Richie Deptula

KENNETT — An outstanding five-inning pitching performance by Kennett Middle School seventh grader Richie Deptula has earned him KAU Little League Player of the Week honors.

The 12-year-old Deptula pitched five innings for his Intermediate Division Optimist team in its most recent victory. He allowed only two earned runs and threw 68 pitches before he turned the game over to his fellow Optimist pitchers.

Deptula prefers to play shortstop and pitcher for the Kennett Middle School Blue Demons. He has played recreational baseball at KAU for five years. He has been a member of the District All-Star team for three years and a member of the KAU travel teams.

He is the son of Rich and Tricia Gavin of Avondale.

The Blue Demons’ Brooke Harner pitched a complete-game,  five-hitter with seven Ks, leading Kennett (13-5, 13-6) to its first league title since 2009.

The Blue Demons grabbed the lead for good in the third inning on Katie DeStefano’s two-run double, and an RBI double by Camille Brown.

For the Indians (7-10, 8-10 overall)  Mandy Hammond was 3 for 3 and Annie Dempsey had a home run — accounting for the lone run of the game for Unionville.  Austin Langerhans turned in another strong performance on the mound, allowing just four hits in the loss.

The Indians’ final home game — a key contest to their post-season hopes — is Friday against Oxford. Kennett — already locked into a postseason slot — travels to West Chester Rustin, Friday.

Joey MacMillan

KENNETT — Two fourth-graders from opposite ends of Chester County are the first KAU Players of the Week for the 2013 season.

Joey MacMillan of the Minor A Division Lehman & Pastino team helped his squad to a 2-0 record during the first week. He recorded the game-winning hit in the 6^th inning of an 11-10 victory over To-Jo Mushrooms and his heads-up base running led to several other runs as well.  Manager David Smiddy said, “Joey is always the team player. In addition to his on-the-field play, he has demonstrated tremendous sportsmanship.”

MacMillan, who is 10 years old, attends New Garden Elementary School. He is active in the Math 24 Club and plays violin. This is his fifth year playing KAU, where he started learning the sport during T-ball. MacMillan also plays basketball through the Kennett Area YMCA and the Kennett Area Parks and Recreation Board programs.  He is the son of John and Julia MacMillan of New Garden Township.

Ben Kirkland, a member of the Minor A Fox’s Pizza squad, is off to a solid start. Most recently, Ben went 3-4 with two RBI and two runs scored in a tightly contested 9-8 win over Horizon Services. From his position at shortstop, Ben made a perfect relay to the catcher to throw out the potential tying run at the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning and end the game in dramatic style.

Kirkland has played on KAU’s District 28 Championship Team as an 8- and 9-year-old, as well as on the Kennett Knights travel team. A student at Pocopson Elementary School, he is the son of Chrissy and Scott Kirkland of Pocopson. He began playing baseball as a KAU t-baller five years ago. He enjoys playing basketball, doing puzzles, drawing, and participating in Cub Scouts.

Kennett Middle School’s Charlie Cordisco looks to stop Upland Country Day School’s Bentley Ahl during this past weekend’s Upland annual Varisity Lacrosse Tournament.

Upland boys edge Kennett; Kennett girls take title

EAST MARLBOROUGH — Upland Country Day School hosted the school’s annual Boys’ and Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse Tournament this past weekend.

Kennett Middle School, St. Edmond’s Academy and Interboro School teams traveled to Upland’s campus for a day of strong competition.

Upland’s Boys’ team went undefeated taking First Place after gritting out a 4 -3 win in a tough, physical game with a strong Kennett team. Kennett Middle School boys took Second Place in the tournament.  St. Edmonds captured third place after losses to both Upland and Kennett.

The Kennett Middle School and Upland Country Day School’s girls’ lacrosse teams square off.

In the girls’ competition, Kennett Middle School’s Girls Lacrosse went undefeated earning First Place with Upland Girls’ taking Second Place.
Delaware’s Interboro School took third place.

Kennett High track standout Brittany Plummer is taking her pole-vaulting talents to the University of North Carolina.

A Kennett High School senior achieved new heights by signing a letter of intent last week to take her standout pole-vaulting prowess to a Division 1 school, the district announced.

“I am very honored to even be considered a part of University of North Carolina’s (UNC) Division I track and field team, let alone receive a scholarship,” said Brittany Plummer during a signing ceremony at the high school.

Her outdoor head coach at Kennett High, John Ramagano, said Plummer  competed in the school’s indoor and outdoor program for four years, and made it to the state championship meet the last three years.

She rocketed 11 feet at the Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association Indoor Track State Championships at Penn State University in February, and took seventh place.  Previously, she won the Indoor Track Chester County Championships, where she also topped the 11-foot mark, he said.

Plummer, who prepares for events by practicing an hour and a half twice a week, three times on competition weeks, is “a very hard worker and inspirational leader to our very successful pole vault team,” said Ramagano. “Under the guidance of Coach Robert Olesen and his staff at UNC-Charlotte, Brittany should have a very successful college track and field career.”

Robert Anthony, Kennett High School’s indoor track head coach, echoed his colleagues sentiments. “Brittany is truly the definition of a scholar-athlete, and I expect she will continue that trend in college,”  he said.

Plummer, the daughter of John and Diane Plummer, plans to study exercise science at UNC.

Newport Rowing Club Coach Samantha “Sam” McDonald encouraging Julia Baumel, a junior at Kennett High School and one of the nation’s top junior women rowers, in the final stretch of her record-breaking indoor row, Monday.

KENNETT SQUARE — When Julia Baumel decides to “pull” for a cause, she doesn’t mess around. This Kennett High School junior and Newport Rowing Club (NRC) varsity rower used the club’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day event, the “Million Meter Marathon,” to attempt to break the World Record time for the lightweight junior women’s indoor rowing marathon (42,195 meters), while at the same time to raise  money for her charity, Kids Pitch In.

And break the world record she did: shattering the old mark which stood for nearly nine years by almost six minutes. Her official time, 3:09:04.4, was confirmed by Concept 2, the world sponsor of indoor rowing events and records.

In addition, her record-breaking row raised more than $5,000 for the charity she founded in 2010, Kids Pitch In (KPI).

KPI has partnered with Philadelphia Phillies pitcher, Cole Hamels, his wife Heidi, and The Hamels Foundation (THF) and has been organizing fundraising projects for The Hamel’s Foundation Namunda School, a school for orphaned girls in Southern Malawi.

In 2010, KPI organized, “Kennett Pitches In” as a community project that raised $10,000 for the building of the “Kennett Classroom” at the Namunda School. In May 2011, Cole and Heidi Hamels visited the Kennett schools to thank Julia, Kids Pitch In, and the entire Kennett community for their generous support of the Malawi project.

Julia, who has rowed for three years, has been training for nearly 12 months straight, both on the water and indoors, for her world record-breaking marathon attempt.

“Rowing an indoor marathon is a top endurance test for any competitive rower,” said Baumel. “As physically challenging as it is, few want to do it again. So I decided to go for it, and use the effort to benefit Kids Pitch In.”

Her training was guided by NRC coaches John Cohn and Samantha McDonald.

“We’re incredibly proud of Julia,” said Cohn.  “Her accomplishment is not only a product of her physical fitness, but of the determination and focus we see from her daily.”

NRC Executive Director, Susan Smith, added, “Though this is an extremely difficult achievement, I was confident that Julia would accomplish her goal. She is a very focused athlete, and when Julia sets her mind to something, there’s no stopping her. I couldn’t be more proud. She’s an inspiration to us all.”

Providing support to Julia during her more than three hour row were her coaches and team mates, including impressive rows from the Carr sisters, 13 year-old Rose from Newark Charter  and 15 year old Tara of The Conrad School,  logging times of 3 hours 18:16 minutes and 3 hours 23:17 minutes, respectively.

Also rowing a marathon was NRC novice rower and Salesianum sophomore, Bill Watkins, who has been rowing just a season with the club. Bill completed his marathon in 3 hours 19:26 minutes.

So how do you keep the athletes distracted from the monotony of a marathon row but focused on their goals – by watching a season of ABC’s hit show “Modern Family,” that’s how!

Overall more than 964,000 meters were rowed during the 12 hour event, by first-time rowers, junior athletes, moms, dads, sisters, brothers, young and old.

Added Susan Smith, “We’re extremely proud of the way our athletes and the community got behind this first year MLK Day celebration. Now that it’s over we can’t help but look ahead to next year’s event to benefit even more charitable organizations.”

Kennett High School’s Jordan Jones, seen in action from Thursday, scored 19 points to lead the Blue Demons past Gospel of Grace Christian Academy, 60-54, Friday night. Ken McGann photo.

EAST MARLBOROUGH — Senior Maalik Rochester scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Kennett High School’s boys’ basketball team past Gospel of Grace Academy of Cheltenham, 60-54 in the Unionville Holiday Tournament, Friday.

The Blue Demons (5-3) ran out to an early lead and seemed to be in total control, leading 37-20 at the half. But the scrappy Saints (3-4) as they did the night before against Unionville, battled back into the game and made it close late.

In addition to Rochester’s strong night, junior guard Jordan Jones scored a team-high 19 points, while sophomore forward Vaughn Jenkins added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Blue Demons.

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times

Kennett High School’s Vaughn Jenkins puts the ball up Thursday against Nueva Esperanza, in the opening contest of the Unionville Holiday Tournament. The Blue Demons lost 52-37. Ken McGann photo.

EAST MARLBOROUGH — Speed kills. Whether on the highway or a basketball court and it can de decisive to one’s fate.

The Kennett High School boy’s basketball team learned this the hard way, Thursday in the opener of the Unionville Holiday Basketball Tournament, dropping a tough contest to  Nueva Esperanza of Philadelphia, 52-37.

Although the (4-3) Blue Demons battled gamely, sticking close until the final minutes of the game, the (5-3) Toros were able to use better team speed and were quicker to the hoop. That same speed also killed when Kennett was on offense, as it led to numerous turnovers.

Jordan Jones drives to the hoop for Kennett, Thursday, against Esperanza. Ken McGann photo.

Kennett trailed 14-7 at the end of the first, but seemed to find its feet in the second quarter behind the strong play of senior guard Maalik Rochester, who finished with eight points in the game, four in the quarter, as the Blue Demons closed to within four at the half, 21-17.

Behind a powerful third quarter by sophomore forward Jackson Hyland — he , he scored 7 of his team-high 14 points in the quarter, including a three-pointer that closed the gap to six in the final minute of the quarter, Kennett managed to stay within 34-28 after three quarters.

Kennett’s Yohsuke Kobayashi fires up a jumper against Esperanza, Thursday. Ken McGann photo.

But in the end, it was too much Toros and their leading scorer, Stanley Whittaker. The senior point guard scored six himself (of his game-high 15) and directed an offensive explosion to the game out of reach.

Kennett plays Gospel of Grace Christian Academy, Friday. The Saints dropped a tough contest to host Unionville, 46-43, Thursday night.

For the 2013 season, Little League International has created a baseball “Intermediate Division” for 11-, 12- and 13-year-olds. All games are played on a 50/70’ diamond instead of the traditional Little League 46/60’ field.  Experience on the larger field prepares the players for the transition to the 60/90’ dimensions of middle school and high school fields.  Tournament and Little League World Series’ play will be offered in the new Intermediate Division.

In both KAU recreational baseball and softball, divisions are organized to introduce increasingly competitive play for each age group.  For the youngest players, day games are scheduled…and as they move up in the league, they experience the thrill of playing games “under the lights!” For KAU players who participate on middle school and high school teams,  KAU schedules its games so they do not conflict with the school teams’ schedules. Players can play both KAU and school ball!

Each season, KAU conducts player drafts to attempt to give every team an equal chance of succeeding in the regular season. Division commissioners, team managers, and the player agent all are involved in each division’s draft. Pre-season evaluations help determine the skill level of each player; and players of different skill levels are divided as equally as possible among the teams during the draft. Each season, every team is a “new” team.

In KAU baseball, players compete in eight different divisions.  For KAU’s youngest players, all games are played on the traditional 46/60’ field.

T-ball is offered for 4, 5 and 6-year old boys and girls who are first-year players.

In Minor D, 7-year-olds play “machine pitch. Six-year-olds who have had at least one year of T-ball experience may also play in the Minor D Division. In Minor C, 8-year-olds begin to “kid pitch. Seven-year-olds can qualify for this Division if they demonstrate required pitching skills. All 9-year-olds play in the Minor B Division, which also is “kid pitch.”

Beginning in 2013, players in the Minor A Division will have the chance to experience both 46/60’ and 50/70’ baseball. All 10-year olds and some 11-year olds who do not play in the Intermediate Division compete in this “kid pitch” division.

The50/70’ Intermediate Division will be comprised of some 13-year-olds, all 12-year-olds and some 11-year-olds. Thirteen-year-olds will have the choice to register for the new Intermediate Division or they can register for the Juniors Division.  The Juniors Division includes certain 13-, 14- and 15-year-old players and is played on a larger 60/90 foot field.  The Juniors Division is for more advanced 13-year-old players. All 13-year-old players must decide which division they want to play.  Due to the difference in season start dates for the Intermediate and Junior Divisions, there is not the option of registering for the Intermediate Division and then deciding to move to the Juniors 90 foot program and vice versa.

The pre-season annual evaluation will be used to determine whether an 11-year old plays in the Inter-mediate Division or in the Minor A Division.  It is estimated that roughly one-third to one-half of the 11-year-olds will play in the Intermediate Division.

Big League Baseball is open to players ages 16-18. Again, the Junior Division and Big League Baseball Division schedule their seasons so as not to conflict with local middle school and high school teams’ schedules.

KAU also offers a Challenger Division for children and youth ages 6-21 with special needs. The Chal-lenger Division plays its games on Sunday afternoons.

In KAU softball , competition is offered in five different divisions.

The Rookie and Minor Divisions (ages 7-8 and 9-10) emphasize fundamental softball skills and understanding of the rules.

In the Majors (ages 11-12), Juniors (13-14), and Seniors (15-16), the emphasis is on playing games against other District 28 teams and preparing for independent tournaments.

All KAU coaches in every Division nominate and vote for All-Star Teams for baseball and softball. These teams are selected based on demonstration of outstanding play and sportsmanship during the KAU regular season.  They will play post-season tournaments after the KAU regular season ends in June.

KAU also offers the chance for its more advanced players to participate in travel baseball and softball on both KAU-affiliated baseball and softball teams and independent softball teams.  Some teams play on Sundays during the recrea-tional season and participate in local and regional tournaments into the summer. Due to limited roster sizes, tryouts are necessary; and, again, a committee of coaches selects the travel teams.

For more information and to register, visit www.kaulittleleague.org and click on the registration link.