EMERSON,
Ga. – Wednesday marked the final day of pool play and the beginning
of many teams’ playoff run at the 17u WWBA National Championship.
Some teams will be headed home after today, but it’s not simply
about winning in this tournament; it’s about the opportunity to
play against the best competition with the maximum amount of
exposure.
The
Philly Bandits out of Bensalem, Pa., have finished pool play with a 3-3 record
in the tournament, which was not good enough to earn them a spot in
the playoffs, but they were able to play some meaningful baseball
this week. Their final game against the Blue Chip Bulls on the final
day of pool play was a good way to cap the week off, as they won
convincinly 11-3.
They
showed great power, as five of their 11 hits went for extra bases,
and there was even a towering home run by Kenny Bergmann at the end
of the game. Despite the fact that the Bandits won't advace to the
playoffs Head Coach Jon Cross believes that this tournament was great
for his team in terms of just gaining great experience by playing
against top competition.
“The
kids played hard and certainly competed,” said Coach Cross after
Wednesday's win. “We saw a lot of good pitching and faced D-I arms
almost every game. Even the games we lost, we were right into it. Our
kids fit in and did well. It’s great when you get to travel around
the country to play teams from different states.
“Anytime
you go to LakePoint, you’re playing under the lights, and the place
is buzzing and crawling with scouts; the intensity level does rise.
These guys always need to play with intensity every game, but in
tournaments like this, it’s easy to get it going.”
This
year’s 17u WWBA National Championship has been particularly
produtive for some players, as their dreams have been realized by
either receiving that coveted scholarship offer or putting themselves
in a good position to receive one down the road. The scouts were
lurking around at each corner, whether it was at the LakePoint
complex or at the local high school fields used, and every single
pitch was a chance to make the impression of a lifetime.
For
some players that are already committed to their respective schools,
the only thing on their mind is winning. It makes things a little
easier knowing where you’re going, and it gives you a chance to
just play the game and have fun without all the pressure. One player
who seemed to do just that is top-notch shortstop, Nolan Jones.
Jones
has committed to play baseball at the University of Virginia, who is
fresh off winning the College World Series just a couple of weeks ago
against the Vanderbilt Commodores. Vandy and Virginia played each
other in the Finals last year, with Vandy coming away with the title;
but this year Virginia was able to take care of business.
Few
were watching those games closer than Jones. With a single mention of
UVA Jones lights up. From the campus to the coaches to the exposure,
everything about the University of Virginia seems to be a fit for
him. He is looking forward to playing with his high school team in
the spring to close out his high school career and is ready to do all
he can to capture a state championship, but he can’t help but
daydream about what it will be like when he finally steps foot on
campus.
“It
was amazing to watch UVA win it this year,” Jones said. “After
that first game, I wasn’t so sure how it would go but the guys
stayed strong and ended up pulling it out. I can’t wait to get
there and help contribute. This spring could be up in the air as to
how it goes. We graduated 14 out of 17 guys, and seven of them went
D-I, so we’re going to be a little young this year. I’m excited
to play alongside those guys, but getting to UVA and starting my
career though is going to be awesome.”
Nolan
dealt with many offers, seeing as he is ranked among the top 10
shortstop in the country, and put a lot of thought into where he
wanted to play ball. At the end of the day, he could not deny the
success that Virginia has had recently and feels that going there
gives him the best chance at playing winning baseball.
“Obviously
watching those guys on TV this summer meant a whole lot, but I really
think the campus is breathtaking and Coach Mac (Kevin McMullan) and
Coach O’Connor are just unreal,” Jones added. “I just couldn’t
turn the offer down.”
Jones'
time following the College World Series came just before his time
spent in Fort Myers, Fla., at this year's National Showcase. There he
continued to command the attention of onlooking scouts, displaying
his exciting five-tool profile by running a 6.91 60-yard dash,
throwing 92 across the infield, 90 mph off the mound while also
standing out in the lefthanded batter's box.
His
current coach, Coach Cross, the skipper of the Philly Bandits, was
thrilled to have Nolan make the trip with them this week, and he
feels that he was a huge part of their team this week. Nolan was
definitely an integral part of the Bandits' offense, as he batted
.500 (7-for-15), scored seven runs and had an on-base percentage of
.682, serving as a catalyst atop their lineup.
“Nolan
had an incredible tournament,” Cross said of his star shortstop.
“He’s got an incredible heart, great work ethic and a lot of
talent. He had a bullseye on his back and saw a lot of tough at-bats
where they would pitch him backwards, but he is a tough guy and he
competed all the way through. He’s just a great talent and
certainly one of the best in the country.”
Nolan
was content with the way that he played as well, and hopes to
continue his success as the summer continues. He is the type of
player who is never truly satisfied, no matter how well he does. So
you can expect him to get right back into the grind when he arrives
back home in Pennsylvania.
“It’s
an awesome experience getting to play against the best players in the
country, and it’s cool to see how our team matches up with all
these other great teams,” Jones said of his time spent in Georgia.
“After this, I’m really going to take it step-by-step and
day-by-day to try to improve my skills. Footwork is something I’m
always working on, and I’m always trying to get my speed up.
“It
was a nice tournament, but it’s time to get back to work.”