Rain couldn’t ruin a special week for many of the nation’s top amateur baseball players.
The 52nd Connie Mack World Series at Ricketts Park in Farmington battled lightning and rain delays all week, and faces more challenges to complete the championship round Friday night.
When Strike Zone Baseball lost in the fourth round at nearly 1 a.m. Thursday, it ensured the host team would still be held with a CMWS title. But this year’s team went as far as any in recent memory, matching Strike Zone’s 2-2 performances from 2010 and 2013.
The CMWS features 12 teams and is a double-elimination format. Teams come from all over North America and Puerto Rico and feature some of the best 18-and-younger players in the country.
Bayfield’s Kelton McCoy and Durango’s Lawrence Mayberry were both key contributor’s to this year’s Strike Zone team. McCoy started at catcher all four games and hit fourth in the team’s lineup. Mayberry started at shortstop for three games and earned the right to be named the starting pitcher in the third round. He hit leadoff for the team every game but the night he took the mound.
“It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in sports,” said McCoy, son of Derek and Loresa McCoy. “Winning two games like that and having Farmington excited like we had them, it was special. I’m bummed we didn’t finish the job the way we would’ve liked to.”
Playing in front of more than 6,000 fans on opening night, Strike Zone pulled off a stunning 2-1 upset win against the 2012 CMWS champion Southern California Renegades.
Three nights later, Strike Zone made it two wins in a row by taking down Seattle-based EnFuego Elite 5-3.
“Getting those two wins right off the bat, it was super exciting,” said Mayberry, son of George and Tonya Mayberry. “Playing in front of a home crowd that’s so loud, and added to that excitement.”
Mayberry came out on the losing end of his start in the third round, as Strike Zone was no-hit by three combined pitchers from the Dallas Tigers in a 9-0 loss. He pitched six innings and allowed nine hits and five earned runs while walking one and striking out two.
Strike Zone couldn’t regroup late Wednesday night in an 18-7 loss to D-BAT 17U Elite team, also from the Dallas area.
At the plate, Mayberry finished the series 3-for-8 with two runs, one run batted in and three walks.
McCoy went 3-for-11 with an RBI and a walk.
Durango’s Kyle Duran also saw an at-bat in the third round and went 0-for-1.
Mayberry and McCoy have played for Strike Zone for three summers. When the team reached the CMWS in 2014, they were both only going into the junior year of high school. Mayberry went 0-for-3 at the plate that year, and McCoy was 0-for-2. Mayberry also got a chance to pitch in 2014 and lasted 1 2/3 innings. He gave up four hits, two earned runs and walked three while striking out one.
This week’s tournament showed how much they developed in two years.
“Strike Zone has meant everything to my career,” said Mayberry, who will play for Seward County (Kansas) Community College beginning in the fall. “I have to thank them for everything. The coaches (Adam Morrissey and Damion Lovato) are like my family now. They’ve been there for me, and I know they have my back.”
McCoy turned the exposure he received through playing with the Farmington-based club team into an offer from the University of New Mexico, and the next time he takes a field it will be in a Lobos uniform. He was able to build a relationship with Albuquerque’s Drew Gillespie this year, too. Gillespie, who pitched a complete game for Strike Zone in the win against the Renegades, also will play for the Lobos.
“This series gave me confidence that I can play with those kind of players,” McCoy said. “I can’t wait to be down (in Albuquerque) playing with those type of guys the next four years.
“It was fun to catch for Drew here. Maybe in the next four years we can do it again at a College World Series.”
Mayberry and McCoy were rivals during their high school playing days at opposite ends of La Plata County. But the duo worked well together for Strike Zone with McCoy catching Mayberry’s pitches and Mayberry scoring a run in the fourth round off a McCoy base hit.
“I wouldn’t rather have anyone on my team than Lawrence,” McCoy said. “He’s a little guy with huge heart and fight. I hate him when I’m playing against him, but I love playing with him.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
