JUPITER, Fla. -- A
trio of 2012 Perfect Game All-Americans were also members of the East
Cobb Baseball team that claimed this year's WWBA World Championship
by defeating Chet Lemon's Juice 8-2 in the Championship Game.
Third
baseman Travis Demeritte, centerfielder Josh Hart and catcher Brian
Navarreto represented one-third of East Cobb Baseball's lineup. Both
Demeritte and Hart were named to the event's All-Tournament Team.
This
prestigious event, conducted annually at the Roger Dean Sports
Complex in Jupiter, Fla., serves as the end of the 2012 tournament
season. For high school seniors and long-time members of the East
Cobb program such as Demeritte and Hart, the WWBA World Championship
also serves as the end of their time with their travel ball
organizations.
“I'm
feeling great,” Hart said with a big smile on his face after the
Championship Game. “This is actually our last tournament for East
Cobb and then we're off to the next level. We just finished it with
a great exclamation mark, did our thing and took (the championship
trophy) back home. It feels good.”
This
marked the 20th Perfect Game tournament event for both Hart and
Demeritte, and the third consecutive year in which they have
participated in the WWBA World Championship. The East Cobb program
has claimed numerous championships during this time, the most recent
of which being the 2012 18u BCS Finals.
“I'm
so glad we got to pull this off,” Demeritte added of East Cobb's
victory. “Like (Josh) said, this is our last tournament with East
Cobb, and what a great way to finish it.
“We're
a family. It's a grind, but it's been a pleasure grinding with these
boys. I'm proud of my boys.”
Demeritte
was the star of the Championship Game, going 3-for-3 with a double
and four driven in as part of East Cobb Baseball's 8-2 win over Chet
Lemon's Juice. He also started his team's Quarterfinal matchup
against Palm Beach PAL, striking out 10 batters in six innings in a
6-1 victory to advance.
The
most impressive part of Demeritte's performance on Monday was his
defense, as he made a spectacular diving back-handed play on a
sharply hit ground ball only to get up and fire a strike to first
base to record the out.
Hart,
who made the defensive play of the Perfect Game All-American Classic,
went 1-for-1 with a pair of walks and three runs scored in the
Championship Game. Overall he hit .455 in the tournament with eight
runs scored and three stolen bases while serving as the team's
leadoff hitter.
“It's
an adventure,” Hart said of his time with the East Cobb program.
“It's been a journey. The ups and downs, battling through
adversity. We hung in there, we're a family and we stuck together
just like that. When you pull together you see what happens: We
win.”
Navarreto,
who was unavailable to play on the last day of the event, went
4-for-10 in the tournament while exhibiting his usual impressive
defense behind the plate.
Their
teammate, Wesley Jones, was named the tournament's MVP by hitting
.524 with four doubles while driving in 10 runners during the
five-day tournament. Jones also took the mound and pitched the first
four innings of the Championship Game for East Cobb Baseball.
With
the end of the tournament season, it's now time for Demeritte and
Hart to turn their attention to their future individual goals of
playing at the next level, whether that be in college or as a pro.
Both
quickly recognize that a lot of work still needs to be done to
accomplish those goals.
“Hitting
the weights,” Demeritte responded with laughter when asked what the
focus was after the WWBA World Championship. “Getting a little
bigger, faster, stronger and hopefully make an impact on this draft
or get ready to go to South Carolina.”
“Workout
baby, improve,” Hart concurred. “Work out, get bigger, work on
some of the things you're kind of weak on. Get my school work done
and see what happens next, either Georgia Tech or the draft.”
To
read more about the 2012 WWBA World Championship please visit the
event page as well as Jeff
Dahn's feature on the Championship Game.