- November 26, 2024
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The fundraisers are finished, the plane tickets have been purchased and the community is ready to cheer. Now, the only thing that remains is for the Ormond Beach Spikes 12U to pursue the championship at the Cooperstown American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame Invitational Tournament in Cooperstown, New York.
“I’ve coached five state championship teams with the New Smyrna Beach Cougars, but this it for all of us,” said Mark Penning, Spikes head coach. “I think this is the biggest deal for a 12-year-old baseball player, outside of the World Series.”
The Spikes will play six pool games that will determine the seeding in their single-elimination tournament, which will begin Saturday, July 9. They will be competing against 103 other teams. Last year’s Spikes finished at 16th,
“I’m just excited we get to toilet paper the fields, if we win.”
AIDYN CAREY
which is the best ranking for a Spikes team. This year’s players believe they can win it all, and their motivation to win fits perfectly with their age.
“I’m just excited we get to toilet paper the fields, if we win,” Aidyn Carey said. “And we also get to play ‘ding dong ditch,’” added Wyatt Hollman, the team’s funny man.
In addition to playing a tournament in the 22-field prestigious park, some kids will also compete other competitions such as Around the Horn (team game), the Home run Derby, Golden arm, and Roadrunner race.
As a part of the Cooperstown Dreams Park experience, all players will be awarded the coveted American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame ring, and their trading card will be enshrined in the Hall.
“These kids will never forget this trip,” Penning said. “
