Club team doesn't lose a game in annual USABF World Series

By Pete Borello, Town Crier Staff Writer

Sure, the Bay Area Athletics had a tremendous pitching staff and a slew of dangerous hitters. But it took more than that for the local 16-and-under team to win the United States Amateur Baseball Federation World Series.

In what seems like a perfect set up for a cereal commercial, the A’s head coach said breakfast played a key role in his team’s success.

“Kids don’t like breakfast, but we forced them to eat it and it made a difference,” said Carney Lansford, who guided the A’s to a 10-0 mark at the World Series earlier this month in San Diego. “It gave them more energy and they were more enthusiastic during the games.”

Lansford took the breakfast-for-champions approach after his traveling team’s disappointing performance at the Junior Olympics in Tucson, Ariz. The A’s placed third in the June tournament.

“I felt we should have won it,” Lansford said, “We let it slip away in the semifinals.”

Lansford — a former Major League Baseball star with the Oakland A’s — said his players at times lacked focus and energy at the Junior Olympics, which he attributed to skipping breakfast.

The A’s didn’t dare miss a meal at the World Series, eating — and competing — all the way to the finals.

“The kids were just outstanding, from the first game to the last.” Lansford said. “They really put it all together for this tournament.”

Comprised primarily of St. Francis High players, the A’s had only three close games at the World Series, which brought together top-notch teams from all over the United States and Mexico.

The A’s needed extra-innings to win their opener against the San Diego Dugout, as St. Francis’ Matt Long saved a one-run lead by inducing a pop-up with two outs and a runner on third base. Midway through the tournament, not long after another narrow win over San Diego, the A’s rallied to edge the Mexico Apaches.

“They had us beat, but we came back with three or four runs in the seventh,” Lansford said.

The A’s faced the Apaches again in the championship game, but didn’t get behind this time. Behind a bevy of blistering bats and two on-target arms, the A’s prevailed 10-0 Aug. 9 at San Diego State University’s Tony Gwynn Stadium. Carlos Hernandez (Santa Clara High) and Danny Descalso (St. Francis) combined to pitch a two-hitter for the A’s, who led 9-0 entering the fifth.

For the tournament, the A’s posted a team ERA of around 1, according to Lansford. “The pitching was key,” he said.

Offensively, Lansford praised the play of four St. Francis players: Long (who hit two home runs in one game), Descalso, Matt Zipse and Jared Lansford, the coach’s son.

Other members of the team included: Chris Coleman, Kevin Cunningham, Brady Fuerst, Adam Ramirez and Kenny Rodrigues from St. Francis; Jason Haniger and Tim Mort from Mitty; and David Berner and Brooks Tamone from Santa Clara.

The A’s will reassemble early next month to play fall ball.