Delco Youth Baseball Team Plays for National Championship Tonight

It’s a heck of a year for youth baseball in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

We all know how Philly’s Taney Dragons made it to the Little League World Series this year — in a journey so cool their star pitcher Mo’ne Davis even made the cover of Sports Illustrated.

But you maybe didn’t know that Delaware County’s Broomall-Newtown team of 13-year-olds won the Babe Ruth World Series in their age division last week — or that Delco’s Broomall-Newtown team of 13-15-year-olds is playing for the Babe Ruth World Series championship in their age division tonight. (Babe Ruth baseball is organized for kids outside the Little League age range.)

The game is being played in Washington State, so it starts late by local standards: 10:05 p.m. And you can’t watch it on TV — but you can grab your computer and go to this website to see the game online and in HD. If you prefer your baseball on the radio, click here instead.

Kirc Roland is the co-president of the Longview (Washington) World Series Committee: He’s seen every game played at the tournament. He talked this afternoon to Philly Mag about the Pennsylvania team:

Tell me about this Broomall-Newtown team that’s playing in the World Series final tonight?

Well, I will just say they have certainly represented their area well. They’re a really neat club. They’re one of those teams you look at and think, “Hmmm. Maybe they’re not the most-athletic team.” But then every game they play they impress you a little bit more with their ability and athleticism. They have taken on every challenge they’ve been faced with. They play fundamentally sound baseball and appear to be cohesive; Rick Woodcock, their head coach, has done a great job bringing these kids together. Just a real impressive team.

Do they have any standouts?

I think Scott Hahn has been very good for them. He’s been their big pitcher and hitter, and I know he’s had a very good series and he’s probably one of the leaders of the team there. If I had to single one of the leaders there, he’d be the guy, but again, they’re a very good team.

They’re running into a pretty talented team tonight. I think the game tonight is going to be a tossup — I don’t think there’s any dominant team. They’ll play seven innings, maybe more, and decide which gets to take home the championship.

How have the crowds been?

The crowds have been pretty good. We were fortunate enough to have our two co-host teams make it into bracket play, so that gave us another night of a full house. Things fell off a little bit last night, with all the out-of-town teams. I would anticipate we’ll have anywhere from 500 to 1,000 people out there tonight.

They have really, really represented your area with class and hard play. Just a real nice bunch of boys. We’ve been real happy with them.

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