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A new wave of the Frederick Hustlers program is keeping with the strong family ties and traditions of its older club by winning the Under-13 division of the Baltimore Metro Baseball League.

Under head coach Ron Main, the 12-member roster stormed through their competition, going 28-4 and punching their ticket to the State American Amateur Baseball Congress tournament in Rosedale, which starts Friday, July 10.

"It's a great league," Main said.

The Frederick Hustlers were initially formed by Main's brother, Wayne Main. Wayne Main is currently coaching the U-19 version of the Hustlers, which is staying competitive in the senior division of the BMBL despite most of the roster qualifying for U-17 play.

Five years ago, Ron Main started head coaching duties of his own branch of the Hustlers. Part of the motivation was that his son, Zach Main, was starting to develop the Main family interest in baseball.

Last year, the team won the state AABC U-12 tournament and played in Springfield, Mass.

"We were competitive last year," Main said. "We're trying to give the kids an opportunity to compete at the highest level possible."

Six members of that team are back, including a beefy Middletown-based contingent of Zach Main, Matt Machak, Chase Hoffman and Bradley Rinehart.

Nick Tucker is a Walkersville-area student, while Alex Eckenrode is out of Carroll County.

But the Hustlers amplified their talent from two other major sources this year - the two finalists for the District 2 Little League Championship from 2008, Brunswick and Frederick.

Jeramey Anderson and Collin Nusbaum made the team from the Brunswick club, along with Frederick's Dylan Davey, Jerel English, Phil Reese and Brad Wastler.

"We're as competitive as any other team," Main said. "But when you put yourself in the position to play against the best competition, you get better."

The winner of the U-13 AABC State tournament advances to the Sandy Koufax U-13 World Series, which starts Tuesday, July 28, in Battle Creek, Mich.