API 12U Travel Baseball Has Outstanding Season

It’s not easy to go on the road and outshine the best regional teams during a tournament, let alone several. That’s exactly what the 12U API Academy travel baseball team did, winning four tournaments this year, and earning finalist honors in two others, on their way to a 50-18-1 record.

The players were crowned champions of the Frederick Spring Classic, the STATS Memorial Day Tournament, the Sports at the Beach 2021 Coastal Clash Open, and the Essex Father’s Day Summer Classic tournament. They were finalists in the Fruitland St. Patrick’s Day Bash and Crofton Swing Into Spring. The 12U team also reached the elite eight in the Myrtle Beach Nationals, which included 41 teams from around the U.S.

Head coach Chad Moran said the strength of the team was that every player had “a moment” that helped the team win and each athlete bought into the philosophy of “do your job and play your role.”

“The growth started in fall ball, and they were committed to the process,” Moran said. “We had kids throughout the lineup who could hit. They grew through the year. Some kids who were Saturday starters became Sunday starters.”

The goal is to develop players so they are ready to make a high school team if they wish, he said.

Of the 12 players on the roster, 10 are from Severna Park or the Broadneck peninsula.

The 12U API Academy travel baseball team featured Silas Lane, Logan Clarke, Mason Schreiner, Logan Moran, Brett Hudson, Alex Merlino, Fletcher Warner, Easton O’Brien, Cooper Mengel, Conrad Maillard, Jonah Lucas and Andy Blanck.

Chad Moran led the team with help from assistant Jeff Mengel and assistant/pitching coach Eric Clarke.

“We wanted it to be a spring to remember, so we had high expectations,” Chad Moran said. “The boys had a special season.”