Butler Eagle
Thursday, January 17, 2002
Eagle Sports Editor
Now he's using it to build a first-class Little League team.
The former Butler High School baseball coach has been working with 11 10-year-olds for the past two years.
He and his son, Jason, a player in the Chicago White Sox minor league system, give them batting instruction once a week in the warehouse of Fennell's business, located right next to the field.
Now he's winning with them. Fennell entered the team in the 10-and-under division of the Disney New Year's Baseball Classic in Orlando, Fla., over the holidays, and the squad won the four-team event.
"I entered us in this tournament months ago," Fennell said. "It's top-level competition and they close it off at four teams in each division.
"The kids raised money for the trip themselves. Nine of the 10 families involved came down with us. Five families chartered their own bus, and four families flew."
Following three days of round-robin play, Fennell's Butler Township team defeated Clermont (Fla.) 3-1 in the semifinals, as Dustin Hilgar tossed a three-hitter and struck out eight.
In the finals, Butler Township defeated Dunwoody (Ga.) 13-0 in four innings. Ryan Fennell tossed a one-hitter and struck out six. "Those kids were the best pitchers in the tournament," Fennell said. "And those were darn good teams we played."
The other 10-under team - Champions Baseball Academy in Louisville (Ky.) - draws players from three states.
Fennell's team has played 75 games since last April and won more than 60 of them.
"Our hitters struck out less than the opposition in all 75 of those games," Fennell said. "We only strike out four or five times per game, on average.
"That Clermont team was the best we played all year and we struck out only three times against them."
Joining pitchers Hilgar and Fennell on the Butler Township squad are Alek Bollinger, John Crummy, Jacob Double, Mickey Fennell, Jacob Gamble, Mason McLaughlin, C.J.Miller, Buddy Rekich and Bobby Swartwout.
Hilgar is 10 years old, but stands 5-foot-5, weighs 135 pounds and wears a size 11 shoe. Fennell said Hilgar throws the ball 62 mph.
"Danny Almonte is 14 and threw the ball 76 mph in the Little League World Series last year," Fennell said. "I guarentee you Dustin's fastball will be 70 mph as a 12-year-old.
"A lot of these kids will eventually play for Butler High School, some will go to Division l college or sign pro contracts. They will be that good. I'm sure of it."
Among his team's goals are to win the state championship for 10-year-olds this year and to eventually win the Little League World Series.
"We have the talent to win the state title this year," Fennell said. "These kids and their families are committed to this team. We'll never lack in practice and we'll never lack in games.
"My primary goal is to put baseball on the map in Butler. That fire has been lit, and it starts with these kids," Fennell added.