Lisbon Caps Impressive 16U Baseball Season With Playoff Title

BY DAVE SHEA

FORT COVINGTON -Lisbon took a 3-2 lead over Fort Covington in Monday's 16U Championship game of the Bob Bartin Memorial Malone Baseball League.

All indications pointed toward a high scoring game.

None of those indicators manifested themselves as the score stood through seven innings giving Lisbon a sweep of the league's 16U and 14U playoff honors.

"i am really proud of these guys. For a lot of them this was 41st game counting the high school season right on through the 16U and 14U playoffs," said Lisbon Coach Dave Gravlin who also teammed with Darren LaRock to lead the Lisbon Central Knights to the New York State Class D Final 4 in the spring..

"Getting a chance to play that many games is why we have been able to compete so well at the high school level."

Outstanding pitching and clutch defensive plays dictated the final six innings of Monday's championship game which was hosted by number one seed Fort Covington at Salmon River Central School.

Lisbon starter Ben LaRock struck out 10, walked four and allowed just three hits and Jayden Williams came on to pitch a scoreless seventh and get a save. LaRock finished with a 7-2 record on the mound for 10-1 Lisbon and struck out 66 batters against 25 walks. Williams picked up a championship game save to go along with a 3-0 record as a starter.

Both benefited from a perfect strikes within the Lisbon defense.

In the sixth inning Colin Parmeter unleashed a strong throw from right field to Issac LaRock at thirdbase who made a diving tag to retire the potential tying run. In the seventh inning catcher Jackson LaRock rifled a strong throw to Tyler Gravlin at secondbase who ended the game by tagging out a Fort Covington runner tying to steal secondbase.

"Ben LaRock pitched a great game tonight but he threw over 100 pitches so we went to Jayden Williams in the seventh," said Lisbon Coach Dave Gravlin.

"They both have pitched in a lot of big games. They both did a good job today against a Fort Covington team with a lot of good players."

The Fort Covington mound combination of Chase Lewis and Connor Lewis combined to strand 11 Lisbon baserunners and cushion the effect of Lisbon's 11-4 advantage in hits. Chase struck out our four in three innings and Chase fanned five batters in four innings.

Ben LaRock doubled in two runs in the first inning for Lisbon and singled later in the game and Jack LaRock doubled and scored on a single by Jayden Williams. Tyler Gravlin went 2-for-3 and scored a run and Armando Lazaro also went 2-for-3. Lucas Gravlin and Issac LaRock both added singles.

Kade Cook, Gavin Avery Cook, Jared Rollins and Luke Miller singled for Fort Covington and Miller drove in a run in the first inning.

NOTE: Lisbon finished with a team batting average if .409 led by Ben LaRock who batted .684 (26-for38) with 22 RBIs and Jayden Williams who hit .517 with 12 RBIs. Also rea

Issac LaRock makes a spectacular diving tag at thirdbase to retire the potential tying run in the sixth inning of Monday's 3-2 win over Fort Covington.

ching the .400 plus circle were: Dave Pirie (.467 11 RBIs), Jackson LaRock (.448), Tyler Gravlin .(407), Issac LaRock (.417, 11 RBIs) and Armando Lazaro (.467).

Lisbon won the 16U Playoffs of the Bob Bartin Memorial Baseball League based in Malone. In front are Willie Pirie and Eddie Walker. Kneeling are: Jackson LaRock, Cooper Rutherford, Armando Lazaro, Dave Pirie, Lucas Gravlin and Colin Parmeter. Standing long with the championship game umpiries are: Trenton Willkiams,m Storm Walker, Benb LaRock, Coach Rick White, Jayden Williams, Tyler Gravlin, Coach Dave Gravlin, Issac LaRock and Coach Darren LaRock.

Fort Covington earned the top seed in the Bob Bartin Memorial Baseball League based in Malone. Members of the team are: Kade Cook, Zach Durand, Gavin Avery-Cook, Connor Lewis, Caiden Carter, Jared Rollins, Luke Miller, Evan Collette, Chase Lewis, Donovin Lauzon, Rick Chatland and Ryan Oakes.

Lisbon's Storm Walker makes solid contact in Monday's 16U Baseball Championship game.