Saturday, May 4, 2024
BREWSTER - The Farmers Baseball Club notched its best finish in team history last month when the players made it to the final four semi-finals in Missouri and brought home the Babe Ruth 18U World Series bronze medal.
“This fourth-place finish is our best World Series finish,” said coach Dan Vassar. “This was one of the most exciting events I have been a part of,” said Vassar.
The Farmers flew into St. Louis on August 13, and began their series run the following day on Capaha Field at Southeast Missouri State College.
“The facility, event coverage, and overall treatment of our players was top notch,” said Vassar. “I can only hope that every kid who loves baseball gets a chance to experience this.”
August 14, Brewster lost to Indiana, 7-6.
“We played very sloppy in all parts of the game,” said Vassar, singling out highlights from each game.
• Joe Pitts pitched 3 innings.
• Joe Thronton pitched 2.2 innings.
• Reese Vassar hit 2-4 and scored 1 run.
• Tyson Schertenleib hit 2-4, for two doubles and a run scored.
• Clay Jeanneret hit 1-4, with 2 runs batted in (RBIs).
August 15, Brewster defeated China’s MLB Development, 7-0.
• Carson Boesel pitched 5 innings throwing 7 strikeouts, 0 runs.
• Brayden Meyer pitched 2 innings with 1 strikeout, 0 runs.
• Tyson Schertenleib hit 2-3 and scored 3 runs on a home run and a double.
• Joe Thronton hit 2-2 and scored 2 runs.
August 16, Farmers defeated Australia, 7-6.
• Brooks Pinski pitched 3 innings fanning 5 batters and allowing 2 runs.
• Brady Wulf pitched 3.1 innings with 2 strikeouts, 0 earned runs (ER).
• Ty Rusko pitched a .2 inning save.
• Joe Thornton hit 2-3 and scored 1 run.
• Clay Jeanneret hit 2-3 and scored 1 run.
• Brooks Pinski hit 2-3 with 1 RBI.
August 17, lost to Alabama’s Gulf Coast Advance (12-time national champs), 5-3.
• Joe Thornton pitched 4 innings, with 3 strikeouts, O ER.
• Reese Vassar pitched 1.1 innings.
• Reese Vassar hit 2-4 with a triple and a run scored.
• Carson Boesel hit 2-4 with a double and a run scored.
Despite the loss Vassar ranked the Alabama game as one of the Farmers’ best.
“We had one guy who pitched one bad inning and gave up three runs,” said Vassar, “But we were right there,”
Brewster finished fourth in its pool and earned a first-round bracket game against Virginia.
August 18, Brewster defeated Greater Manassas (Virginia) 1-0.
• Carson Boesel pitched a 6-inning gem with 5 strikeouts, 1 run.
• Ty Rusko got a one inning save.
• Tyson Schertenleib hit 2-2 with an RBI.
“After winning that game we moved onto the quarterfinals to face number-one-seeded California,” Vassar said.
August 18, Farmers defeated California, 4-2.
• Brooks Pinski pitched 3 innings, with 2 strikeouts, 0 hits.
• Ty Rusko pitched 4 innings with 3 strikeouts, 2 hits.
• Tyson Schertenleib hit 2-3 with a triple and 2 runs scored.
• Carson Boesel hit 1-3 with a double and 3 RBIs.
Vassar said the California was Brewster’s best game of the series.
August 19, semi-final loss to Southeast Tropics, 4-3.
• Joe Pitts pitched 4 innings allowing 3 hits, 2 runs.
• Joe Thornton pitched 2 innings with a strikeout, 0 runs.
• Reese Vassar hit 1-2 with a double, 2 runs scored.
• Brady Wulf hit 1-4 with a double, 2 RBIs.
• Tyson Schertenleib hit 1-2 with a double.
• Ty Rusko hit 2-3.
“It was a great opportunity to be able to play international teams,” said Carson Boesel, “The experience surpassed any expectations.”
August 19, Brewster lost the third/fourth place game to Asia Pacific (Taiwan), 5-0.
• Brady Wulf pitched 3 innings with 2 strikeouts, 1 run.
• Grant Baker, Brayden Meyer, and Reese Vassar also pitched.
• Tyson Schertenleib hit 1-3.
“There were 14 teams at this tournament including four international squads,” said Vassar. “Nine players were chosen for All-Tournament Offensive and Defensive Team.”
Offensive Team
• Tyson Schertenleib (Brewster)
• Reese Vassar (Brewster)
Defensive Team
• Carson Boesel (Okanogan)
• Ty Rusko (Brewster)
Tyson Schertenleib was named tournament MVP.
“The 2023 Babe Ruth World Series was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I’ll never forget,” said Thornton. “Cape Girardeau knocked it out of the park hosting. I could not have asked for a more beautiful venue.”
Thornton added that interacting and making connections with Australia and Taiwan was his favorite part of the tournament.
“Thank you to all our sponsors for help making this happen,” Thornton said.
“We have won many tournaments. The most impressive finish is our first-place finish at the Gonzaga invitational.”
The Gonzaga tournament is among the top in the Northwest with predominantly Division 1 players, most of whom are signed to play in the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) next year.
Brooks and Cooper Pinski’s grandfather attended the tournament. He played in the 1957 Babe Ruth World Series for the Wallace Idaho team. He threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Alabama game.
The 18U World Series was the last event for this team before eight of the Farmers head to college to continue their baseball careers. Three of the seniors - Vassar, Schertenleib, and Thornton - were there at the beginning as eight-year-olds.
“It has been an awesome ten-year run for them,” said coach Vassar. “We would like to thank our sponsors who have been sponsoring us for many years now and those that help to make this trip in particular possible. There are too many sponsors to list, but this community made so many contributions and went a long way in making this experience happen.”
Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483, mike@ward.media
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