BASES - Baseball And Softball Essential Skills TRAINING FACILITY

Saints Experience Growing Pains to Start 2010

The Saints 13U Baseball Team has found out what it is like to be sort of an "expansion" team in 2010.  Being a newly formed team with little experience playing together has been quite difficult for the guys at the very competitive MABA 13U Division 1 level.  In addition, this is the first year for the guys playing on the "big field" 90 foot diamond. From a talent standpoint they have matched up well and have been competitive in most of their games this season.  With the regular season behind them, they have struggled to get in to the win column (much like our beloved Orioles) with only a pair of victories.  Although they faltered in the MABA tournament, they played at a much higher level than they had experienced throughout the season.  Their two quick losses in the MABA double-elimination format were closely battled and fell just short of victory in each. 

Their progress has been outstanding, however.  "Due to my commitments back at BASES I have not been able to attend many Saints games this year," said Bob Lubaszewski.  "I watched the team form and practice at BASES throughout the winter months and I watched them play their first two tournament games at Sports at the Beach in March.  When I had the opportunity to help coach a game in early May and see them play together, I was pleasantly surprised at their progress.  Sometimes improvement can't be measured by wins and lossses (yeah, I know they say, "that's what losers say") but these guys are on the verge of turning things around.  It's just a matter of time.  Don't get me wrong, there are several areas that need work but I can see that it will turn around soon.  The winning attitude will come in time.  For a new team with a rookie coach (Matt Lubaszewski) it was especially difficult when you have to open your season against the toughest teams in the league.  That put these young men in a position where they start to doubt their ability.  Then when you play teams that you would normally be evenly matched against, you tend to doubt your ability just enough to let your guard down.  A few errors at the wrong time and you lose a game that maybe you shouldn't have.  But practice and drills will help correct those situations.  It's only going to get better from here. The guys just have to stick with it."

The Saints went on to participate in the LFYAA tournament in July.  They advanced beyond their bracket with a split of games against the 13U Catonsville Cubs and the 14U EYO Hurricanes.  In the semi-final game they ran into the 14U LFYAA Cubs.  A much older and more experienced team eliminated them from advancing any further.

They are now taking a month or so off before gathering themselves together again to ready for the Ripken tournament in October, 2010.  They are still searching for additional tournament opportunities in the meantime.