Tournaments: 2010 7U COUGARS WIN DIZZY DEAN WORLD SERIES
Posted on Wednesday, July 28 @ 11:11:56 EDT by CoachMark
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With memories of last season’s perfect 35-0 record in 6U, the Sandy Plains Cougars, a year older, dreamed of achieving success and earning another World Series Championship.
Once the team was re-assembled in May with new additions Kyle Carlson and Michael Pasquali, conversations quickly summoned last year’s edict, “You have to earn it on every batted ball. You have to earn it every time at the plate.” and before heading onto the field, Coach Redman’s mantra, “What’s the invitation to my party!?”, the Cougars yell, “GLOVES!” Responding on the diamond, the Cougars doled out more than their fair share of glove-like invitations to opposing offenses.
Upon entering their first tourney the Cougars found defenses much quicker and able to reel-in lofty fly-balls. Quickly the Cougars refined their plate discipline to do away with the long out in favor of hitting frozen-ropes; lots of them and with authority. Balls on the ground required speed and throughout the summer each player’s sub-4 second times to first base made infield grounders infield hits. Continuing to complicate things for the defense was always the threat the Cougars would execute small ball and utilize the new threats of Carlson and Pasquali. Carlson always performed in the clutch and got out of the batter’s box like Seattle Slew to beat out infield singles and take extra bases. Pasquali was called on to drive-in runs and posted a stratospheric .733 average with runners in scoring position. Never in short supply was defense. Opposing batters had difficulty with Nick Eckerman and Riley Frost shutting down the short game and “In your face shots.” Anthony Smiga hurled lasers deep in the hole from shortstop while Walker Ormsby continued his perfect form at second enabling him to turn numerous DPs. Scott Pitts’ always outstretched, received and scooped balls with skill beyond his years. Ryan Kennedy was a phenom at blocking the dish laying sweep tags. Pasquali caught balls in the air Mays’ style, and the outfield combinations of Carlson, William Kolker, Ben Medley, Blake Redman and Ross Trombetti made catches on the run look routine and with all their speed they made the largest outfields look small. Seldom was a game played where an opposing coach didn’t directly test their rifle-like arms or a relay combination. Time and time again the Cougars outfielders taught lessons in execution by gunning them down.
Throughout the summer the Cougars went on the field with interdependence, remarkably synchronized and always in balance. When a stretch of the lineup hit into outs the others were hot, and when a portion of the defense cooled others made remarkable plays. It wasn’t just depth in a lineup. It was far more than that. Players fist-bumped, chest-bumped, high-fived, and congratulated good plays. When a player didn’t make a play they felt they should have, the Cougars came together to lift their teammate’s spirits and gave a pat on the back to gesture, “You’ll get them next time”. This character was always in the forefront. This season many games were won by over-coming run deficits, yet no matter the situation, even turning a middle inning 16-3 deficit to a come from behind 17-16 last inning win in an 8U tourney, the Cougars were in the hunt with character and confidence.
Since last summer’s undefeated season, the question loomed in quiet whisper, “Would it be, or could it even be possible to repeat the rarest of feats of attaining State and World Series Perfection in back-to-back seasons?” As Sportsmen, Ball Players, CHAMPIONS!, the Cougars resoundingly responded, “YES!”, and achieved a feat for which they, the definition of a “team”, will be remembered long into future years. This season the Cougars posted a season record of 27-4. These past two summers combined the Cougars recorded 62 wins and 4 losses.
Our thanks to the Coaches, Amy Smiga (Team-Mom), Parents, and Families and Friends for supporting this amazing team, and thanks to the Cougars players for a lifetime of memories we’ll forever cherish.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2010 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!
The 2010 Sandy Plains Cougars lineup: Kyle Carlson; Nick Eckerman, Riley Frost; Ryan Kennedy; William Kolker; Ben Medley; Walker Ormsby; Michael Pasquali; Scott Pitts; Blake Redman; Anthony Smiga; and, Ross Trombetti.
Coaching Staff: Kyle Ormsby; Matthew Pitts; Ross Redman; and, Matthew Smiga.
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Average Score: 5
Votes: 22
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