Due to a low number of teams in the Appomattox River League this year, the Wakefield/Waverly Colt team was forced to split into 2 teams, the Nationals and Americans respectively. Coach Paul Rogers had planned on making this a win/win for everyone.

Team continuity is important so he took the Nationals team and placed all the returning players on it, the majority being 16-year-olds, and he added a couple of returning 15-year-olds, in addition to bringing up 2 prospective 14-year-olds, giving the Nationals a roster with 12 players. As for the Americans, the team is comprised entirely of first year players to the organization, all 15-year-olds, and he added a 14-year-old, to give them 12 players also.

Coach Rogers stressed to the boys and the parents that this division has absolutely nothing to do with players abilities as both teams have accomplished ballplayers on their roster, but more the fact that some players share transportation with each other and also in keeping consistent within the team, especially for the players who will be returning next year.

In the first game of a two, 5 inning doubleheader at the Wakefield Baseball Complex, the National team jumped out to a 3 – 0 lead in the first inning off of starting pitcher Brett Starcher, due to 2 American fielding errors. Nate Williams, Brynner Porter and Kyle Hooper each scored. Dylan Beale pitched the first 2 innings for the National team, striking out 2 and issuing 1 base on balls. Jackson Smith accounted for another National run in the second inning. Kyle Hooper came in to pitch for the National’s in the top of the third, and Morgan Hall came in and pitched for the American’s in the bottom of the third. Fine defensive plays from both teams kept the score 4-0 until Morgan Hall for the American team scored in the top half of the fourth inning, cutting into the National lead. Hall kept the National’s at bay, needing only 16 pitches in the two innings he pitched. Final score National 4 American 1

In game 2, Brian Craft led off the scoring for the American’s, hitting a single to left centerfield, and advancing on a series of wild pitches/past balls. American starting pitcher Cory Childress allowed 1 unearned run in 2 innings of work. The Americans sent 11 batters to the plate in the second inning, scoring 6 more times, highlighted by a Childress 1 out double scoring 2, and a Trevor Daughtery 2 out single scoring 2 runs. The National’s plated 4 runs in the top of the third inning, powered by Hunter Buhls, who hit a 2-run homerun deep into the woods behind left field. Brett Starcher (American) and Brynner Porter (National) pitched the final 2 scoreless innings. Final score American 7 National 5.