08/02/2008

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The most successful Hamilton Lou Gehrig 16-year-old baseball team of all time saw its trip to East Zone play end short of a trip to the Lou Gehrig World Series in Lafayette, Ind.

The Hamilton squad opened play with an 11-6 loss to the host team, Greensboro, Wednesday in the double-elimination tournament. Kyle Reed went 2-for-3, and Casey Clark drove in three runs, but manager Marty Clark's squad could not overcome the seven errors it committed, which opened the door for their hosts to score eight runs.

Though it took two days to complete their next game because of foul weather, Hamilton held on to defeat Rockingham County, N.C., 6-2. Casey Clark limited Rockingham to four hits, while striking out six to earn the victory. Two hits apiece by Armondo Alfonso and Kyle Reed paced the offense as did Ryan Samuels' two runs batted in.

Late Thursday, Hamilton Lou Gehrig took on the Cumberland Baseball Club of Richmond, Va., and saw their baseball odyssey end with an 11-5 defeat. Samuels and Brandon Dempster each had two hits and two RBIs, while Casey Clark had 2 hits and drove in one run.

"This is my last game ever as a manager or coach as I have been doing this for 18 years since my older son, Kyle, was four years old," Marty Clark said.

"I coached youth baseball, soccer and basketball continuously with Kyle and Casey and going out this way is just an amazing memory.

"This group of young men made me proud to be associated with youth sports, and all of the kids over all of the years have made it very special."

Clark and his players made league president Bill Lingrell and the rest of the community proud by becoming the first Hamilton Lou Gehrig team to win a regional and a game in zone play.