By Andy Walter

CAMDEN — Tim Simmons was waiting in line at Disney World last month when he saw something that stuck with him.

There was a word, taken from the movie Avatar: Sivako.

Translated, the word means, ‘Rise to the challenge.’

“I’m sitting there in line going, ‘Oh man, I’m using that with my team,’” Simmons recalled with a laugh. “That’s going to be our motto.”

So far that motto seems to suit Camden-Wyoming’s Junior League baseball all-star team just fine.

On Sunday night, CW completed its three-game run to the District I championship with a 12-0 victory over Dover. Camden-Wyoming out-scored its three opponents by a combined 42-4.

Simmons, whose team now plays for the state title next weekend in Milford, said he had a good feeling about this squad going into the tournament. Junior League is Little League’s age group for 13-14 year olds.

“They’ve really done a great job,” said Simmons, CW’s manager. “It’s really been a team effort all the way around. It’s not been any one person. It’s been great.

“All the kids have stepped up, no matter what I’ve asked them or what situations we’ve been in. All the kids have been willing and able to do whatever it takes to get the team to win.”

In Sunday’s championship-game win, pitcher Kurt Helsdon earned the shutout, giving up only two hits and three walks while striking out nine in six-plus innings. He added three hits and two RBI at the plate.

Offensively, Dennis Wilson (3 RBI) and James Suhrbier (2 RBI) had four hits apiece with Nate Gatti (3 RBI) and Nick Respoli both adding two.

Reliever Parker White has pitched in all three games for Camden-Wyoming, closing out two of them. Overall, Zack Raiche has an on-base percentage of .727 while Nick Respoli is hitting a team-best .571 from the leadoff spot. Catcher Ethan Ferger has given CW some good defense behind the plate.

“They’re a real good group of kids,” said Simmons. “Honestly, they’re a pleasure to coach. They listen, they try their best to do everything we ask them to do. And they’ve got a real good attitude.

“The joy on their faces after winning it all last night was just priceless. I love seeing them so happy after accomplishing something — coming together and meeting that first goal of winning the districts.”

In the three-team state tournament, Camden-Wyoming will get a first-round bye as the champion of the host district.

On Sunday at Milford, Brandywine faces Sussex County’s District III champion at 7 p.m. CW then takes on the winner on Monday at 7 p.m.

The state championship game is scheduled for July 27 with the winner advancing to the East Regional in Freehold, N.J. Ultimately, the goal is to make it to the Junior League World Series in Taylor, Michigan.

Of course, Simmons knows the road only gets more difficult for Camden-Wyoming now. But that’s where the idea of ‘Sivako’ comes in.

“We’ve got to rise to the challenge,” he said.

Extra innings

Dover (3-2) had a three-game winning streak snapped in Sunday’s loss to Camden-Wyoming. ,.. Jaleel Ali and William Burgos had Dover’s hits.

Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at 302-741-8227 or walter@iniusa.org.
Follow on Twitter at @DSNSports.