ypsilanti, MI in an 8U tournament against teams consisting of players that may have 2 - 3 years age advantage over a majority of the Nugget team.  With that said, the expectations for the tournament was to continue to develop "Active Game" development and gain experience, knowledge and repetition.  It is safe to say that if the Nuggets were to compete and keep one of the games close or even win a game - it would be considered a tremendous win.

In the first game, HG-Nuggets squared off against the Primetime 8U travel baseball team out of Kalamazoo, MI.  Ben Raskey took the start from the mound.  After completing 5 innings of work at the mound, Ben struck out 15 batters and allowed 1 hit in the 7-3 victory over Primetime Baseball.  The HG-Nuggets had 10 hits in the game including one hit from Spencer Crowe, Seamus Faron, Blake Willette, Ben Raskey, and Michael Bolling.  Dylan Crowe and Nick Myers both had 2 hits each in the win.  The team looked great as they surpassed all expectations by winning against an older team in their very first game together.

In the second game, Stelios Ligerakis took the mound against the 8U Michigan Blue Jays.  Stelios went 2 innings allowing 4 hits, 3 runs, 7 walks while striking out 4 batters.  Nick Myers, Michael Bolling and Spencer Crowe finished the game with 1 inning each from the mound.  The Nuggets team mustered 6 hits in the 10 - 4 win over the Michigan Bluejays 8U team.  Nuggets out-hit the opposing team 6 hits compared to 5 hits and out scored them 10 - 4.  Ryland Morrison, Allison Raether, Ben Raskey and Nick Myers each had a hit in the game while Michael Bolling had 2 hits.   The parents and coaches were pleasantly surprised that the team went 2 - 0 in pool play and earned themselves a trip to the championship game.

In the championship game, Nick Myers took the mound and went 5 innings, allowing 0 runs, 3 hits, 2 walks and striking out 15 batters.  Michael Bolling closed the game with a 1 inning performance allowing 0 hits, 1 walk and striking out 3 batters.  The Nuggets team had 4 hits against the Michigan Blue Jays in the championship game versus 3 hits allowed to the opposing team.  Dylan Crowe, Michael Bolling, Nick Myers and Ben Raskey accounting for the hits.  

The HG-Nuggets won the championship game 3 - 0 to claim their first championship title of the year.  Players, parents, coaches and fans all can agree, these players out-played, out-hit and out-pitched each team they played.  At such an early age, this is a great sign that the team is coming together and have improved over the training period.  The HG Nation (at all ages) blew up with talk and awareness of the Nuggets unlikely dominance.  It appears the HG-Nuggets are grabbing the attention of everyone in the HG nation as well as those following HG.

HG Proud - HG-Nuggets!