Youth Sports Report:

NYBC: Forest Hills earns semifinal berth with second victory

Posted Aug 28, 2009 by Nick Murray

Updated Aug 28, 2009 at 10:15 PM

Cal Ripken champion Forest Hills made it two wins out of two to open the National Youth Baseball Championship in Memphis, Tenn. with an 8-4 victory against the National Amateur Baseball Federation champion Mississippi Lumberjacks on Friday night.

Forest Hills scored five runs in the top of the second to take control of the game. Jason Heinrich led off the inning with a solo home run. After Kyle Tucker flew out to center, Jonathan Diaz drew a walk, advanced to second on a walk and was drive home by Josh Russo’s single.

Kyle Rochelle then singled, sending Russo to third. Both were brought home on Brandt Burrows’ double. Burrows then scored on Christian Whidden’s single to round out the inning.

Forest Hills tacked on runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, and while Mississippi tried to rally twice, scoring a pair of runs in the fourth and sixth innings, it wasn’t able to complete the comeback.

Forest Hills sealed a place in the tournament semifinals with the win, and can win its pool with victory against currently winless Dixie League champions Columbia County on Saturday night at 9 p.m.

The AAU champion Valrico Bullets, who earlier in the evening defeated Columbia County, can also advance with victory against Mississippi at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday evening.