The Manalapan Flamethrowers U-11 Travel baseball team took to the fields in this crazy frigid cold weather, in the hopes to add two more wins to their already impressive undefeated 10-0 season. As they needed to first win their semifinal game, and then it would be onto the championships.

So the Flamethrowers did just that, by first defeating the Manalapan Cyclones, 7-1 on Saturday's semifinal game.

Marc Goldstein the winning pitcher in that semifinal game, struck out 7, walked 4, allowed no hits, and gave up 1 unearned run in five innings. Then Jake Kupfer came in the sixth, striking out two of the four batters that he faced, and shut the door to finish the game.

Goldstein was also one of the hitting stars of that game along with Kevin Tress and Thomas Malik, who strung together a couple of hits each and RBI's, along with Christian DeVito getting a key hit and doubles coming from Jake Kupfer, and Steven Knable.

This was just what they needed to move them into the Championship round. Now the Flamethrowers (11-0) were right were they wanted to be, in the National League Championship game against Hamilton Gold (9-2).

As the Flamethrowers would call on, and give the honors to Thomas Malik to pitch in the Championship game. This would be Malik's first time back on the mound, after a two month layoff due to injuries. Now with Malik on the mound throwing strikes, the Flamethrowers would jump out to a 9-0 lead in the first two innings.

With great defensive plays coming from William Meany, Kyle Glickson, Steven Knable and a outstanding inning ending diving catch in left field from Jake Kupfer, to a key put out at second base from catcher Jordan Gonzalez , up to this point.

Thomas Malik the winning pitcher would go 3 1/3 innings to this point, not allowing a hit, striking out 2, and walking 1, before his defense failed him, and allowing Hamilton to come back and score 7 runs in the top of the fourth. Now the Flamethrowers would have to dig deep, after this devastating inning and see if they had the character, skills, and heart, that it would take to hold the lead and finish this game, and to take home the championship.

To this point William Meany and Nick Sigismondi drove in a couple pairs of runs each. With other key hits coming from Thomas Malik, and walks from Kyle Glickson and Marc Goldstein, to add to the scoring. Along with RBI's from each Jordan Gonzalez, Kevin Tress,Christian DeVito, and Jake Kupfer. So in the bottom of the fourth the Flamethrowers would put up another run, to make it now 10-7.

They would now call on Jake Kupfer, the teams lefty to start the fifth inning, and moved Malik to first base. Kupfer would stay in and throw the last two innings and get the save. But in the fifth, Hamilton would threaten again as they would score one run and have men at first and third and one out. When Malik, would make an outstanding save the day, inning ending double play, doubling up the runner at first, to stop Hamilton's rally.

Kupfer would go again in the sixth inning to finish the game and end the perfect season with a final game winning strike out, defeating Hamilton 10-8.

Congratulations to the Flamethrowers and their accomplishment of an undefeated prefect season of 12-0, and for winning the U.S.A.B.L National League Championship. Manager Dave Gonzalez, Coaches, Grant Glickson, Todd Kupfer, and Tom Malik