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baseballpapa
1520 Posts |
 Posted - 05/25/2009 : 08:43:06
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Papa would like to take time and step outside of his 10U and 12U age groups and tell you guys about a little 9U team that I saw playing in a 10U tournament at Jack Mattox Park in Ringgold, Georgia this weekend.
The team is the 9U East Cobb Braves and what I noticed is how much they reminded me of my Bandits. I saw no fear in these eyes when I looked at the batters and I saw courage oozing out of their bodies and I saw a spirit that defines the word compete. Some teams play up for the competition but what I liked when I looked at these little guys was that I could tell they came to win and was not afraid to put it on the line to get the win.
They didn't win but they took the 10U North Georgia Cougars to 2 extra innings for the right to play the Bandits in the championship game. I watched their little heads hung down as they came off the field but I knew in my heart from watching them play that the sadness wouldn't last long and that they would be back and I think back with a vengeance. I would bet that the 10 year old teams had better be on guard for these little rascals as they can play the game.
Good job Coaches. Even though you didn't win you made your team better, you made your team better prepared for what they will see down the road in the State and National tournaments. You helped them find that place they keep that little extra when they need it most. Playng up will either make them more afraid or not afraid at all and I could tell that this team knows not the meaning of fear. They competed with heart, they competed with spirit, they were wide open and fun to watch.
Congratulations and Thank you for letting us see you play. The final compliment will be my biggest and has never been given to any team. I saw a lot of beloved Bandits in you guys and hope that you continue to work as hard as the Bandits as this game has much to give you back if you continue to respect it the way you are doing.
P.S. It might make you feel a lot better to know that the Bandits won the tournament 3-2 in a hard fought game with the Cougars. |
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ecbbraves
113 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2009 : 20:15:46
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Papa: As a parent of one of the 9u ECB Braves, thank you for the compliments. These boys love baseball and compete to win no matter who they are up against. They have been playing against nothing but 10u teams for the past 3 weeks and have held their own. Just a week ago in the Triple Crown tourney, they battled Stixx Baseball in a 6-2 loss in which Stixx threw their top 2 pitchers, and then beat that same N. Ga Cougars team 11-3 in bracket play before the rains came. After falling to the Cougars yesterday, they went on to win in consolation play ending their weekend with a 3-1 record. I don't know how they would have fared against your Bandits but they wanted a shot and would have given it their best. They love hitting the fastball but your #12 and #20 are pretty formidable. They are going to play in the same 10U USTBA State Championship this weekend as the Bandits so maybe a David vs. Goliath matchup will happen there.
I saw a little of your game vs. Mizuno at the Super NIT and several innings of your games this weekend. The Bandits are an incredible group of boys and worthy of all the praise that they get on this forum and then some. |
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bmoser
1633 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2009 : 22:45:02
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We faced the EC Braves team last June when they were 8's and we were 9's at Monroe in the 9U AA sub states. They almost beat us in the 1st bracket game! My son, (whose birth date is 9 days away from being on their team), closed it out. It was so cool seeing my son facing the best kids closest to his age in the State. It was quite a battle. They took him deep in the count twice, but no fear on either side, and he prevailed...that time.
Any EC Braves 9U folks out there recall that drama from last year?
I also saw them get pushed around by Mizuno Glory at the Super NIT this Spring. I wished my son was with them. They just needed to change speeds more and keep it down to keep the Mizuno hitters off stride.
Are there others out there like us who battle the late April birth date? Its brutal.
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baseballpapa
1520 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2009 : 22:52:58
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ecbbraves: Papa wouldn't know which one would be David and which one would be Goliath after watching you play. I could almost promise that if we did get the opportunity to play you that you would most likely see #12 or #20 but I will also say that pitching is one of our major strengths and that #1 and #21 and #25 can also do some real pitching.
It was a lot of fun watching your guys play and your Coaches coach. I know how proud that you and the other parents must feel about these kids as we have a little group that we feel the same way about.
Keep up the good work and I am sure that we will meet sometime and it will be an honor to share the field with this type team. |
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9U East Cobb Braves
