By
John Harvey
WILLIAMSBURG
– In 2003, greater Williamsburg was the center of the youth baseball universe
as the area hosted the Cal Ripken Baseball 10-year-old World Series.
Eleven
years later, the Williamsburg Revolution 10U team will look to bring home youth
baseball’s ultimate prize in Winchester next week. They will play the Southeast
region champions from Sarasota in the tournament opener.
“I
know it’s a chance of a lifetime to get to experience something as cool as the
World Series and I’m looking forward to playing and representing our city,”
coach Bobby Wilson said. “It took a lot of hard work and late practices to
achieve our goal of winning states.”
Earlier
this month, the Revolution became just the second team from greater
Williamsburg to represent the area in the World Series by winning the Babe Ruth
Leagues of Virginia state tournament title.
In
2003, J.T. Castner was a member of the Williamsburg all-star team that advanced
through pool play, losing to the eventual champions from Jupiter, Fla.
“It
was great,” he said. “There were definitely some moments that stuck out that
I’ll never forget. Winning is great, but aside from that, just getting all of
Williamsburg behind us and all of the support that we got was unreal.”
Several
players from that squad went on to play collegiately, including Castner, a
pitcher at William and Mary. Others include: Jarrod Rickman (Furman), Thomas
Gill (Virginia Commonwealth University), Tommy Vitaletti and Adam Emerson (Christopher Newport
University), Dylan Cheely (Wofford) and Chase Wilcocks (Central Florida).
This
year’s group of player hopes to live up to the 2003 team’s standards.
“It’s
an honor for us to represent the Williamsburg Youth Baseball League at the
World Series and we hope to win some games,” said pitcher Bobby Wilson. “It's
so cool that almost all of same teammates have been together since we were eight
years old. Now we get a chance to play in the World Series together. It's going
to be the best week of my life.”
Kevin
Cole, Jeremiah Mihalcoe and Gabriel
Delgado agree. “I hope that we get to play with
competitive teams, learn, have fun and hopefully win,” Delgado said. “I’m looking forward to winning the World
Series,” Mihalcoe added.
Luke Hanson, Jayden Jones, Reid
Lampert, Jackson Underwood and Price Whitaker said they are excited about
competing. “I’m looking forward to playing the best teams in the country and
traveling with my teammates and families,” Hanson said.
For Tyler Carlton, “just taking the
field at a World Series game” will be special for him. Cody Filicko is already
in awe. “I still can’t believe I’m going to the World Series,” he said. “I feel
like I’m living a dream.”
Paul Williams hopes to get a chance
to meet Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. First baseman Logan Koselke is excited
about being reunited with his own hero – his dad, Tony, an Army pilot who has
spent the last two months training. “I’m looking forward to playing teams from
all over the country and glad my dad will be home to see me play.”
Castner said he will be rooting for
the Williamsburg Revolution and has some advice. “In the end, it’s just another
baseball game, so don’t let it be bigger than it really is,” he said. “Most importantly,
enjoy the moment, have some fun, and go get a ‘W’!”
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