Colts Complete Summer of Bonus Baseball

“What did you do on your summer vacation?”

For years, English teachers have made this the first writing assignment on the first day back to school.

For 21 local baseball enthusiasts, they can write and talk about the summer they spent together playing for the Colts, a team comprised of students from George Mason and George C. Marshall High schools playing in the Northern Virginia Travel Baseball League, affiliated with the AAU.

The team played its games at George Mason High School competing against some of the best talent from throughout Northern Virginia.

This is the second season for the Colts, and this year the program actually fielded teams in two different divisions — one competing in the 18-and-under league and the other in the 16-and-under league. A group of 12 players comprised the main core of both teams. The 18U team completed the season with a season record of 12-5-1, with the tie coming in a darkness-shortened game. The 16U team rounded out its summer with a 9-8 mark.

Summer play also reunited former Falls Church Little Leaguers now attending neighboring high schools: Jordan Culbreath and Blair Delean with Matt Foley, Matt Langford, Paul Mene, Nick Pitas, John Root, John Schwengel, and Brandon Ting.

Culbreath and Delean are rising 11th graders at Marshall High School. Also playing on the team were David Fulbrook, a rising 10th grader at O’Connell, and his brother, Jason, a rising 8th grader at St. Leo’s.

The remaining players are George Mason students. Recent graduates Jonathan O’Toole and Andrew Yancey. Rising 12th graders Wil Straub and Dan Stroup. Rising 11th graders: Matt Foley, Matt Langford, Paul Mene, Nick Pitas, John Root, John Schwengel, and Brandon Ting. Rising 10th graders: Matt Dorr, Wil Marshall, Byron Mendenhall and Jim Piscopo. And, rising 9th graders: Alex Prewitt and Matt Rose.

Adam Amerine and Larry Mendenhall shared the head coaching duties, with John Pitas and Tom Prewitt ably fulfilling assistant coaching duties.

According to Coach Amerine, “It was a great summer because you could see our team grow in confidence — we matched up pretty well against some good area ballplayers. Our coaching staff tried to establish an environment that allowed the kids to take their skills as far as they could take them. It was also a good summer for me. I have greater insight about the makeup of our team, and we may have some lineup flexibilities for next year that weren’t so apparent at the beginning of the summer.”

Larry Mendenhall echoed similar thoughts. “I’m a firm believer that you can’t get better unless you play against better. That’s what this summer is all about. At George Mason, we want more than a baseball season — we want a baseball program. But regardless of whether our players attend George Mason or not, we look forward to tracking the progress of all our players and returning together again next summer.”

After the last double-header this past Saturday, players and family members attended an end-of-season cookout. Appreciative team members presented Coach Amerine and Coach Mendenhall team autographed bats, and autographed baseballs for the assistant coaches.

The season isn’t over yet, as Coach Mendenhall will field a 17U team for the Fall season.