The Virginia Vipers traveled to Tucson, Arizona to represent the State of Virginia in USA Baseball's Junior Olympics. USA Baseball is a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee and conducts this tournament as part of its Olympic Baseball Development Program. Fifty-two of the country's top 16 and under baseball teams competed in this ten day tournament. The Vipers hail from 10 area high schools and compete locally in Fairfax County's Old Dominion League.
The Vipers reached the tournament's elite eight behind the power of USA Baseball's Home Run Derby Champion Mike Fratoe (Lee High School), Tim Grant (Lee High School) and Matt Germroth (Oakton High School), the solid defense of Matt Mills (Centreville High School), Bobby Bump (Lake Braddock High School), Chris Hotchkiss (Chantilly High School) and Ryan Kruse (Chantilly High School) and the outstanding pitching of Todd Boessen (Pope Paul VI High School) and Mike Mlotkowski (Robinson High School). Boessen and Mlotkowski, a pair of 6'5" right handers, accounted for all of the Vipers' wins, each picking up two. The strong support provided by Richard Riley (West Springfield High School), Ryan Rushe (Bishop O'Connell High School) and Tim Bottomly (Pope Paul VI High School) was yet another key to the Vipers' success.
On opening day, the Vipers won a double header by defeating Foothills Baseball Club of Arizona 5-3, behind the hitting of Matt Germroth, Bobby Bump, Ryan Kruse and Mike Fratoe. Mike Mlotkowski pitched a no-hitter for 5 innings before being removed with the game in hand. Greg Jones (Pope Paul VI High School) and Kevin Dansereau (Lake Braddock High School) pitched in relief. In the second game, the Vipers defeated the Aldrete Baseball Club of California 3-2, behind the dominating pitching of Todd Boessen and the timely hitting of Jeff Lizama (West Springfield High School), Tim Grant and Matt Mills.
After losing to the Corpus Christi Texas Magic, the Vipers lost a 1-0 heartbreaker to the Maryland Orioles. This final four team scored 12 or more runs in each of its first three games before facing Mike Mlotkowski, who pitched a two-hit, complete game, with 8 strikeouts. Unfortunately for the Vipers, the Orioles saved their U.S. National Olympic Team ace, Ryan Childs for this game. Childs also went the distance, also pitching a two hitter, with 6 strikeouts.
The Vipers made it to the medal rounds by defeating the Arizona Stars 7-2. Todd Boessen went the distance, striking out six and keeping the Stars off-balance for the entire game. Tim Grant, Mike Fratoe and Matt Mills each had two hits, with Chris Hotchkiss, Jeff Lizama and Kevin Dansereau also providing timely hitting.
The Vipers reached the elite eight in the tournament by defeating Team Arkansas 5-3 behind the home run power of Mike Fratoe. Tim Grant went 4-4 at the plate, with Ryan Kruse scoring three of the Vipers five runs. Mike Mlotkowski went five innings, picking up the win, with Todd Boessen pitching the last two innings in relief.
With ace pitchers Ethan Lare (Lake Braddock High School), Jeff Ledbetter, (Fairfax High School), Richard Riley and Mike Fratoe unavailable and Boessen and Mlotkowski spent, the Vipers came up short against a powerhouse from Miami Dade County in the final four play-in game. Nevertheless, the Vipers exceeded expectations with their fine performance in this tournament.
The Vipers will also participate as the Potomac Valley AAU Region's representative to the AAU Junior Olympics National Baseball Championships in August, the third year in a row the Vipers have been honored to play in this most prestigious tournament.
© 1998 Northern Virginia Advantage Baseball Club - All Rights Reserved.
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