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Greater Loudoun ready for challenge
With the start of the 2007 Babe Ruth 13U World Series just days away, members of the Greater Loudoun Lions host team have a common goal -- play to the best of their abilities.“I think all the players are going to put their best out to represent their county and their towns, and Fireman's Field and their coaches,” said Billy Arens, one of 15 players that make up the Lions' roster. “Most of all, we want to play for ourselves. It would mean a lot to everyone here if we were able to do something."
“I'm not putting any pressure on them that if we don't win it, it's a failure,” Greater Loudoun manager Mike Lockhart said. “My goal for the team would be that we come out and we compete and play the best baseball we can play, and let the chips fall where they may.”
Lockhart has a wealth of baseball experience. He was a catcher for Clemson University in the 1991 College World Series and has guided Notre Dame Academy to four consecutive Virginia Independent Schools baseball titles. Lockhart is also the athletic director at Notre Dame.
Mitchell Bowers, Nick Collins, Matthew Reed, Matthew MacMahon, Tyler Saleck, Travis Burke and Arens are most likely to take the mound for the Lions. Lockhart said he plans to match his pitchers up with certain opponents and that the staff doesn't really have an ace.
“The biggest key at this age is being able to play defense and throw strikes,” Lockhart said. “When we don't play defense and don't throw strikes, it's very difficult to win. We are going to be able to score runs. The one thing I've learned is to try and eliminate the big inning at this age.”
Greater Loudoun needs production from one through nine in its lineup to compete favorably at the World Series. Jonathan Sarty, Tyler Mocabee and Marco Verdi are expected to bat toward the top of the order with Saleck, MacMahon, Reed and Bowers possibly holding down the middle spots.
“We have to get on base and be able to make things happen,” said Lockhart, who will be joined by Paul MacMahon and Eric Lemley on the coaching staff. “We are not a team that can sit back and just pound out hits. We need to put people in motion, a lot of hit and run. Force the other team to field the ball and get us out.”
Greater Loudoun will host nine other teams in the World Series. Those squads will consist of eight regional champions from across the country and the Virginia State champion.
The teams will be split up into two, five-team divisions and compete in pool play Aug. 17-21. The top three teams in each division after pool play will compete in a single elimination bracket Aug. 22-24 until a champion is determined.
“We want to win, but it's going to be really hard, though,” Mocabee said. “We are going to try.”
All games will be played at Fireman's Field in Purcellville, where attendance could approach 3,000 spectators when the Lions are playing.
“I think it will be a transition for these kids to play in front of that many people,” Lockhart said. “That will be something that they have never experienced. That is something hopefully we can handle early in the first couple of games. Hopefully, there are a lot of people out to watch.”
And hopefully, those fans will be treated to exciting, well-played baseball.
Contact the reporter at clukat@timespapers.com
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