There is Baseball and then there is Tourney Baseball. The pace, the strategy, the goal - they are all different in a tournament situation. It's the game within the game within the game. Tourney Baseball is not for the faint of heart nor the part-time athlete. It's for the all in ball player who wants nothing more than to play his best on every single play.
Our 13U Select and their families arrived in South Carolina last week to compete in the Triple Crown Summer National Tournament in Myrtle Beach. Carrying our standard 13-man roster, the players arrived ready to compete against 64 strong teams from across the United States.
The boys came out swinging, outscoring the competition in our first three "seeding" games 51-9. Ranked 2nd out of the top 16 teams earning spots in the Championship Bracket, the 13U Select was handed their first loss 7-6 in extra innings. The players and coaches addressed the loss honestly, identifying that to win close games against high caliber teams, defense and pitching has to be flawless. Understanding that every game to follow was an elimination game, the road to the Championship was long and uphill. The boys found a cool place to re-group for a few hours and then charged the field for their next game, winning by mercy in the 6th inning.
Sunday would prove to be a defining day for the team. Starting the day at the crack of dawn, the boys were warming up by 7:20 for their 8am game. To make it through the day, the team would have to win three back to back games in oppressive heat and no break. The sun was not the only thing shining on the baseball field as each member of the team performed at his best level to help the team bring home the win. The draws were tough with the 13U Select having to face the Number 1 and 3 seeds to make it through Sunday's games. The final game of the day was a defensive battle. Ultimately, Edge came out on top with a two out rally in the bottom of the 7th to drive in a run to win the game and play another day.
Hot and exhausted, the Edge players retreated to the hotel to re-group and prepare for the final day of competition. They had now played eight games in four days. To win the title, the team knew that they would need to win four more games on Monday, again starting at 8am, and playing straight through with no break. Determined, the boys arrived ready to play ball. A strong offensive showing allowed for an early morning win, but the second game would be far more challenging both mentally and physically. Their next opponent would lead the game 4-0 going into the bottom of the 3rd inning. CT Edge was not ready to go home. The boys dug deeper, played harder, and rallied back to score four runs in the bottom of the third to tie the game. A defensive battle ensued with both teams making amazing plays look routine. Ultimately, Edge would score in the bottom of the 6th giving the boys a go ahead run to secure the win after a quick 7th inning to end the game.
Ten games in five days and the boys found themselves in the Championship game against the team that put them in the loser's bracket on day three. Bodies weary, emotions high, 13U Select entered their final game knowing that they were short on pitching. Despite their efforts, Edge was not able to play the clean defense required to keep the runs low enough to allow their offense to shine. Not giving up until the very last out, the boys battled, the boys cheered, the boys played. With grace, they accepted their runner-up title to a standing ovation from their loyal families. 13U Select left the Grand Stadium Complex with much more than trophies in hand. They left the complex knowing that they can play tired. They can play hungry. They can play hot. They can play weak. They can play in pain.
They can play.
Our 13U Select and their families arrived in South Carolina last week to compete in the Triple Crown Summer National Tournament in Myrtle Beach. Carrying our standard 13-man roster, the players arrived ready to compete against 64 strong teams from across the United States.
The boys came out swinging, outscoring the competition in our first three "seeding" games 51-9. Ranked 2nd out of the top 16 teams earning spots in the Championship Bracket, the 13U Select was handed their first loss 7-6 in extra innings. The players and coaches addressed the loss honestly, identifying that to win close games against high caliber teams, defense and pitching has to be flawless. Understanding that every game to follow was an elimination game, the road to the Championship was long and uphill. The boys found a cool place to re-group for a few hours and then charged the field for their next game, winning by mercy in the 6th inning.
Sunday would prove to be a defining day for the team. Starting the day at the crack of dawn, the boys were warming up by 7:20 for their 8am game. To make it through the day, the team would have to win three back to back games in oppressive heat and no break. The sun was not the only thing shining on the baseball field as each member of the team performed at his best level to help the team bring home the win. The draws were tough with the 13U Select having to face the Number 1 and 3 seeds to make it through Sunday's games. The final game of the day was a defensive battle. Ultimately, Edge came out on top with a two out rally in the bottom of the 7th to drive in a run to win the game and play another day.
Hot and exhausted, the Edge players retreated to the hotel to re-group and prepare for the final day of competition. They had now played eight games in four days. To win the title, the team knew that they would need to win four more games on Monday, again starting at 8am, and playing straight through with no break. Determined, the boys arrived ready to play ball. A strong offensive showing allowed for an early morning win, but the second game would be far more challenging both mentally and physically. Their next opponent would lead the game 4-0 going into the bottom of the 3rd inning. CT Edge was not ready to go home. The boys dug deeper, played harder, and rallied back to score four runs in the bottom of the third to tie the game. A defensive battle ensued with both teams making amazing plays look routine. Ultimately, Edge would score in the bottom of the 6th giving the boys a go ahead run to secure the win after a quick 7th inning to end the game.
Ten games in five days and the boys found themselves in the Championship game against the team that put them in the loser's bracket on day three. Bodies weary, emotions high, 13U Select entered their final game knowing that they were short on pitching. Despite their efforts, Edge was not able to play the clean defense required to keep the runs low enough to allow their offense to shine. Not giving up until the very last out, the boys battled, the boys cheered, the boys played. With grace, they accepted their runner-up title to a standing ovation from their loyal families. 13U Select left the Grand Stadium Complex with much more than trophies in hand. They left the complex knowing that they can play tired. They can play hungry. They can play hot. They can play weak. They can play in pain.
They can play.
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