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Prep Roundup
Columnists Brian Meadows Brad NormanMembersLocal Connection› Iredell County Young Athletes Association› South Iredell Athletics Association › SHS athletics › WIHS athletics › NIHS athletics › SIHS athletics › LNHS athletics Syndicate RSSAP NASCAR NASCAR Features A look at this year's schedule A look at this year's drivers Differences between stock car and open-wheel racing NASCAR Research & Development Petty Enterprises splitter testing Aerodynamic testing in Concord's wind tunnel Top 10 moments in Daytona history Site StatisticsThis page has been viewed 228937 timesPage rendered in 0.5922 seconds Total Stories: 2136 Total Comments: 34 Most Recent Entry: 08/15/2008 12:53 pm Most Recent Comment on: 04/17/2008 10:54 pm Most Recent Visitor on: 08/21/2008 10:50 pm |
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2008 Jul-16
North Piedmont All-Stars prepare for trip to regionals on heels of winning state titleBy Brad Norman
It was just moments after Statesville’s 10-year-old Babe Ruth All-Star team won the state championship Monday when someone piped up in the midst of a massive celebration: “We’re going to Disney World.” Actually, they’re going to Winterville. And while the small town in eastern North Carolina doesn’t quite hold the same luster as the Magic Kingdom, come July 25, it will be the most magical place in the world. Last weekend’s state title run ensured this North Piedmont American baseball team will compete in the Southeast Regional, held in Winterville, against nine other teams from the region. “I’m really happy for the kids,” coach Mike Daniels said. “They played hard and they played together.” The only thing more fun than the championship victory was the celebration that followed. Players doused each other — and coaches — with buckets of water, and several cans of shaving cream mysteriously materialized. “Somebody snuck up behind me and put a rag full of shaving cream all over my face,” Daniels said with a chuckle. “I had shaving cream up my nose, down my ears. It burned for about a day.” But it was well worth it for Daniels, especially after the team bounced back from a rough start. Ten teams throughout North Carolina advanced to the state tournament. They were split into two pools of five teams, and each pool went through a round-robin phase of games. The top three teams from each pool advanced to the single-elimination championship bracket. Statesville went 2-2 during pool play to eke out the final berth from its pool before sweeping the next three games. “We were nervous the first three games. We did not look like our baseball team,” Daniels said. “The fourth game, we started looking more like us. And the final two games, they were as loose as ever.” The championship game was particularly one-sided — Statesville won 11-0 in four innings behind an offensive flurry and the dominant pitching of big lefty T.J. Storment. “This is the best I’ve pitched in a while,” T.J. said Tuesday in the midst of a baseball camp. “They didn’t get a hit off me in the championship. But it doesn’t really matter how I play, it matters how the whole team plays.” T.J. had some help on the mound, too. Braeden Daniels, Dillon Love and Travis Ramseur all pitched multiple innings throughout the tournament. “We had fun,” said Travis, sporting a nametag with “Speedy” scribbled as the inscription. “We won the state championship. I didn’t believe it.” And there’s still another round of games to go. Team members joined other players from around the area at a camp this week, which is spearheaded by Jeff Storment. Storment is also the founder of Power Cross, a nonprofit organization that serves elementary-age boys in the area. Most live in single-parent homes with their mothers. “We have eight Power Cross kids on the team, and half of those are in need of help funding-wise,” Jeff Storment said. Jeff Storment, coaches and parents are currently trying to raise money so that all the players can travel for the regional championship. The squad will spend several days in Winterville, although the exact number depends on how many games it wins. They will have to pay for 10 motel rooms, as well as food and other incidentals. Coaches have also looked into renting a large bus for transportation. “If we can get some help from the community, we can maybe support everything,” Daniels said. The team will have a fundraising dinner from 5-8 p.m. Saturday at Fun Station 2000. Barbecue plates will be sold for $10, and a silent sports memorabilia auction will follow. “We’d be tickled to raise $500 per player,” Daniels said. “This tournament will be an experience these kids will never, ever forget.” Bookmarkz |
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