Go Devils top Franklin tourney

Church brings Devils big tourney win in Franklin

“Grit,” said Tom Smith,Titusville’s 11 and under Go Devil’s travel ball baseball team's head coach.
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Down 5-2 with only a couple more at-bats to go they got a couple in the fifth with the help of some errors by Hermitage.

But entering the sixth and final inning they needed to make something happen.
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Matthew Church steps up and puts a ball in play scoring the tying run. 

Not the fastest runner, but Church ends up on second. A little bit later he is on third with two of his teammates occupying the first and second bases.
There was only one out.

A pitch finds its way to the back stop and Church was sent barreling down and he slid under the tag as the ball skipped out of the pitcher's glove as he tried to cover home.
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“Once that ball kicked out, we took a chance," said coach Smith. “A little bit of a risk, but hey, that’s how you win some games - being gritty, that’s who we are.”
Church touching a toe at home plate meant the Go Devils were finally champions of a tournament.

​They had previously made the finals of two other tournaments only to come in second.
The second annual Kevin Porter Memorial baseball tournament in Franklin was theirs - at least in the 11 and under division.
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Getting the wins this weekend showcased the hard work they have been putting in according to the coach.

A day earlier they found themselves down 9-3 in the fourth against the host Franklin Firestorm. 
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The gritty team never gave up getting a few in the bottom of the fourth, a few more in the bottom of the fifth and then cruised to a 12-9 win.

“I’m proud of them, we’ve been in the finals three weekends in a row. These teams in 11U, in this area, are competitive,” coach Smith said. “I’m proud of the kids, the way we fight, pitch, hit, pick each other up… it’s a team effort.”
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The Go Devils will take a bit of a breather so many on the teams can compete in the little league all-stars championships coming up.

If they take this same mentality into the all-stars season they will likely do some damage. 
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The Go Devils lineup is strong up front with the Smith cousins Kellen and Miles nearly always on base and scoring a couple runs a game.

​Trenton Gates and Jackson Greathouse often putting the ball in play scoring the Smith boys.

​Matthew Church, well we already discussed his grit and Cole K (announcers seam squeamish trying to pronounce Kurelowich) are solid bats when needed. Wade Sterling  and Jacob Schmader made solid contributions last weekend.
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“It’s a next guy up mentality,” coach Smith said. “Some guys might not have it one game, that’s why it’s a team… you fight.”