NVLL 10-11s capture state baseball championship

The buzz at Niceville-Valparaiso Little League surrounding its 10-11-year-old American League All-Star Team was already palpable.

After Monday, it’s going to hit astronomical proportions.

That’s what happens when you capture the state championship the year before you’re eligible to earn a berth in the granddaddy of all youth baseball tournaments, the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn.

“Not too much pressure on them,” Mike Rarick, who the little league field is named after, said with a laugh.

“It’s a terrific win,” he said. “We’ve been trying for years. Niceville has sent two to three teams to state for the last eight to 10 years. It’s very difficult to get past the teams from South Florida. This team put it all together.”

The culmination of that chemistry came Monday, when NVLL defeated Maitland 8-5 in St. Cloud to capture the state crown. It was the league’s first since the 10-year-olds won in 2000.

“Everybody’s pumped up,” NVLL coach David Smith said. “We had teams come so close. Everybody’s excited for the city of Niceville. It’s a pretty big accomplishment.”

And one that was never in much doubt.

NVLL went 11-0 in the postseason, outscoring its opponents at the district tournament, sectional tournament and state by over 90 combined runs. At state, the team rattled off five straight wins, all by three runs or more.

NVLL opened with an 8-1 victory over Navy Ortega Lakeside, downed Maitland for the first time 8-4 and got past Palma Ceia 5-2 to win its pool and advance to the semifinals. Once there, NVLL posted a 3-0 triumph over Eau Gallie on the strength of a shutout by pitcher Will West III.

In the title game, NVLL and Maitland, which was from the Orlando area, were knotted at 5-5 when Christian Huff cranked a go-ahead home run to left center in the top of the fourth inning.

“It was a no-doubter,” Smith said.

So was Brady Smith’s relief performance. He entered in the fourth inning and pitched three scoreless innings behind an overpowering fastball to clinch the state title.

NVLL’s pitching staff was so formidable that West, Smith, Huff, Tyler Russell and Logan Taylor were referred to at state as “the five studs.” With NVLL being loaded with arms, it came down to the sticks.

“Hitting was the key,” David Smith said. “There were timely defensive plays as well.”

Along with the aforementioned five pitchers, the state-title winning team was also comprised of Nathan Smith, Jacob Jenkins, Nick Hazma, Cole Wilbourne and Evan Etheridge. Chandler Huff was an assistant coach and Bill West II managed the team to the district and sectional titles before a work commitment forced him to miss state.

“It was a team effort throughout the whole all-star experience,” David Smith said. “It’s a very special group. The kids worked hard every day. … All the parents and everybody contributed.”