Bellmore baseball squad turns up the 'Heat'

The Bellmore Heat 12U travel baseball team recently captured its second major title of 2011, clinching the fall National Junior Baseball League American Division Championship to cap a perfect 12-0 season.

“The boys have had a great year, and I know we can get even better next year,” said Roman Strawa, the Heat’s manager. Last spring, the boys played up and went 11-0 to take the NJBL 13U Sectional Division.

Over the summer, the Heat traveled to upstate Cooperstown, where the team finished 12th of 27 teams in the All Star Village Tournament, making the playoffs. Several players were finalists in the tournament’s skills competition. Centerfielder Ryan Connolly won the fastest player event, while the double-play combination of shortstop T.J. Rullo, second baseman Ryan Karp and first baseman Georgie Savas placed third in the defensive skills contest. The Heat’s 5-foot-11, 185-pound catcher, John Strawa, was a runner-up in the home run derby, losing in the finals in overtime, after belting seven homers in the first round.

“We have the players to take this team to the next level,” said coach Jim Rullo. ”They work hard and they all want to be at their best. They are a pleasure to coach.”