After competing this year as a 13U team, the MVP Beast were ranked No. 23 in the nation–a very impressive feat for a northeast team.
Our reporter Eric Moskowitz had the opportunity to speak with him and here’s what he had to say.
Coming into this year, were you expecting your team to be nationally ranked at the end of this year?
When we were listed as honorable mention, just behind the top-25, I did expect if we had a good season that there was a chance we could crack the top-25. With the three new additions we made to the 2014 team and our original roster getting bigger, stronger and working hard I knew there was a shot if we had the results on the field.
Does it give you more pride that your the only northeast team to be ranked in this age group?
Being the only ranked team in the northeast is amazing. Unfortunately, the northeast doesn’t get recognized as much as teams from down south and out west but, in all honesty, that stereotype is usually correct. Those southern and western teams are bigger, faster and stronger. Luckily, we were able to prove not only that we were the best in the northeast but one of the best nationwide.
How long has this team been playing together?
There are five players on the team playing together since they were 7-years-old, so almost eight years now. Originally , there were 11 players and we made some overall changes to the roster in the last two seasons.
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Do you expect to be ranked again next year?
Next year we are playing in the Ripken National Championship in Aberdeen and the Perfect Game World Series in East Cobb. I expect us to hold our own in those events and finish somewhere in the 70-win range again which should guarantee us staying in the top-25 rankings.
Why were you guys so successful? How many tournaments did you win this year and who was your toughest opponent?
We were successful because of pitching, defense and the ability to play as a team. Everyone knows their roles. I have a pitcher that knows which game of every tournaent they pitch so there is no guessing. My lineup stays the same each game for the most part. We had a 1.17 ERA in 85 games and only committed 13 errors on the season. Everyone on the team can hit behind runners, we steal bases, do the little things needed to be done to win. They don’t run it like a military camp. They have personalities and the more they can be themselves and relax, the better off the team will be. Great group of kids. We won 10 tournaments all together. In the Perfect Game Super 25, we mercied every single team we played going 5-0, while allowing three runs all tournament. Ripken was unbelievable. We faced the Diamond Wizards, Delaware Vipers, BBH Black and other stud teams. Came from behind in two of those game. One game we were even down eight runs and won it. All together our record was 76-7-1 as a team. Our toughest opponent had to have been BVSA Fury–Bobby Valentine’s team. Although we faced better teams, this team beat us twice. They were the only team to do so to us. They pitched, played defense and scratched across a run or two in a 1-0 and 2-0 defeat. Then the third time we faced them in a tournament semifinal game, we were down 3-0 in the first inning. Their ace was cruising, but the second time through the lineup was unreal. It went double, single, double, triple, double. Next thing we knew we were up 4-3 and held on for the win. They are a scrappy bunch and tough to beat.
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