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2008 Little league All-Stars - Monday, June 16, 2008

Congratulations to all the players selected for the 2008 All-Star Tournament Team. Our first practice will begin Monday, June 16, 2008. I am truly excited about this group of talented players we have to represent Katy American. Now it's time to go to work. See you on the field.

Coach Ruffeno

Katy American 16 Bear Creek 2 June 28, 2008
After a tough loss on Friday night against First Colony American, Katy American came out with an attitude on Saturday morning and showed everyone that this team can dish out some pressure as well. The tone was set early with a 3 run homer from Larry Villarreall. Then before the Katy fans could catch their breath, Tyler Ruffeno stepped up and hit a 250 foot plus blast to right field to go back-to-back homers to make the score 4-0 in the top of the first. Bear Creek kept it close with 2 runs of their own in the bottom of the first to make it 4-2 but the route was on from that point forward. The home runs kept coming when Andy Wilson hit a 2 run line shot over the center field wall. Then Brandyn Alepa hit a 2 run homer to left center in the top of the 4rth to end an impressive 15 hit attack. Sean Mathews, Cy Payne, Calvin Goetsch, and Andy Wilson pitched by committee for KA allowing only 2 runs on 2 hits, 3 walks and 8 strike outs. Final score Katy American 16 Bear Creek 2. Next up is KA vs Katy National at Katy National Sunday night at 7PM.

Katy American 15 Katy National 5, June 29,2008 - Monday, June 30, 2008 - Monday, June 30, 2008
Katy American came out smokin Sunday night with the bats scoring 7 runs in the bottom of the first. This is how it went down. Wilson single, Wilson then scored on passed balls, Smith walked, Villareal single, Ruffeno doubled scoring Smith, Klingler singled scoring Villareal, Payne walked and set the stage for Sean Mathews that stepped up and hit a grand slam to right center that broke there backs early. Katy American would add 8 more runs throughout the game for our second 4rth inning run rule game in a row. After a slow beginning in the tournament KA has scored 31 runs in 2 games. Pitchers in order were Villarreal, Payne, and Goetsch whom teamed up to allow 5 runs ( only 2 earned) on 3 hits, 5 strike outs and only 1 walk. For the second year in a row Katy American eliminated Katy National out of the tournament. Final score KA 15 KN 5 in 4 innings. We are heading to First Colony Monday night at 7PM.

Katy American 10 Missouri City 6 June 30, 2008

Katy American traveled to First Colony last night to play Missouri City and guess what? The KA bats are still sizzlin! And it's a good thing because the defense wasn't there with the exception of outstanding play by our short stop Derek Smith. KA started the game off with 3 runs in the top of the first highlighted by a single by Klingler followed by a 2 RBI smash down the right field line by Brandyn Alepa. Villareall, Ruffeno, Klingler all scored in the first. Things went bad in the second when with 2 outs Katy committed 3 errors on one play that scored 3 runs and MC tied it up. KA would respond in the top of the 3rd, a single by Villlarreal, a ground rule double by Ruffeno scoring Villarreall and Ruffeno scoring on a pass ball to take the lead 5-3. MC would not go away getting a couple of singles and then another infield error scored 2 tieing the game at 5-5. In a key top of th 4rth, Wilson and Villarreal reached on MC errors. Villareall scored on a pass ball. Then Tyler Ruffeno continued his hot hitting nailing his second home run of the tourny to the center field trees. KA pitcher Sean Mathews shut the door in the bottom of the 4rth striking out 3 MC hitters. Cy Payne would lead off with a single in the 5th. Advanced to second on a pass ball. Payne scored on an infield error making the score 10-5. Then Derek Smith took over at short stop. A great line drive stab in the 5th followed by a backhand line drive catch in the hole then calmly threw a strike to Jordan Wells covering second for a dazzling game ending double play. It even impressed Heismann Trophy winner Andre Ware who was a guest of Coach Klingler at the game.

Katy American 11 Memorial Ashford 10 in 7 Innings July, 1,2008 - Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Guts, determination, fight describes the game last night at Katy National field. KA started fast in the 2nd scoring 6 runs highlighted by a 2RBI single by Ruffeno. Wilson, Smith, Villarreal, Alepa, Mathews, all scored in the inning. Mathews hit a double that hit the right center field wall. Pitcher Cy Payne shut down MA hitters early then KA bats roared again in the 3rd with Larry Villareal hitting a 3 run homer also scoring Smith and Wilson to increase the lead to 9-1. Cy continued pitching great but after an awesome 71 pitch effort had to be relieved in the 4rth with the bases loaded. Villarreall came in relief and got the ground ball we needed unfortunately an error cleared the bases and MA was back in the game 9-5. KA bats slowed and MA kept the pressure with 5 more in the 5th to take the lead 10-9. KA would not break as Klingler single in the top of the 5th then Payne reached on a walk. Both runners moved up to 2nd and 3rd then Ben Pustejovsky came up with a clutch 2 out single to right scoring Klingler to tie the game. Andy Wilson relieved Villarrell and pitched the bottom of the 6th with tremendous heart and finally got some help from the infield and struck out the last hitter with the bases loaded. That set the stage for Derek Smith who stepped in the top of the 7th and blasted his 1st career home run to left center that would prove to be the game winner. With KA up by 1, MA led the bottom of the 7th off with a double but Wilson would not give in. The next hitter lined out to Ruffeno then Smith caught a tough in field fly for the second out. Then Wilson struck out the last hitter to end this exciting game. Next up Post Oak at WestULL.&

Katy American 2 Post OAk 7 July, 2,2008
On a night when Katy American finally put forth a good effort defensively our bats slowed down a bit as we could not puts hits together to score enough runs. Post Oak did not win 2nd in state last year by mistake as they hit the ball well and played excellent defense coupled with good pitching as Katy American could not lay back on their off speed pitches. Luke Klingler started on the mound and shut them down in the first. In the bottom of the first Derek smashed a double to the center field wall but we couldn't get the big hit. Post Oak went to work in the third scoring 4 runs and hitting 3 home runs in the inning. In the bottom of the third we flexed our muscles a bit with Andy Wilson hitting a massive home run to left making it 4-1. Derek Smith followed with a another shot to left center for a long single but could not follow with another. Calvin Goetsch came in relief and did a marvelous job but Post Oak got 2 more runs only 1 earned. David Coffman made 2 awesome diving catches in left field in the 4rth and 5th innings to keep us within striking distance. In the bottom of the fifth Andy Wilson once again hit a solo shot to right center to make the score 6-2. Post Oak would put one more run in the top of the 6th despite great pitching by relief pitcher Sean Mathews. KA came in the bottom confident we could come back once again and Tyler Ruffeno hit a rope that skip off the bottom of the right field wall for a long single to start it off; however once again we could not put hits together and KA fell to PO 7-2.

Reflection by Coach Ruffeno - Thursday, July 03, 2008

Katy American should be very proud of this team's accomplishments in the very competitive District 16 tournament. I have been coaching at KA for 7 years and to my knowledge no team in any division has gotten farther in the tournament. There were some great moments. We hit 10 home runs in the tournament by Andy Wilson (3) Larry Villarreal (2) Tyler Ruffeno (2) Derek Smith (1 game winner) Brandyn Alepa (1) and Sean Mathews (1 grand slam). We hit the ball hard the entire tournament with just missing home runs hitting the fence and ground rule doubles. Great pitching performances by Luke Klingler, Larry Villarreall, Calvin Goetsch, Cy Payne, Sean Mathews, and Andy Wislon. Great come from behind 7th inning win vs Memorial Ashford highlighted by Ben Pustejovsky's clutch RBI base hit to keep us alive and then Derek Smith's game winning home run coupled with gutty pitching by Cy Payne, Larry Villarreall, and Andy Wison who shut the door at the end. We scored 54 runs in 6 games averaging 9 runs a game. Dylan Moreau provided solid defensive play behind the plate blocking potential pass balls. David Coffman had 2 great diving catches in left field and Jordan Wells contributed with solid defensive play at second and center field. Katy American is now back on the radar in District 16 because of what these boys have accomplished while displaying the best character and gamesmanship unsurpassed by no team. 4rth out of field of 16 teams in this tough District is a great job. This team will forever be embedded in my mind and I hope yours. Thanks for giving me your best.