NABF World Series Champions 2011 – proudly swinging A Bats – the walk off home run was hit with an A Bat! 
Success On and Off the Field: Ivoclar Vivadent’s Director of Marketing Donald E. Bell and Team Win Amateur Baseball World Series
Amherst, NY (August 24, 2011) Ivoclar Vivadent’s Director of Marketing for Chairside CAD/CAM Materials, Donald E. Bell has become the “go-to-guy” both on and off the field. Aside from his work with chairside IPS e.max CAD lithium disilicate glass-ceramic materials, Bell has also experienced success as manager and player on the West Herr amateur baseball team of Buffalo, New York – who recently claimed the National Amateur Baseball Federation (NABF) Championship.
Beginning the season 0-6, Bell and his West Herr team made a turning the right direction and saving what appeared to be a lost year, by finishing 17-10 and earning an at-large bid to the NABF Regional Tournament. West Herr won the regional going 4-1, and coming from behind in all four victories. West Herr joined 9 other regional winners at the NABF World Series, held in Louisville, Kentucky at Bellarmine University and Derby City Field from August 11th through the 14th, Bell and West Herr’s season nearly ended after a disappointing 0-2 start in tournament pool play – losing each game by only one run. Seemingly down and out, West Herr rallied and went on to win their next 2 games, to advance to the final four of the World Series. After bombing Maryland 17-7, West Herr earned the right to play in the Championship game against rival team the Pittsburgh River. From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the River Bandits had defeated West Herr on opening day of tournament play and were hoping for a repeat performance in the Title game. Pittsburgh jumped out to a quick start and took a 4-0 lead by the second inning. Struggling to prevent and produce runs, Pittsburgh was seemingly poised for victory with runners on first and third. However, a quick decision to switch pitchers changed the pace and, ultimately, the outcome of the game. West Herr’s chipped away and finally erased the 4-0 deficit in the 7th inning when Don Bell delivered an RBI single to tie the game. The score remained tied at 4 with strong pitching and defense on both sides preventing either team from winning the game. Then in the 12th, West Herr’s Carl Aquila blasted a three-run walk-off home run to give West Herr the 2011 NABF Championship. Donald Bell stated after the big-win, “Our season was a lesson in not panicking, [focusing] on fundamentals, like pitching and defense, and not giving up.” Bell continued, “in my role as the coach my main focus is putting a talented team on the field and letting them play and not get in their way, it’s a good management lesson for me as well. Personally, this season taught me a lesson on the value of being present, wherever you are and whatever you do, really be there and give it 100%, I believe being present is a much more fulfilling way to be in life.” |