Palm Harbor's West Coast Warriors Win National Championship

Palm Harbor Patch would like to congratulate the West Coast Warriors, a talented bunch of local boys led by equally talented coaches. The Warriors recently won their first Ripken Baseball National Tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Way to make your community proud, West Coast Warriors! Nice job!

Tony Gomez, who coaches this amazing 10u team, submitted this article recapping the West Coast Warriors' great performance in the tournament. Thanks for sharing this with the community, Tony! We're publicly inviting you to blog with us, so we can continue to stay informed about the Warriors!

10u Warriors sell their way to THE Ripken Experience, then ‘SELL-OUT’ for their TEAMMATES

By Coach Tony Gomez

The 10u West Coast Warriors started selling tickets to raise money as they prepared to head to Myrtle Beach, SC and the Ripken Experience. The boys knew that they had to accomplish prior to heading to a national tournament in the middle of the July heat.

The Journey started in the chilly Palm Harbor, January weather of Palm Harbor, Florida.

The boys did everything that they could to make things easier for their parents, themselves, but most importantly, they sold tickets, washed cars, and received donations from the Unice/Salzman Law Group, Hancock Bank in Tarpon Springs, Sunshine Research Employment Screening Company, Fifth/3rd Bank, Palm Harbor Automotive and Bill’s Super Gas in Palm Harbor.

They also received training and donations from the MVP Sports Complex in Tarpon Springs. The week prior departing to Myrtle Beach, East Lake Baseball Coach (Dan Genna) volunteered to train the boys for 3 days. At his training, Coach Genna’s main message to the Warriors was to ‘Sell-Out” for your team mate.

Before arriving at the Ripken Experience, Tyler Dietz earned the right to make the lineup for his team, because he sold 353 Raffle tickets for his team at the team fundraiser.

At The Ripken Experience, the Warriors first opponent was against the #1 Ranked team in the State of Maryland. The 10u Lake Shore Gray Sox took an early 2-0 lead. In the 5th inning, the Warriors had a 6-5 lead, Billy Simmons stroked a 1 OUT single to left field, he then stole 2nd base. Jahkoby Perez advanced the runner by putting down a perfect bunt to the 3rd base side and caught the Gray Sox by surprise. Billy Simmons advanced to 3rd base, and the Speedy Jahkoby Perez was safe at 1st. On the very Next pitch, Billy Simmons stole home on a wild pitch helping Warriors to prevail and hold on to win 7-5.

The 10u Warriors played a 10:30am games versus the Diamond 9 Mavericks from Georgia. The Warriors were dressed in the ALL-BLACK uniform and were in for a Dogfight Caden Minuto went 2 for 2 and scored, Aiden Oates, Tyler Dietz, Aidan McManus sparked a 6th inning rally that helped the boys score 3 runs as the Warriors held on to win 6-5. The players realized that Coach Tony Gomez’s advice was correct,  Every team in the tournament will be putting their best pitcher against the teams from Florida.

The next day, in the 2nd game, the Warriors Faced the Virginia Cannons, and just like before, the coach put their best pitcher against the Warriors. The game went back and forth, Ricky “Bobby’ Eicher had 2 hits. 2 RBI’s, and did everything he could for his team, but the Warriors found themselves losing the game 5-4. When the last out was recorded, the boys looked in disbelief; the Cannons rushed the field and celebrated their only win in pool play. Coach Tony Gomez told his boys to watch how other teams react to beating them.

Coach Tony Gomez knew that the other 19 teams in this tournament would be looking to make a name for themselves, by beating a team from Florida. That is why: he had the Florida State outline placed on EVERY jersey for their team. He did it for team pride and to literally paint a target on their players. He wanted to see if his Warriors can rise to the challenge.

The next day started with a game against the Long Island Ducks. The Warriors found themselves down 1-0. The early lead gave the parents from Long Island reason to feel good, UNTIL the game was delayed for 90 Minutes because of Lightning. When the game resumed, the Warrior bats heated up as the boys went on to win 6-3.

The last games in Pool play, the Warriors were matched against the Anchor Bay Angels, the # 2 Ranked team in the state of Michigan. The Angels were the toughest team that the Warriors would face in the tournament. At a Pool Play record of 3-1, the Warriors were playing for the Division title and a coveted 1st Round bye.

The Warriors were OUT-HUSTLED by the Anchor Bay Angels. Coach Tony Gomez did not like what he saw in his players. Several of the Warriors did not hustle for their teammates, for their parents, but MOST IMPORTANTLY, for themselves.

Immediately after losing 4-0 to the Anchor Bay Angels, the coaches made the Warriors run ‘Gassers’ in the outfield. The coaches stressed the importance of hustling on EVERY play.

On Thursday, the Warriors donned their ALL-BLACK uniforms started playing in the Elimination round. The first game, theWarriors played against the Brunswick Stars from Ohio. Team Captain Ben Fragale went 2 for 3, Stole 4 bases and the newly motivated Warriors won 10-4 against the overmatch Brunswick Stars.

The next game was a rematch versus the Anchor Bay Angels. The Warriors vowed to each other that they WOULD NOT be outhustled. Wearing the ALL-BLACK uniforms again, the Warriors held on to win 9-7 in the 95+ Degree South Carolina heat. Tyler Dietz, Ben Fragale and Nolen Ford displayed outstanding defense and “Sold-Out’ for their team.

Thursday night was a good night for the Warriors to blow off some steam. The Coaches let the players hit them with 200+ water balloons. The coaches retaliated with water guns. In the middle of the tournament week, it is important that the players know that they have fun and never forget this experience.

On Friday, only four teams were left. Caden Minuto declared, ‘ Duck Season’ has opened, as the Warriors had another rematch against the Long Island Ducks. Team Captain, Ben Fragale, led off with a opposite field single, Stole 2nd base, then 3rd base. He led his team with 3 hits and three runs scored for the game and made sure that his teammates kept ‘Selling-Out” for each other as he made a diving catch in Centerfield. That type of leadership inspired his Warriors, as they jumped to a 3-0 lead and never looked back. With the team wearing the All-Black again, Jackson Unice pitched four STRONG innings, Aaron Deegan finished the last two innings. Aiden Oates went two for three with two runs scored and Tyler Dietz continued to swing a hot bat and the Warriors held on to win 10-3. The 10u Warriors have earned their way into the Championship game.

Entering the Championship game, The 95+ Degree heat could not deter the 10u Warriors from bringing their bats, swagger and hustle against the Bunn Wildcats from North Carolina.

The game started with both teams displaying strong defenses. In the top of the 2nd inning, Tyler Dietz continued to swing a RED-HOT bat and singled to left field, Tyler Dietz then stole 2nd and then successfully stole 3rd base. Aidan McManus hit a laser shot up the middle that unfortunately and literary knocked out the Wildcats starting pitcher. The Wildcats shortstop picked up the deflected ball and fired a frozen rope to get Aidan McManus out at 1st base, but the psychological damage was done.

The Wildcats used 3 different pitchers to try and stop the hot WARRIOR BATS, but if proved to be for naught. TheWarriors players continue to ‘Sell-out’ for their teammates with their strong defense and moving the runners via, sacrifice bunts or fly balls.

Aaron Deegan pitched 6 innings and not only earned the win, but was awarded the MVP AWARD for the Championship game. Jackson Unice, Ricky Eicher and Billy Simmons had key hits that helped propel the Warriors to their First National Tournament Championship.

After all the Trophy Ceremony and celebration had died down, Coach Tony thanked the players for ‘Selling Out’ for their teammates and he wanted to make sure that they NEVER forget how they came together, and what they did as a team, at the Myrtle Beach, Ripken Experience.

The local communities business and parents helped the players sell tickets, washed cars, cooked burgers and Hot dogs to help the team. The players ‘Sold-Out’ for their teammates.

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