Merrell’s Marauders took a step closer to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown New York last weekend when they captured their third consecutive local tournament in the past six weeks by winning the 12U division title in Mizuno Classic Tournament Aug. 6-7 in Garden Grove.
Prior to the Mizuno win, the team also swept the Triple Crown 2nd Annual Full Gorilla Classic July 30-31 in San Clemente and won the Xtreme Diamond Sports World Series Warm-Up tournament July 16-17 in Fountain Valley.
“The boys are playing extremely well, they are hitting the ball,” Blue Wave 12U Coach Darric Merrell reported on his team’s status prior to the Cooperstown trip. “I am very proud of how hard they have worked, we hope to see it pay off with a good run at Cooperstown.”
Blue Wave is one of 96 teams from across the nation that have been selected to play in the prestigious Cooperstown Dreams Park National American Tournament of Champions (N.A.T.C.) tournament Aug. 20-26, 2011 at the home of baseball – Cooperstown, NY. The team will leave for Cooperstown next week.
“If they are not ready to play now, they never will be,” Blue Wave President Steve Kruse said. “This team has worked very hard this past year and coach Merrell has done an outstanding job of preparing them for this tournament, this team has improved dramatically from the time they started.”
No matter how they play in Cooperstown, the team will be well outfitted. In winning the Mizuno tournament, each member of the team was awarded a new batting helmet. In winning the Full Gorilla Classic, each member of the team won a new custom jersey top.
Team members are Cole Samuels, Dillon Davis, Hudson Davis, Sam MacDonald, Brett Super, Fritz Miller, Neil Ontiveros, Alex Shadid, Garrett Schwab, Andrew Cook, Josh Bolan, Gaston Bouchereau, and Evan Larsen.
The team is coached by former Cal State Fullerton standout pitcher Merrell (Colorado Rockies) and his assistant Gavin Hedstrom, a member of the Fresno State team that won the College World Series in 2008.
AMERICA’S FOREMOST YOUTH BASEBALL EXPERIENCE
Since 1996, the Cooperstown Dreams Park Experience has offered more than baseball. This cultural and life enriching experience for team and family members creates memories to last a lifetime.
Players and coaches will visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame, share hometown stories, trade pins, and compete with players from throughout the United States. Team records and photographs will be displayed in the American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame.
Cooperstown Dreams Park has 22 professionally groomed and lighted fields. Dreams Park is situated on 150 acres and features baseball diamonds with grass infields enclosed by eight-foot high stadium walls.
Teams will spend seven day and six nights in the Baseball Village clubhouses and eat three meals daily in the team dining pavilion. Teams arrive on Friday and depart the following Friday.
Each team is guaranteed at least seven games (weather permitting) and will earn a seed to play in the single-elimination championship tournament. Each team also selects players to participate in popular skill competitions as well, including “King of Swat,” “Road Runner,” “Golden Arm,” and “Around The Horn.”