To most, going 3-1-2 in a tournament counts as a decent weekend. To our 15u team who scratched and clawed their way into the championship game is quite an accomplishment being that this is their first tournament playing together as teammates but also as Elite Squad Players.
At the 15u age group, Elite Squad doesnt have the same exact goals as they do for their older teams. Elite Squad uses the 15u summer to teach, instruct and identify players for the future. Not only are we trying to make our players better and develop their game, but we also want to teach them what the summer circut is like, what college coaches/pro scouts look for and how to deal with the grind of those hot summer days where you catch yourself playing 8-10 games in a matter of 6-7 days. Although this is the main goal and really what we focus on, it wouldn’t be right to notice the great job these players did this weekend.
Being the youngest team in the 24 team tournament, I dont think anyone expected the 15u Squad to pick up many wins, let alone make it to the championship game. Considering the fact that these boys have never played with each other, their JV season ended over a month ago and some are not even in high school yet it was an event to where you sit back and say “lets see what we got on this team”. They certainly answered that question and some. What you saw over that weekend was a group of young players that gelled rather quickly and had a very unselfish apporach. A group that was not intimitated by the older teams and a never say die attitude that started in their first game of the tournament when they found themselves with a W by a walk off rbi base hit.
Going into the final day, because of rain the 15u Squad found themselves having to not only play their last pool game at 9 am to advance in the playoffs but they would be the only team that would have to win 3 times to claim the championship. Surprisingly enough these 15 year olds were up early enought to have a 9-2 convincing win over SF Prospects 16u Navy. In the semi-finals it wouldnt be an easy task as they went up against the SF Breakers 16u Grey (Pool B Winners) and found themselves on the winning side again 2-1 sending them to the championship.
In the third and final game of the day that approxametly stared at 6:30pm both the AAP 16u Red and the SF Elite Squad found themselves struggling to drive in runs early on. However in the 4th inning the 15u would strike first going up 1-0 before AAP shortly tied it up. In the top of the 6th inning Elite was able to drive in a go ahead, 2-out broken bat liner to CF bringing in the runner from 2B making the score 2-1. However it was AAP that capatalized on some walks and left the 15u Squad on the field after their own walk off to win the championship.
Although the 15u team didnt win the championship, they certainly have something to build off. The chemistry and young talent will certainly surprise some this summer…not us, we saw what a young, scrappy motiviated group can accomplish.
