Skills Competition was held Thursday, Aug. 17th 
at the Clifton Common Twin Baseball Diamonds 

By STAN HUDY

CLIFTON PARK – South Colonie’s Ron Notar won’t see too many good pitches Friday afternoon at the 13-15-year-old Babe Ruth World Series in Clifton Park.
The South Colonie first baseman earned 11 points in the final round of the World Series Skills Competition held on baseball’s upper quad, beating out Youngstown, Ohio’s Jamie Shepard, to capture the home run derby title and it’s three-foot tall trophy.

“This year for rec league I didn’t hit that many out,” Notar said. “Once travel came around, I feel like I warmed up.”

The hitting event rewards batters with a point for balls that advance over the latter portion of the outfield, shortened by an orange security fence, over the outfield wall, three.

(Click photo above for larger version)

A ball not hit over the fences was an out, forcing the batters to focus on their pitches offered and jettison those they connected with.

South Colonie teammate Matthew Vetrone provided the fodder for Notar to deposit over the fence.

“He threw to me at the Eastern New York Tournament,” Notar said. “Matt (Vetrone) throws them right over the plate, right in my wheelhouse.”

Shepard turned heads in the preliminary round, depositing shot after shot over the inner and outer fences, earning 21 points.

“He’s hit seven or eight out on bigger fields,” Youngstown, Ohio coach Al Franceschelli said.  “He’s not big, but he has perfect form.”

Sheppard couldn’t regain his preliminary form in the final, earning 10 points to Notar’s title-holding 11.

Kelso, Washington’s Andrew Fitzpatrick earned the individual base running award, completing the four-bag circuit in 14.95 seconds.

“It’s about being fast and smart,” Fitzpatrick said. “You have to keep your mind focused and be physically ready.” 

Youngstown, Ohio also captured the team fielding and throwing event, sending the ball to every base and back in one minute, 32 seconds.

“They didn’t do well in the practice round and the took it upon themselves to practice,” Franceschelli said.  “That’s the way this group is, they never quit.”
The Pacific Northwest Champions, Kelso, Washington saw outfielder Chris Whitmire earn the “Golden Arm” award for outstanding outfielder.  Players threw from centerfield to home plate, earning points for accuracy.

“I wanted to see the other players first,” Whitmire said. “Then I relaxed and threw it.”

The action turns serious as the first day of pool play for the 13-15-year-old Babe Ruth World Series gets underway at 9 a.m. with Portland, Maine facing Youngstown, Ohio.  West End Baseball, from Williamsport, Pennsylvania faces Waite Park, Minnesota at noon.  South Colonie faces Jefferson Parish, Louisiana at 3 p.m. giving way to opening ceremonies at 6 p.m. World Series host team, Clifton Park faces Greenville, North Carolina at 7 p.m.