07.18.07 Cooperstown, NY

The Mud Hens went 7-2 in Cooperstown and finished 11th out of 96 teams playing some of the most exciting baseball of the year. It was a tremendous way to end our season. There were so many highlights it’s tough to list them all but we’ll do our best to summarize a FANTASTIC week of baseball and lifelong memories. To start this week off the Mud Hens finished 2nd out of 96 teams in the Around the Horn Plus Competition and Brandon “Killer” Koon won the HR Derby in front of 1,000 people in the Main Stadium during the Opening Ceremony.

The first game on Sunday the Mud Hens beat the Virginia Beach Red Sox 21-4 in 4 innings. The 2nd game on Sunday was one of only 2 losses as we played our worst game of the tournament getting beat by the Predators from North Carolina 8-5. The Mud Hens caught fire in Game 3 and beat “OUR FAVORITE TEAM & #1 FANS” Springsboro Destroyers from Ohio 19-5. Game 4 saw more of the same against the Niles West Wolves as we won this contest 16-3. Game 5 against the Players Edge Sluggers the Mud Hens scored 25 runs to win 25-1 in 4 innings. Game 6 the Mud Hens defeated Somers Red Storm 14-2 to capture the #21 seed through Pool Play.

Championship play the Mud Hens opened against the Perrysburg Yellow Jackets and the Mud Hens won this contest easily 17-4 in 4 innings and the played the #12 Seed and the #1 Team from Florida in a battle which the Mud Hens won 10-4. We then played the #5 Seed from Florida on Thursday morning and lost this 6 ½ hour rain delayed contest 13-11. The Baseball Gods just weren’t on our side as each time we rallied the skies would open up and cause another rain delay.

“The boys showed a lot of heart and class the way they handled themselves all week long. I frequently got compliments on their on field play and off field behavior. I couldn’t have been prouder of the manner in which they represented Arizona Youth Baseball.

Here are some other memories and highlights from Cooperstown:

• Colt making a crucial diving catch in left field.
• Seeing Chad getting to pitch an inning and making a spectacular play at 2B.
• Brandon winning the “King of Swat” competition.
• Jordan hitting 2 Grand Slams and pitching extremely well in tense moments.
• Alonso and Carter hitting HR’s.
• Steven pitching his #%$^ against a very raucous crowd from Miami.
• Eric & Max having their first multi-HR games of their young careers.
• Dutch, Kenny, Eric and Max all collecting some big hits in the clutch when we needed them.
• THE SPRINGSBORO DESTROYERS who helped keep us focused and fired up to battle right to the last out.

As this season now has officially ended I want to remind the boys that it’s not always about the wins and losses but how you practice, prepare and play the game and as your Coach I couldn’t be any prouder of all of you. It’s been a FANTASTIC SEASON and couldn’t have ended any better from my perspective. One more special thanks to the Springsboro Destroyers who showed us what Cooperstown is all about with their unrivaled sportsmanship. We will never forget what you did for us. You reminded us why we were there and why we play the great game of baseball.

Let’s make a date next year to get together when we’re in Toledo !!

Play BALL !!