12 RED WARRIORS FOLLOW-UP COOPERSTOWN SUCCESS WITH TOURNEY TITLE IN GLENVIEW

Coach Zues and his 2013 Deerfield 12 Red Warriors baseball team could have taken off the past week to revel in their record-setting season: racking up an impressive 37-10-1 overall record; winning the divisional championship in the fiercely competitive Mid-Suburban Baseball League; and finishing up their Cooperstown tournament with a historically significant quarter-finals run at All-Star Village.

But instead of sitting on their past accomplishments, the 12 Reds hopped in their cars and headed to Glenview last weekend with the goal of earning one more prize---the Championship Trophy in the 2013 Jim Christ Neighbors Helping Neighbors Summer Classic. Then a few days and five games later, they proudly drove back to Deerfield with that prize firmly in hand!

On their road to the championship, Deerfield first had to get passed Mt. Prospect in the tournament opener. The Warriors took a 1-0 lead thanks to a Charlie Simon two out RBI single that brought in Noah Prebish. In the 3rd, singles by Prebish and Justin Marshall set up a multi-RBI opportunity for Lucas Danielwicz, who delivered both home as he ripped a double. Danielewicz would then score on a deep sac fly by Drew Grossman. Starting pitcher Matthias Strotman was solid in 2 1/3 innings of work, allowing just two runs on three hits. Deerfield took an 8-3 lead heading to the bottom of the 5th, and it appeared Mt. Prospect was out of the game. But they came back with a vengeance, trimming Deerfield’s lead to one as they now were nursing an 8-7 game. Charlie Simon came into the game and recorded the game's final 2 outs as the Warriors narrowly escaped by the same score.

Next up for the 12 Red was the Darien Hornets.  The Warriors got hot early---it was all them as they plated two in the 1st, eight in the 2nd, one in the 3rd and three in the 4.  The end result was the Warriors slaughtered the Hornets 14-1 in 4 innings. Jake Reicin, Jacob Radis, and Drew Grossman provided instant offense as they combined to go 5-7 with 4 doubles and 7 RBI’s. Jake Gold and Justin Marshall shared mound duty for the 12 Red, together allowing 1 run on 3 hits as Deerfield improved to 2-0 in the tournament.

Now thinking playoffs, the Warriors needed to grab a W as they faced the Northwest Knights. Deerfield got things going in the 1st as they sent nine batters to the plate and scored four runs to help them take a 6-0 lead after three innings. Jacob Strimling led the offense with two RBI’s. Starting pitcher Charlie Simon sent five of the six batters he faced back to their seats with five Ks. The Knights plated three runs to make it a competitive 6-3 game. Noah Prebish pitched the final two innings to end the game.

If you were craving more Deerfield than you'd get in a normal game, you got it in the semi-final game.  Playing for a right to go to the championship game, our 12 Red played our 11 Red in a game marked by solid pitching and timely hitting. The margin was razor-thin early as the 12 Red Warriors led 3-2 after 2 innings. The 12 Red Warriors scored four runs in the 5th capped off with an RBI double by Jake Reicin that brought in Shael Plofsky. The 12 Red Warriors won the game 12-7 to advance to the championship game. 

The championship game featured a great match-up as the Deerfield Warriors squared off against an old opponent, the Schaumburg Flyers. This would be the last game of a great year for the Warriors. This was a great game from the first pitch as both teams managed only one run after two innings. Schaumburg was able to grab a 2-1 lead after three, but the Warriors answered back with a run of their own and were tied 2-2 after four innings. Justin Marshall leadoff the top of the 5th with a walk and later stole 2nd, he later advanced to 3rd on a groundout by Drew Grossman and later scored on a groundout by Jacob Strimling. The Warriors knew that they would need more runs if they wanted to win. Jake Reicin got the 6th inning started by reaching on an error which was followed by Matthias Strotman beating out a bunt for a hit. Lucas Platt advanced them by placing down a perfect sacrifice bunt. Four straight Warriors reached base after that as the Warriors scored four times to take a 7-2 lead.  Charlie Simon got into a little bit of a jam as the Flyers put four of their first five batters on base. The Warriors got out of it and won the tourney title 7-4.

Manager Mark Januszewski and coaches Eli Berlin, Luke Strotman and Mike Danielewicz ran the 12 Red, and the players consisted of:Lucas Danielewicz, Jake Gold, Drew Grossman, Justin Marshall, Lucas Platt, Shael Plofsky, Noah Prebish, Jacob Radis, Jake Reicin, Charlie Simon, Jacob Strimling, and Matthias Strotman