JT Bruins repeat as champions

The Jim Thorpe Bruins were on a mission to defend last year's Carbon County Junior Babe Ruth championship..

On the other hand, the Jim Thorpe Royals were looking to put an exclamation point on an undefeated regular season with a tournament title.

In the end, it was the Bruins however who had the upper hand rolling to a 14-5 victory over the Royals on Monday night at Christman's Field.

It's exactly what Christian Gavornik and the rest of the American League champions, set out to do.

"We said last year that we were going to come back and win it," Gavornik said. "And, we did.

"There's nothing better than ending (your Junior Babe Ruth League career) with two championships."

Gavornik was part of a young team that came from behind to knock off the Frankin Township Patriots for last year's title with a 6-2 win.

After the Royals tied the game at two after an inning of play, there was no need for the Bruins to even worry about coming from behind.

Dominic Pompa gave the Bruins the lead right back in the second inning with an RBI single.

In the third inning, the Bruins made it a lot easier for Gavornik, the starting pitcher, to pitch with ease thanks to a comfortable lead.

Bryce Micciche collected an RBI single to score Pat Divigneaud and Shane Snisky recorded a two-run single with the bases loaded. Jordan McElmoyle posted another run by scoring on a wild pitch.

After a scoreless fourth, Bruins manager Sean Sterling watched his team use its bats to do the talking.

"We made everything happen that we possibly could have today," Sterling said. "Any chance we got on the bag, we were running to make things happen.

"They did everything they could to get back here and they showed why they wanted it in the worst way. Every one took a part in it and everybody did a good job of making it possible."

In the fifth, it was Micciche and Jordan McElmoyle making the Royals - the National League Division champs - pay for plenty of errors on the defensive. Micciche, who walked, scored on a double-error where the Royals attempted to throw him out attempting to advance to third on a hit. McElmoyle reached base on an error and later scored an Alex Steigerwalt RBI single.

It was Snisky's third hit of the day - a two-run single - that keyed the Bruins' three-run sixth inning.

Ian Sterling added an RBI single in the seventh, while Gavornik finished off the scoring by scoring on a throwing error.

While things may have easily fallen in place for their opponents, Jim Thorpe Royals' manager John Green found every bit of a positive in his team's first loss of the season.

"You don't anticipate anything like that," Green said. "I thought we came in here and gave them a good game. I couldn't be any more proud of these kids. That's one of the best groups of kids I have ever coached.

"You couldn't have asked for a better situation and a better season. It just didn't finish the way we hoped and I won't take anything away from it. They have a lot to be proud of."

The Bruins' Nick Montero (two singles, run scored) and Sterling (two singles) finished as multiple hitters, while the Royals' Mike Cataldo, Dave Everett and Brian Ohl all ended up with two singles and one RBI. The Royals' Mitch Peters recorded two singles and a run scored.

Micciche walked three times and scored three runs, while Bruins' teammate Pat Divigneaud singled, walk, scored twice and stole four bases.

JT Bruins 214 023 2 - 14 13 2

JT Royals 200 010 2 - 5 11 7

Gavornik, Sterling (5) and Duvigneaud; Peters, Cataldo (4), Mason (6), Kaminski (7) and Ohl. W - Gavornik. L - Peters.