Coastal Car Connection wins championship in decisive fashion

Published 11:42 am Friday, June 26, 2015

DAVID CUCCHIARA | DAILY NEWS TOURNAMENT CHAMPS: The Coastal Car Connection Junior Babe Ruth team from Bath poses for a picture after winning the tournament championship on Thursday. Pictured are Tanner Alligood, Brantley Cutler, Zach Woolard, Landon Ormond, Braedon Burbage, Zach Griffin, Dustin Bozeman, Tiger Shinohara, Josh Evans and Austin Newman. (Not pictured: John Sterling).

DAVID CUCCHIARA | DAILY NEWS
TOURNAMENT CHAMPS: The Coastal Car Connection Junior Babe Ruth team from Bath poses for a picture after winning the tournament championship on Thursday. Pictured are Tanner Alligood, Brantley Cutler, Zach Woolard, Landon Ormond, Braedon Burbage, Zach Griffin, Dustin Bozeman, Tiger Shinohara, Josh Evans and Austin Newman. (Not pictured: John Sterling).

Submitting to the narrative that’s held true for the last four years, Coastal Car Connection, a dominant Junior Babe Ruth team from Bath, walked away from the Susiegray McConnell Complex in Washington on Thursday for the final time, championship trophies in hand.

A 15-0, four-inning, mercy-rule victory over No. 3-seeded Choco Dry Cleaners in the tournament title game can only be described as fitting ending for a team that’s experienced unparalleled success.

Chocowinity, the No. 3 seed entering the tournament, was fresh off a 7-2 upset win over PCS Phosphate in the semi-finals on Wednesday, riding the arm of Marshall Medlock to the title game. But Bath was a whole different animal.

Southpaw starter Brantley Cutler, who has been virtually unhittable this season, got the call for Coastal Car Connection, and he allowed just two hits and one walk through four innings, picking up seven strikeouts.

“Great group of kids and I’m very proud of them,” said Bath’s Kevin Cutler after his final game as a Junior Babe Ruth coach. “It was a team effort today. The team got behind Brantley and he pitched a great game. He pitched the whole year without giving up a run this year, so I’m very proud of him.”

After Cutler escaped a jam in the first, brought on by two errors, Coastal Car Connection exploded for four runs in the bottom of the frame on two errors and hits by Cutler, Zach Woolard and Landon Ormond.

The offense continued in the second inning, as Bath strung together four-straight hits to open the inning — a leadoff double to right-center from Tanner Alligood and singles from Cutler, Woolard and Parker Boyd. Braedon Burbage, Dustin Boseman and, again, Alligood continued the rally, giving the host a commanding 12-0 lead after two frames.

After a scoreless third, five walks would plate the eventual winning runs, activating the four-inning, 15-run mercy rule and sending Coastal Car Connection up Highway 264 North as 2015 tournament champions.

Alligood finished the day 2-for-2 with two walks, a double and an RBI, while Cutler went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Boseman notched a game-high four RBIs.

“We had a great season, worked hard,” said Choco Dry Cleaners coach Jeff Smith. “It was a Jekyll and Hyde kind of night and I know that’s not the team we can be, but you have to give it to them. They’re a great ball team. They hit the ball all over the field and when they don’t hit it to you, it’s tough. I’m proud of the guys. They never hung their heads and just kept on working. I’ll always remember this season.”

With the loss, Choco Dry Cleaners finished the season 10-5.

The win for Coastal Car Connection marks the end of an era for a team that’s gone 46-3 over the last four seasons.

Coach Cutler sees the recent success as a preview of what’s to come in the next couple of seasons for the Northside baseball team, which will inherit Coastal Car Connection’s top athletes.

DAVID CUCCHIARA | DAILY NEWS RUNNER-UPS: Choco Dry Cleaners of Chocowinity finished second in the 2015 Washington Junior Babe Ruth tournament on Thursday. Pictured are Ryan Kolibabek, Carter Barnes, Dee Ebron, Marshall Medlock, Josh Toler, Jerry Rivera, Carlos Casiano, Chris Hardison, Liam Toler, Juan Casiano and Jontavious Little.

DAVID CUCCHIARA | DAILY NEWS
RUNNER-UPS: Choco Dry Cleaners of Chocowinity finished second in the 2015 Washington Junior Babe Ruth tournament on Thursday. Pictured are Ryan Kolibabek, Carter Barnes, Dee Ebron, Marshall Medlock, Josh Toler, Jerry Rivera, Carlos Casiano, Chris Hardison, Liam Toler, Juan Casiano and Jontavious Little.