The Arch Street Cannons, a travel baseball team comprised of 12-year old boys from across Greenwich, opened their 2009 season April 18-19 by placing 3rd out of 16 teams at the Baseball Heaven Spring Frost Tournament on Long Island.

After sweeping their way through pool play, winning20three straight games and earning a berth in the tournament semi-finals, the Cannons dropped an 8-4 decision to the Long Island Breakers, ending their title run one game short of the Championship match.

The Cannons are sponsored by Greenwich’s Arch Street Teen Center, a non-profit, drug-free, alcohol-free environment where teens can initiate and organize activities=2 0that improve their social and recreational lives and provide leadership and community service experience. The team is coached by Michael Dunster, who is a long-time participant in Greenwich youth sports. Dunster is co-President of Greenwich’s American Legion baseball program and serves as president of the Greenwich Youth Football League.

Sunday’s semi-final loss to the Breakers was a roller coaster affair for the Cannons, who found themselves trailing 5-1 after three innings. A three-run rally in the 5th cut the deficit to 5-4. The Breakers, however, added three more runs in their half of the 5th to create the final winning margin. Riverside’s Hunter Frantz lead a very balanced Cannons attack in the tournament, hitting two home runs, scoring seven times, and batting .444. Kyle Dunster, a 7th-grader at Eastern Middle School, smacked seven hits, scored five runs, batted .538, and pitched seven strong innings for Arch Street. Glenville resident Michael Genaro led the Cannons with a .600 batting average and also scored four runs. Tom Povinelli, who attends Central Middle School, hit a home run and knocked in a team-leading six RBIs in the four games.

Will O’Brien, a Brunswick School 7th grader, also smacked a home run in the tournament and pitched Greenwich into the Semi-Final round with a complete game three-hitter in the final game of pool play against the Long Island Spartans.

Coach Dunster believes the Cannons are a great example of how team chemistry can have a dramatic impact a team’s success. Although the team’s players are dispersed among no less than five different schools in Greenwich, the boys have played baseball together for the past two summers, and participate on other town sports teams together. “This is a group of boys who believe in each other, and really enjoy the time they spend together at the field. Through the Cannons, and other teams in town, they have developed friendships that undoubtedly contribute to success on the field. They are committed to always performing at t heir best in support of the team effort,” explained Dunster.

Dunster continued, “These boys are true ambassadors of Greenwich and of the Arch Street Center. They are made up of a cross-section of Greenwich’s neighborhoods, and represent five of our public and private schools. Wherever we go, they represent our town with pride and respect.” The Arch Street Cannons continue their season at the Triple Crown Spring Frost Tournament in North Branford, CT April 25-26.

Baseball Heaven Tournament Game Recaps:
Saturday, April 18 vs. Long Island Hurricanes:
During the opening game of the tournament for the Cannons, the team started out slowly on offense, but used a 9-run 5th inning to open a commanding 13-0 lead. The Hurricanes took advantage of several walks in their half of the 5th to close the gap to 13-6, which was the game’s final score. The game was ended after the fifth inning due the tournament’s 2-hour time limit restriction.
Cannons Batting: Kyle Dunster led the Canons with 3 hits and 3 RBI. Michael Genaro and Tom Povinelli had two hits apiece. Billy O’Malley, Sam Barrett, Will O’Brien, and Hunter Frantz also contributed with hits. Frantz scored three runs, Genaro and O’Malley two each. Carlos Fernandez, Sean Marks, Will O’Brien and Dunster also scored for the Cannons.
Cannons Pitching: O’Brien and Frantz pitched two strong innings apiece to pace the Cannons. Danny Carr and Billy O’Malley combined to close out the Hurricanes in the 5th.

Saturday, April 18 vs. New England Heat:
Immediately following the victory over Long Island, the Cannons squared off against the New England Heat from Franklin, Massachusetts. The Heat jumped out to a 2-1 lead after the first inning before Greenwich’s pitching trio of Kyle Dunster, Sam Barrett and Michael Genaro combined to yield just one run over the final 5 innings of the Cannons 8-3 win.
Cannons Batting: Tom Povinelli and Will O’Brien paced Greenwich with home runs. Povinelli added a double in his other at bat. Kyle Dunster and Billy O’Malley also had two hits=2 0apiece. Dunster, Barrett, and Will O’Brien each contributed with two RBIs. Danny Carr scored two runs in the victory.
Cannon Pitching: Starter Kyle Dunster settled down after allowing two first-inning runs to retire the Heat in order in the 2nd. Sam Barrett followed with two strong innings, surrendering three hits and a single run. Michael Genaro pitc hed consecutive 1-2-3 innings to close the game for Arch Street.

Sunday, April 19 vs. Long Island Spartans:
Day two began early for Arch Street, with an 8am start in their third game of the tournament. Once again, the Cannons started out slowly, trailing 3-1 after the first inning. From there, the game became pitcher Will O’Brien’s personal stage and he put on a show. Over the game’s final five innings, O’Brien would not allow a Spartan base runner, yielding only a solo HR and facing just 16 batters. O’Brien struck out eight in a masterful performance. The Cannons offense woke up just enough to carve out a 7-4 victory, securing a birth in the tournament’s ‘Final Four’ championship round.
Cannons Batting: Dunster, Frantz, Genaro, and Sean Marks=2 0paced Arch Street with two hits apiece. Frantz contributed a home run, the third for the Cannons in the tournament, and scored three runs. O’Malley, Barrett, and O’Brien also contributed with hits in the game.
Cannons Pitching: Will O’Brien went the distance, allowing only three hits, striking out eight. O’Brien yielded only a solo HR over20the final five innings, retiring 15 of the final 16 batters he faced.

Sunday, April 19 vs. Long Island Breakers:
Facing their toughest test of the tournament, the Cannons fell 8-4 in the tournament semi-finals. The Breakers were lead by Matt Annunziata, who smacked two long home runs and a single. Arch Street closed a 5-1 deficit to 5-4 during a 5th inning rally but could get no closer.
Cannons Batting: Hunter Frantz hit his second home run of the tournament to lead the Cannons. Michael Genaro started the 5th inning rally with a single. Sam Barrett also contributed a hit in the first inning. Carlos Fernandez walked and scored.
Cannons Pitching: Kyle Dunster pitched 5 strong innings, scattering eight hits.