The City of Altamonte Springs capped off an historic summer for the Altamonte Baseball Academy (ABA) and Altamonte Fastpitch Academy (AFA) as the ABA 13U All-Stars finished as the Diamond Bracket (Fifth Place) Champions in the Babe Ruth 13 Year Old World Series held in Glen Allen, Virginia.
ABA finished 5-3 in the World Series, outscoring its opponents 70-34, and closed out the event on a three-game winning streak. Congrats on a great run!
The team came into the World Series with a record of 10-2 _ going 2-0 and outscoring its foes, 32-4, in the Districts, going 4-2 at State, outscoring its opponents, 44-11, but going 1-2 against Lutz, including falling 5-1 in the winner-take-all Championship Game, that still earned them an invitation to the Southeast Regional in Tallahassee, where ABA went 3-0, rolling up a 22-6 scoring advantage, to earn the invite to the World Series.
Pool play proved to be tough for Altamonte as it opened the World Series as, after opening with an 18-0 thrashing of Williston Moose, North Dakota, they dropped a 12-11, walkoff decision to eventual WS Champion Oahu, Hawaii, and then ran into nemesis Lutz, which would finish third in the tournament, and dropped an 8-2 decision to finish 1-2 in Pool play, still good enough for the No. 9 seed for Bracket Play.
ABA opened Bracket Play with a resounding 8-2 upset win over No. 8 seeded Greater Wenatchee, Washington, and led top-seed and host Glen Allen (which would finish as the WS Runners-up), 1-0, with two out in the seventh, but an error kept the game alive and the hosts were able to win, 2-1, in another walkoff loss for Altamonte.
But ABA refused to give up and bounced back in the Diamond Bracket with victories over No. 5 Auburn, Alabama, 7-3, No. 10 North Providence-Smithfield, Rhode Island. 10-1 and rallying for a 13-6 triumph over Greater Wenatchee in a rematch.
In addition to the team’s triumph, a trio of players were recognized for their exceptional performances during the World Series:
* Steven Feliz was named to the All-Defensive Team.
* Blake Wyche and Daniel Tolentino were named to the All-World Series Team.
The Altamonte Baseball Academy 13U All-Stars, which ended the summer with a 15-5 record and a 168-55 scoring advantage, were managed by Chris, with Ryan King serving as Coach.
Making up the roster were _ Xavier Aybar, Esdra Cruz, Julian Diaz, Yhonny Diaz, Steven Feliz, Hunter Hengehold, Ryan King, Andres Maysonet, Christian Rivers, Daniel Tolentino, Jean Torrse, Blake Wyche, Christian Zambrano and Enmanuel Zambrano.
Overall, the 2024 Altamonte Springs Babe Ruth All-Star program began with 12 teams competing at the district level, where the Altamonte Fastpitch Academy (AFA) 6U and 10U; and the ABA 11U, 13U and 14U teams emerged as District Champions. At the state level, the ABA 11U team won the state championship, while the 13U and 14U teams finished as runners-up, all qualifying for the Southeast Regional tournaments. The ABA 11U and 13U teams won the regional tournament, both qualifying for the World Series. The ABA 11U team are World Champions, the ABA 13U team finished as Diamond (Fifth) Bracket Champions and the AFA 10U participated in the World Series finishing second.
Congratulations to the players, coaches and supporters of the ABA and AFA All-Stars. This achievement is the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Altamonte Springs youth sports.
Here are the results:
2024 Babe Ruth 13 Year Old World Series
At Glen Allen, Virginia
POOL PLAY
Saturday, August 10, 2024
ABA 18, Williston Moose, North Dakota 0.
Sunday, August 11, 2024
Oahu, Hawaii 12, ABA 11.
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
Lutz, Florida 8, ABA 2.
WORLD SERIES BRACKET
Quarterfinals
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
(9) ABA 8, (8) Greater Wenatchee, Washington 2.
Semifinals
Thursday, August 15, 2024
(1) Glen Allen 2, (9) ABA 1.
Diamond Bracket
Quarterfinals
Thursday, August 15, 2024
(9) ABA 7, (5) Auburn, Alabama 3.
Semifinals
Friday, August 16, 2024
(9) ABA 10, (10) North Providence-Smithfield, Rhode Island 1.
Third Place Game _ (4) Lutz 11, (2) Easton Youth, Massachusetts 3.
Championship
Saturday, August 17, 2024
Winner’s Bracket
(3) Oahu 3, (1) Glen Allen 2.
Diamond Bracket
(9) ABA 13, (8) Greater Wenatchee, Washington 6.
