For the first time in roughly 10 years, the Westminster Baseball Association (WBA) put together a 12U all-star team to play travel tournament ball. In only its second tournament together, the group came home from Penmar, Pennsylvania, with a championship.
WBA 12U Rec Select captured the silver bracket at the Mayhem on the Mountain tournament this past weekend, a step up in competition from anything the roster had played. More than half the team is 11 years old, younger than a typical 12U squad, which is usually made up of 12-year-olds, said David "Tiny" Flora, the team's manager and a member of the association's board of directors, where he serves as safety coordinator.
The title also marked a turnaround. In the team's first tournament, in Finksburg, WBA lost all three games and went home early. Mayhem on the Mountain gave the group its first wins together, and then a bracket title to go with them.
A doubleheader Sunday, capped by the title
Two big Sunday victories sealed the title for the WBA team. In the morning semifinal, the team beat Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, 11-2 to advance. That afternoon, it held off the Smithsburg 12U All-Stars from Maryland 10-7 for the championship.
Jameson F paced the offense in the final, going 3-for-3 with a single in the second inning and doubles in the fourth and fifth, the last a three-run shot.
Smithsburg struck first, pushing a run across in the bottom of the first on a single by Graeme J. WBA answered in the top of the second, scoring five runs on five hits to lead 5-3. Bond S provided the biggest swing, clearing the bases with a three-run triple.
The lead grew in the fifth, when WBA added five more runs on a single hit. Victor B and Noah C both walked with the bases loaded to force in runs, and Jameson F capped the inning with a three-run double.
Victor B pitched the first three innings, giving up four runs on six hits with three strikeouts and two walks before Zach B closed it out in relief. Smithsburg starter Ethan R was charged with five runs over an inning and two-thirds.
Plate discipline carried the day for WBA, which worked six walks, two of them by Victor B. The defense also kept things clean, playing errorless ball behind its pitching. Connor U saw the most action in the field with six chances.
Sunday, July 19, 2026, championship game box score for WBA 12U Rec Select.
Part of a push to revive rec baseball in Westminster
Fielding the all-star team is one piece of a broader effort at WBA, Flora said.
"WBA has a long history of not only playing in tournaments, but hosting them as well," Flora said. "Putting together these tournament teams keeps the boys playing all summer, and also provides another level of play for the kids who aren't on the team to shoot for next season. It's our mission to revive youth rec baseball in Westminster. This is one small step among many we've taken to improve our organization and the experience we offer our kids."
Flora said the team wins on effort more than polish.
"We don't have the fancy uniforms or the matching batting bags," he said. "We have a bunch of hard-nosed rec league ballers who come to play, and have figured out how to overcome adversity."
WBA 12U Rec Select plays next in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 1 and 2.
A summer of WBA success across age groups
The 12U team was not the only WBA squad to find success this summer, said Teresa Griese, the association's president. The 10U Minors won a championship and the 14U Majors earned a silver medal, she said, alongside the 12U team's bracket title.
The 10U Minors tournament team with their championship trophies - photo provided by WBA.
"Those results don't happen by accident. They're the product of dedicated players, committed coaches, and supportive families," Griese said. "At Westminster Baseball Association, we're working to rebuild a tradition of competitive baseball while never losing sight of player development, teamwork, and sportsmanship. These teams have set a great example of what WBA baseball is all about."
The 14U Majors tournament team with their silver medals - photo provided by WBA.
New divisions added as WBA fall ball registration opens
Registration for the Westminster Baseball Association's fall ball season is open now. New divisions this year include T-ball for ages 4 to 6, a teen division for ages 13 and 14, and a juniors division modified to ages 15 to 17, with divisions available for players ages 4 through 17. Registration closes Aug. 15 or once divisions reach capacity.
Featured photo: WBA 12U Rec Select team celebrating their Mayhem on the Mountain championship, from the Westminster Baseball Association Facebook page.