11U Dukes win in Moreno Valley

Post-Tournament Thoughts
Written by Coach David Guerreva

What a memorable weekend, indeed! I am so proud of how the team performed this weekend as well as this travelball season. The team has melded together in a relatively short period of time, and this cohesion as a unit has led to exciting results.

The team was able to come away victorious in a variety of different types of games over two days. On Saturday, we took care of business and pounded two teams into early submission in pool play. In the semifinals on Sunday, we raced out of the gate early to build a lead that we would not relinquish while staving off a few Phenom scoring threats with clutch pitching and clutch defense. The championship game was a "gut-check" game where we found out what we were made of. We found ourselves in an early, but manageable hole, and if it seemed like the breaks weren't going our way, it was verified when Ethan and Logan led of the game with two hard hits that were taken away by great defensive plays. The Angels had a soft-throwing lefty who could be best described as "crafty" as he kept our hitters off-balance with a steady dose of breaking balls with a few fastballs sprinkled in here and there, but the boys battled through it. When the breaks weren't going our way, we made our own breaks by drawing walks, stealing bases, and making the most with the hits we did get. While the hit parades and baserunner carousel was fun on Saturday, Sunday was more indicative of the scrappy Dukes brand baseball. The Angels scored all their runs in the top of the 1st inning, but our boys showed an incredible amount of heart hanging tough and shutting them down for the duration of the game with a great clutch pitching and incredible defensive plays.

Those last two innings are still so vividly fresh in my memory. I don't know if it's because the yellow tint of those cheap lights gave off the ambiance of a hazy dream, but it seemed so surreal. We had several chances to score throughout the game, but it seemed like every time we threatened, they were able to escape. Baseball's a funny game in the sense that the game turned on a Willem grounder that found a hole and put the tying run on base. At that point it seemed like the Angels tightened up, and we seized the opportunity. Their pitcher, who had held us in check all game long, finally started to struggle with his command. Ethan drew a walk, and if you're the other team, Ethan is the LAST player you want representing the go-ahead run. This sentiment was verified when a passed ball allowed Griffin to score the tying run, and the ensuing errant throw from the catcher to the pitcher allowed Ethan to score the go-ahead run all the way from second base, which is a rarity in baseball, but commonplace for a heady baserunner like Ethan. This weekend was probably the most productive offensive display we've had in the history of the team, but the championship was won with a seeing-eye single and a passed ball.

In a game that was difficult throughout its duration, it was only fitting that there were some heart-pounding moments in the last inning as we tried to close it out. The clutch pitching and defense once again came through to save the day as we escaped a situation where the tying run was on third with no outs. When a team finds itself in that defensive position, you need some luck to escape, but you also need to execute your plays while hoping the other team is unsuccessful in their execution. Our first break came when their next batter hit a sharp grounder right to Marc with our infield drawn in, which allowed us to get a critical out without any harm. Our next break came on their failed bunt, which Eric made a spectacular play behind the dish to record the pivotal 2nd out that put our defense at regular depth and made the final pop-up a routine out.

It took a total TEAM effort to earn this championship. Each player is invaluable to the team mission. Every single player contributed and I want to take the time to recognize each one individually:

• Ethan: Great job in the lead-off role. You are the spark plug at the top of our lineup who consistently found a way to terrorize the other team on the basepaths. Your clutch pitching to close out the Phenoms and to hold the Angels were integral to the team's success.

• Logan: Great job in the 2-hole getting hits, drawing walks, and moving Ethan along. Fantastic job behind the dish because having a seasoned backstop like you makes it that much easier to coach the team. You are the on-field extension of the coaches. Thanks for playing multiple positions this weekend for the team.

• Eric: Your combination of hitting and speed makes you such a dynamic player and a joy to watch (except when you're standing cross-legged in the outfield -- sorry, had to mention it!). Thank you for taking the ball every time we asked you to pitch. You have a bulldog mentality on the mound and the coaches appreciate that toughness. That diving snag behind the dish on that bunt is a play I'll remember forever.

• Nacio: I hope you understand the coaches' reluctance to allow you to pitch with your arm hurting. Your health is the #1 priority to us, and we envision you giving us many important innings on the mound in the future so we have to protect you. Even though you were limited in the field, you gave us great at-bats and we love your team-first attitude. Stay focused, keep working, and don't get frustrated because you have to remember you're still a very raw talent. We're going to work as hard as we can to help you realize your potential in this game.

• Tyler: You are the first-baseman the Dukes have been longing for since day 1. We pride ourselves on our defense, and your exceptional play at 1st base is the foundation. You delivered the biggest hit of the weekend with that majestic smash to the left-field power alley on Saturday. You've made incredible strides in cementing yourself as an elite ballplayer with your improved work ethic. Thank you for all your hard work.

• Albert: You showed us a lot this weekend with your patience at the plate and your solid play in the outfield. The coaches know you can bang, but you displayed great discipline by staying within yourself and not trying to do too much. You made some key hits on Saturday, and on Sunday you demonstrated a great team-first attitude by taking your walks and trusting your teammates to pick you up. Thank you for taking my words of advice to heart and playing a great right-field whenever your number was called.

• Nathan: Great job pitching on Saturday and Sunday. You've been a valuable addition to the team providing much-needed versatility in the field and a dynamic bat in the line-up. Thank you for being a great teammate, a joy to coach, and a not getting hurt this weekend! That diving catch on that flared pop-up on the third-base line was huge as they were threatening to add an insurance run. Way to buckle down and close out the championship game.

• Marc: We got some great hitting out of you! I don't tell you often enough how proud I am with the role you've played on this team through the years. You've taken every criticism in stride and have never once lashed out or tuned out. Your exceptional to spectacular play at shortstop this weekend was a key to our success. I know you expect it, and you know the coaches expect it, but it shouldn't diminish the fact that you leave it out on the field every single time to put on your uniform. Thanks for battling through the headaches on Sunday for the team.

• Derek: Sometimes I forget you're a year younger than everyone else because you don't play that way. You've entrenched yourself at 2nd base, and your personality has been a significant addition to the team. I hear you more than everyone else in the dugout, and the enthusiasm you play the game with is contagious.

• Griffin: I'm so happy you didn't just get to pitch on Saturday, but you pitched very, very well. You're new to the team, but you've already made quite an impression on us with your attitude and enthusiasm. You swung the bat well and made some key catches in the outfield. Thanks for your important contributions.

• Willem: Our newest guy came through in the clutch when we threw him to the fire to pitch the 4th and 5th inning of a championship game. Then he clutched up and got the game-turning rally started with a single in the bottom of the 5th. Not bad for a first weekend, if you ask me. Thank you for your great team-first attitude.

This team-first attitude is representative of the great families that produced these great kids. It's a joy to coach a team with a singular goal: team success. Oftentimes, other coaches inquire about who our best player is. I always tell them that we don't have a "best" player. There are no "superstars" on this team. What we have are a group of ballplayers who play for each other, and when they're united in mind, body, and spirit are a formidable team to be reckoned with.

Special thanks to our 1st Generation Players: Logan, Marc, and Ethan. You three have come a long way from the original team of 8 year-olds.

Special thanks to our 2nd generation players: Eric and Brendan. Eric, you guest played for a us a couple years ago in Pasadena, and I hope you continue to "guest play" as much as you do. Brendan, get well soon! We miss you!

Special thanks to our 3rd generation players: Nathan, Tyler, Albert, and Derek. The Dukes really stepped up to a whole new level when you joined the team.

Special thanks to our 4th generation players: Nacio, Griffin, and Willem. Adding you guys have put us over the top in terms of talent and versatility. The coaches are still adapting to this surplus of pitching we're not accustomed to having.

Thank you to the South Bay Dukes Family for more cherished memories, and the promise of more yet to come.

Last but definitely not least... a very, very special thanks to Joe and Kris who make all the magic happen behind the scenes.

Page last updated February, 2009