Bethlehem's 11U 'Canes Win Mother's Day Classic

Look at 'dem bums.

They look awful happy in a Sunday afternoon picture, but things sure didn't start out that way. On a chilly Saturday morning, the Bethlehem 11U 'Canes, a feeder team for Liberty High School, started their tournament season as they always do. By losing their first game.

This motley crew is an assortment from Little Leagues all over Bethlehem. And as you might expect, they're used to Little League rules, where there's 40' between every base and no leading is permitted.

But when they faced the Forks Township Young Guns at 9 AM in ECBT's Mother's Day Classic at East Allen's Bicentennial Park, they learned it's a lot harder to get on base when you have to run 50'. And it took them, and their coaches, several innings to catch on to that leading concept in a tournament involving seven teams from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania with names like the MuckDawgs.

So naturally, the 'Canes started off by giving up four runs in the first two innings. They did wake up somewhere in the middle of the fourth, but it was too late. They finished Game 1 at the losing end of a 6-5 score.

That's when they started clawing their way back, rolling over Pro-Skills Silver by 16 to 3 and sending the Red Land Nationals to no-man's land, 11 to 3.

Next the 'Canes would face the Staten Island Aces, who should be called the Staten Island Asses. Their coaches, dressed in matching shades and Hawaiian luau shirts, looked like they belonged on the Sopranos. And before the game, I overheard one of them saying they have to rip our hearts out and show no mercy.

Alrighty then.

At first, things seemed fine. The Asses were up 2 to 0, and the Sopranos were actually cheerful. But one swing of the bat, and things change fast. Before they could make an offer that no one could refuse, the 'Canes who were on top 3-2.

That's when the Sopranos started protesting every call and making idiots out of themselves, annoying the umps. But it was still a tight game. They loaded up first and second. Then the second base runner headed for third. A throw came in to third baseman Justin Schmoyer and, in a cloud of dust, the runner was called out.

At that point, the Asses exploded. Two of the three coaches came out to argue the call, cursing and yelling. Both were ejected, but the players and parents were applauding them and jeering the umps.

I'll tell you a little secret. They were right. The runner was safe. I was sitting right by third, and Justin never touched the kid, nor did he have the ball before that little Ass was on third. Justin later told me that even he know the kid was safe.

But the ump called him out so he was out.

Baseball is kinda' like a courtroom that way.

Anyway, the 'Canes ended up winning the game by 1 run and would advance to the 'ship. The Asses were awarded a third place trophy, but the kids threw it on the ground and stomped all over it until it was shattered.

I don't blame the Little Asses. I blame the example set by the Big Asses.

After all that chaos, the final game was anti-climactic, but the 'Canes won, 9-6.

Team members include, in no particular order, David Bertolotti, Alex Laudenslager, Jake Wagner, Kyle Picht, Dat Lambert, Justin Schmoyer, Jake Unangst, Zach Besz, Jason Hughes, Harrison Fandel, Jarret Burcin, Josh Snead, Gabe Abino and Sam Kraihanzel.