Bandits won this week's Triple Crown State Championships to add to their collection of the previous 5 State Titles won over the past 2 years in first 9 year old and this year 10 year old baseball.
This title proved to be very costly in that one of the Bandits top pitchers went down to an arm injury and we are not sure yet of the extent of the injury and adds to an already injury filled year for our little baseball squad. Papa can almost not get this written as the child that is hurt is his own grandson so of course I am very worried until we know more. He has worked so hard to get to this point and it is sad to see him sad.
This tournament also proved the intensity of the 10 year division and identified several new teams to go with the already impressive list of teams the Bandits have been facing. These teams jumped out of nowhere and sent home the Chili Dogs and Kennesaw before the Bandits even had the opportunity to play these great squads.
I mean this as absolutely no disrespect to the Holly Springs Express that played the Bandits off their feet and the Wills Park Wranglers who had an awesome tournament but the championship was played early on when the Bandits squared off against our fiercest rivals the 643 Cougars. We threw everything but the kitchen sink at 643 and was not sure of the outcome until the final out.
What a great team 643 is and what a class act they bring to the ball field. I had the pleasure of meeting Coach Pralgo and would like to commend him for doing a great job with this team. I would also to praise #24 of the Cougars for the heart and effort he puts into the game and it is obvious that his attitude has rubbed off onto this teammates as they have no quit in them.
I also had the pleasure of meeting Tony of Triple Crown and would like to thank him for his effort in making this a truly great event.
Papa - Congratulations on a great win. I really don't know how the Bandits do it and continue to play every single game without taking a play off. It's a tremendous credit to your team and your coaching staff. Also, it was good to meet you this weekend, albeit very briefly.
We are very sorry to hear about Chainsaw. I have personally experienced this problem as a youth and can tell you it is extremely painful. He is in our prayers.
Regarding your comments on 643, they are definitely a class organization and we all respect what coach Pralgo brings to the 10u class. He is a model for all of us in the ATL area. Having said that, I believe you are selling Holly Springs a bit short by your comments. This is a feisty team that plays some of the best defense I've seen by anyone. Coach Brad is a outstanding coach and also brings a lot of class to our 10u group. And they gave the Bandits the best run by any GA team this year. Congrats to HS for a great tournament.
Now go win Cooperstown and bring the crown back to GA.
To clarify the state championships won by the Bandits:
9 year old accomplishments
1. USTBA State Championship 2. Triple Crown State Champions 3. USSSA State Championship 4. BPA State Champions 5. BPA World Champions 6. 5th place at Elite 24 being beaten only by champion San Diego Stars.
10 year old accomplishments thus far
1. USTBA State Champions 2. Triple Crown State Champions 3. Cooperstown Dreams Park coming up.
Coach Mark: I certainly did not mean in my comments to sell Holly Springs short as they certainly brought their "A" game to the game they played with us. They played an awesome ball game but I do not believe that we played Bandit baseball this game. They caught us off guard as we had never seen or heard of them and was coming off an emotional win with 643 that had drained us and you being a Coach, I know that you have been in this situation before.
I state for the record that Holly Springs Express has played us one of the toughest games of the year and that I feel that they can play with anyone in our division. Bandits also played well except for the one inning that we had 2 errors that allowed Holly Springs to jump back into the game. In general the Bandits don't make 2 errors in a tournament so this was not typical Bandit baseball.
Anybody that can play the Bandits the way Holly Springs did deserves a big WELL DONE and they get that from Papa.
Another thing Coach Mark is that our little guys were very concerned about Chainsaw and his injury and maybe their heads were as not into this game as it should have been.
As you know we don't make excuses and I can tell you that we almost got beat by a really good team but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
Coach Mark: I just noticed that our questions concerning 643 and the Holly Springs Express will be answered on the field as they are going to play early on in the USSSA State pool play. You probably have read that I don't predict but I do eat crow real well and if Holly Springs wins I will begin to look for a crow field.
I didnt realize Chainsaw was playing 1st base hurt in our game! It probably would have been wise to hold him out of the game if his elbow had just popped warming up before the game.His swing looked fine at the plate in his 3 at bats.I hope he didnt injure himself further by playing hurt.Good luck with the MRI.BTW what was the score in the physcially draining game with 6-4-3? I thought it was 12-2 ? Sometimes its best to take the victory and move on instead of excuses.
baseballbrad: I am sorry as I was so upset that I misspoke. Chaney was not hurt during the game with the Express at all. He hurt himself warming up for the game with Wills Park Wranglers and did not play at all. It was a trying day for Papa and I was not clear what happened and when.
You can bet that no chances will ever be taken with Chaney and that his safety will always come first and that decision will be made by the parents and Papa.
You guys have to remember that I did not even know of Holly Springs Express and Wills Park Wranglers until yesterday but rest assurred that you are now under Papa's radar and that I will be keeping up with you and making sure the Bandits have a full complement of pitching left for you guys.
And give me a break on the 643 thing. Surely you have played enough baseball to know you can't judge any game by the score. The game was close enough for a long time and we know plenty about 643 due to playing them many many times and know how dangerous they can be.
The way you gain this type respect is to play and that is exactly what you and your guys did yesterday and I am sure that I am not the only one that now recognizes your team as a contender.
Being a contender now you should know that your jerseys have a mini bulls eye on it and teams will be gunning for you so be prepared.
No problem on the mistake.It just appeared that you were offering 2 excuses for the game being close.We too played a formidable opponent before the game but I thought that is what happens in state championship tournaments and it wasnt an excuse for our 2 errors or missing locations with our pitches.It's just the process of playing a state tournament.AS far as the respect, were not necessarily trying to earn it we just try to play the game the right way and be known by our actions on and off the field. Thanks for clearing things up. Bradley
quote:Originally posted by baseballpapa
baseballbrad: I am sorry as I was so upset that I misspoke. Chaney was not hurt during the game with the Express at all. He hurt himself warming up for the game with Wills Park Wranglers and did not play at all. It was a trying day for Papa and I was not clear what happened and when.
You can bet that no chances will ever be taken with Chaney and that his safety will always come first and that decision will be made by the parents and Papa.
You guys have to remember that I did not even know of Holly Springs Express and Wills Park Wranglers until yesterday but rest assurred that you are now under Papa's radar and that I will be keeping up with you and making sure the Bandits have a full complement of pitching left for you guys.
And give me a break on the 643 thing. Surely you have played enough baseball to know you can't judge any game by the score. The game was close enough for a long time and we know plenty about 643 due to playing them many many times and know how dangerous they can be.
The way you gain this type respect is to play and that is exactly what you and your guys did yesterday and I am sure that I am not the only one that now recognizes your team as a contender.
Being a contender now you should know that your jerseys have a mini bulls eye on it and teams will be gunning for you so be prepared.
Baseballbrad: If you read all of these threads you will find that Papa don't predict and Papa does not make excuses. I especially don't make excuses when we win as excuses usually come from the losing team and we did not lose.
I was only attempting to point out that I had made a mistake on which game Chaney was hurt as I had indicated that he was hurt prior to our game with Holly Springs and that was incorrect. The 2 errors we made was also not an excuse just a statement that we usually don't make many errors. One thing that I have found out in 10 year old baseball is that they are 10 years old and things happen.
Bandits need no advice on how State tournaments work as we have won the last 6 in a row in Atlanta without one single defeat. I would hope that you would reconsider the respect thing in that I feel being respected is very important and the Bandits do work hard to earn the other team's respect. You cannot be a role model for others if you have not earned their respect. I 100% agree that your guys play the game the right way but can also tell you that Bandits always attempt the same.
We do want to be respected but prefer to do so by conducting ourselves well on and off the field instead by wins and losses.We want people to respect us because of the character we have and not our record as that will take us through life.I do agree the Bandits have earned everyone's respect including ours!!
quote:Originally posted by baseballpapa
Baseballbrad: If you read all of these threads you will find that Papa don't predict and Papa does not make excuses. I especially don't make excuses when we win as excuses usually come from the losing team and we did not lose.
I was only attempting to point out that I had made a mistake on which game Chaney was hurt as I had indicated that he was hurt prior to our game with Holly Springs and that was incorrect. The 2 errors we made was also not an excuse just a statement that we usually don't make many errors. One thing that I have found out in 10 year old baseball is that they are 10 years old and things happen.
Bandits need no advice on how State tournaments work as we have won the last 6 in a row in Atlanta without one single defeat. I would hope that you would reconsider the respect thing in that I feel being respected is very important and the Bandits do work hard to earn the other team's respect. You cannot be a role model for others if you have not earned their respect. I 100% agree that your guys play the game the right way but can also tell you that Bandits always attempt the same.
fourseam: Bandits are playing in a 12 year old tournament that will use 70 foot bases. We will do our best to win but the reason for us playing is to get used to the basepaths being longer. Bases at Cooperstown will be set at 70 feet.
Bandits win 6th straight State Championship
Posted - 06/07/2009 : 20:55:33
