When the calender flipped to Mar, I do not think Mother Nature was quite ready to allow for the warmer weather to come. It has been snowing for quite some time and finally a week before Memorial Day the snowflakes and cold are starting to give way to sunshine and warmer temps.
These colder temperatures kept are Summit Extreme team from being able to practice the week leading up to the Pikes Peak Challenge in Colorado Springs. Going into the tourny we knew we would be okay if we played good baseball and we we able to "manage" the games.
On day one of USSSA baseball we play two games to determine our seeding for the bracket to be played on Sunday. Well in the first game against the Thin Air Thunder from Woodland Park we got out to a big lead and squandered it away with poor defense, we lost 9-8. In the second game we struggled in the early going allowing ten runs in the first frame. We battled back, chipping away at the lead and eventually loosing in the last inning with the tying run at the plate.
So going into day two, being 0-2 we had to play three games to win the championship. It was going to be an uphill climb of biblical proportions. For me the biggest questions as a coach was going to be how would the boys respond. Well we stomped on the first game, our pitchers combined for a no-hitter through five and ended up scattering a smattering of hits through the game. In the second game the boys faced some tougher competition but the boys stood tall and defeated the Thin Air Thunder to move on to the final. In the final it was a pitcher duel, strike for strike, out for out. In the middle innings we broke through and scored two. Going into the bottom of the last inning we held a slim 2-0 lead. We remained strong and were able to get the third out at the plate to maintain a 2-1 lead and leave Colorado Springs with a championship!!
The boys were amazing they responded every time they were faced with adversity. As a coach it makes me proud because as a staff we were able to keep them focused and keep them on track as team toward the goal. As a coach it makes me very confident as well as it makes my passion for youth baseball that much stronger!!
