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Super25  | General  | 6/10/2015

Midwest Super Qualifier Recap

Jordan Posway     
Morsches Park in Columbia City, Indiana hosted the 2015 PG Super25 Midwest Super Qualifier tournament for the 11u and 12u age brackets this past weekend. The common goal was to attain a berth in the PG Super25 National Championship in the form of a super qualifier championship victory. However, the goals set by Coach Ben Duvall and Coach Patrick Christensen transcend the tournament.

Ben Duvall is the coach of the Midland Warriors, the 2015 11u Midwest Super Qualifier champions. His team finished strong with a 13-1 championship victory over Indiana Nitro Cleckner thanks to a stellar 3rd inning which accounted for nine of their thirteen runs. The highlight of their explosive 3rd inning was a grand slam by #14 Luke Marsh who came up big for the Warriors with a six RBI performance.

While the Warriors’ offense was firing on all cylinders, #2 Colin Ames pitched a complete game allowing just one earned run. The Warriors’ defense helped out their ace with some timely double plays that were facilitated by their first baseman, #21 Brody Huffman, who had a spectacular two way performance which included a home run earlier in the day.  

While Duvall is proud of his team’s accomplishment, he is more focused on the development of his players as they transition to high school and college. He witnessed his eldest son’s transition to adulthood firsthand, and he uses what he learned from that experience to help guide his players along the same process.   

“I went through this with my older son,” said Duvall. “We have a few guys who are getting ready to go off to college. These guys are going through the same process, and they are learning every step of the way.” Duvall sees the bigger picture, but he has not forgotten why his team entered the Midwest Super Qualifier in the first place. “We are going to continue to get better and try to get ready to compete down at the Super25. That was our goal all along.”

Like Duvall, Patrick Christensen has expectations for his team that go far beyond the baseball diamond. Christensen’s Cincinnati Spikes won the 12u Midwest Super Qualifier tournament courtesy of a 9-0 shut-out victory over the Michiana Scrappers in the championship game. When asked about what propelled his team to the championship win, he gave a concise explanation.

“We got ahead early in the game. We got a couple base hits which allowed us to get a couple runs on the board. We capitalized on those opportunities, and our pitching and defense played well, so we were able to maintain and hold Michiana to a minimal offense.”

Coach Christensen did not discuss the game in great detail because he knows his relationship with his players is much more important than any tournament win could ever be. “These kids are like my own kids. I care for them deeply, and I love them deeply. I want to make sure they continue to enjoy the game of baseball,” said Christensen. “Most importantly, I want to see them blossom into great people in the community one day by serving the community and becoming great fathers.”

Coach Duvall and Coach Christensen are aware of the role they play in their players’ lives. They want to instill good values in their team, and watch each individual achieve their potential. Both teams will be attending the PG Super25 National Championships in Marietta, Georgia.
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