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The West Boynton Little League Intermediate 50/70 International All-Star team enjoyed a memorable summer on the diamond as it wrapped up a dominant run against the competition to capture the Florida state championship on July 12 in Pinellas Park.
The West Boynton Little League Intermediate All-Stars finished 9-0 and outscored its opponents 128-12 during three tournaments. The offense registered 108 hits and 31 home runs while the pitching staff recorded 90 strikeouts.
The West Boynton Little League Intermediate All-Stars group included Blake Bagwell, Rocco Castrillon, Owen Dever, Josh Friedlander, Aidan Hock, Van Kamen, Cameron Kotch, Jackson Malham, Michael Maynes, Tristen Pokabla, Ryan Rudd, Caleb Smith, Jonah Smith and Byron White. Manager Jon Malham was joined by assistant coaches Dan Castrillon and Fred Hock.
The West Boynton Little League Intermediate All-Stars finished 9-0 and outscored its opponents 128-12 during three tournaments. (West Boynton Little League / Courtesy)
During the state championship, West Boynton won all four games and outscored teams 55-5.
The team cruised to a 12-0 victory against Liberty City in the opening game of the state tournament. Caleb Smith earned the win on the mound with seven strikeouts and also homered at the plate. White, Kotch and Friedlander each recorded home runs.
West Boynton defeated Englewood 16-3 in the following contest. Malham picked up the win on the mound and the team used seven pitchers while recording 12 strikeouts combined. Hock drilled three home runs and White ripped a pair of round-trippers. Castrillon, Dever and Kotch each went deep at the plate.
West Boynton defeated Lakewood Ranch 10-2 to advance to the title game after rallying from a two-run deficit during the contest. Hock earned the win and struck out 12 batters. Dever hit two home runs and Pokabla also homered.
In the state championship game, West Boynton crushed Palma Ceia 17-0. Jackson Malham pitched a shutout while White had three home runs to lead the offense. Dever, Castrillon and Kotch each homered as well.
West Boynton reached states after winning the Section 2 tournament at East Boynton Little League by outscoring its opponents 33-5 in two games.
In the opener against Fort Pierce, Hock earned the win and struck out five. White homered twice while Friedlander and Dever each left the yard.
In the following contest against Viera Suntree, West Boynton rallied from a two-run deficit and advanced to states behind a strong performance by Caleb Smith on the mound as he earned the win with 10 strikeouts. Kotch drilled a home run to lead the offense.
West Boynton reached sectionals after outscoring its opponents 40-2 in three games to win the District 7 Tournament at East Boynton Little League.
In the opener against East Boynton, Hock earned the win with four strikeouts. Dever and Pokabla launched home runs in the contest.
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West Boynton defeated Boca Raton in the second game after Caleb Smith pitched effectively with four strikeouts while Dever and White each homered at the plate.
During the state championship, West Boynton won all four games and outscored teams 55-5. (West Boynton Little League / Courtesy)
West Boynton moved on to sectionals after earning another victory against Boca Raton. Hock stepped up on the mound with six strikeouts and also homered at the plate.
Fred Hock, who was on the Intermediate All-Stars coaching staff this summer, has also served on the board of directors in the West Boynton Little League. In 2018, West Boynton reached the Intermediate Little League World Series in Livermore, California and finished as the United States runner-up. Hock’s son, Sammy, was among the players from the 2018 team.
The West Boynton 2021 squad is unable to receive the same opportunity to compete for the U.S. Southeast Regional Championship and a world title due to the cancellation of the Intermediate Little League World Series after the COVID-19 pandemic. Hock said the team remained focused on the goal of reaching the furthest point possible this year and bringing a state championship banner back to West Boynton.
“It’s a special group of boys and we had a lot of fun this summer,” Hock said. “We are all proud of them and what they have accomplished.”
