Pony series has special meaning for Kelley
Members of the 2013 Washington Pony World Series team are, front row, from left, Isaiah Perry, Michael Hertig, Connor Bedillion, Kurt Adkins, Ethan Mohr, Nick Herrnberger and Steve Shultz. Middle row, Connor Anderson, Michael Golaski, Garrett Briant, Nick Bayer, Mac Chambers, Adam Raggi, Kyle Kelley and Kevin Patterson. Back row, coach Scott Henson, manager Rick Herrnberger and coach Ron Herrnberger.
When Kyle Kelley takes the mound this Saturday for the start of the Pony League World Series, he won’t be alone.
Not only will Kelley have eight fielders surrounding him, ready to catch anything an opposing batter hits, but there will be someone else on Kelley’s mind: his uncle, Vincent Kelley, who was killed while attempting to apprehend a bank robber outside of Giant Eagle in South Strabane on June 16.
“More than a lot,” Kelley answered when asked how much of the Pony League World Series, which begins Friday, will be dedicated to his uncle. “I’ve been thinking about it every day.”
Kyle Kelley is a left-handed pitcher, the top arm in Washington’s rotation. He wears braces. He smiles a lot. He’s polite. His “squirrely” windup is something Washington manager Rick Herrnberger hopes will deceive opposing batters.
His resolve? Unquestioned.
“He’s fought through it all,” said Kurt Adkins, like Kelley and outfielder and pitcher. “He’s a great kid, a great player and a great pitcher.
“I think we’re all kind of with him playing for his uncle.”
Kelley could’ve skipped the first tournament after his uncle’s death but refused, figuring it wasn’t what Vincent Kelley, later lauded as a hero, would have wanted.
The player known as “Squeak” tossed a gem in the opener, then hit a walk-off, grand slam to put away the top-seeded team. Behind Kelley, Washington has played seven games and lost none of them.
“It just seemed like he had somebody watching him,” Herrnberger said. “He hit two or three home runs during the tournament, and he’s not our No. 3 hitter; we normally have him in the No. 9 slot. He’s fast, sees a lot of pitches, can bunt. But he pounded it.”
Kelley admits that this week’s series, which has been condensed into six days, will be plenty important, though not all because of his uncle; as usual, Washington is trying to hold its own against international teams, perhaps even win a game or two in the double-elimination tournament.
Washington opens with a 5:30 p.m. game Saturday against Paderborn, Germany, the European Zone champion.
“I’m just hoping me and the guys can get a win and do more than what the past World Series teams have done,” Kelley said.
Kelley, Adkins and Herrnberger insisted this year’s team is devoid of individuals. They’ve bought into the team concept. The hitting should be solid, there’s plenty of speed, and some pitchers will have to step up to give the team quality innings.
Ethan Mohr and Connor Anderson figure to share time at third base, while Connor Bedillion and Nick Herrnberger will take care of the middle infield.
Mac Chambers and Nick Bayer will see time at first, with Garrett Briant and Kevin Patterson behind the plate.
Adkins will be joined in the outfield by Isaiah Perry, Michael Hertig, Adam Raggi, Steve Schultz and Mike Golaski. Anderson, Briant, Bedillion and Adkins will all pitch.
Seven players on the team have hit home runs during the all-star season, which has seen Washington post a 13-4 record thus far.
Briant is hitting a team-best .546, Kelley .487, Nick Herrnberger and Adkins .456. Bedillion is at .414 and Chambers .314, but that might not even be the ultimate strength.
“I think defensively we’re tough,” Herrnberger said. “And we are fast in spots of the lineup. Especially in the outfield, our speed will help, playing here.”
Rain – go figure – has been an issue for the team.
It wiped out a trip to The Beast of the East Tournament in Moundsville, W.Va. – some of the coaches organized an impromptu tournament in North Strabane, one which Washington won – and cut the Dusty Diamonds Classic in Akron, Ohio, down to one day.
Washington finished fourth in its own tournament at Lew Hays Pony Field, going 3-2, and played in the End of Summer Beach Bash in Mason, Ohio this weekend.
“We started a travel league this year,” Herrnberger said. “We had it and we played in a Sunday league to get the boys some exposure to pitching outside of the league here because they never did it before. We have to catch up to speed. A lot of these teams are playing tournaments well before we are.”
Washington Pony All-Stars
6 Kurt Adkins
25 Connor Anderson
22 Nick Bayer
13 Connor Bedillion
18 Garrett Briant
20 Mac Chambers
46 Michael Golaski
8 Nick Herrnberger
21 Michael Hertig
9 Kyle Kelley
33 Ethan Mohr
42 Kevin Patterson
15 Isaiah Perry
12 Adam Raggi
24 Stephen Schultz
Rick Herrnberger, coach
Ron Herrnberger, coach
Scott Henson, coach