The 2019 Cooperstown team began their 2019 season with the MLK Classis in Las Vegas.  The team was coming off of Christmas break and was eager to begin.  Their first opponent was the Phantom Elite from Arizona.  The team showed they were prepared as they stormed out to a quick 9-0 lead in the first 2 innings including a clutch squeeze by Chad L.  Kenji O was strong thru 3 innings before having to depart the game with a blister and a 9-2 lead.  A big 5 run 5th inning brought the Elite close enough to eventually win the game 10-9 with 2 runs in the bottom of the 6th.  Big Kat H led the offensive attack with 2 hits and an RBI and Tanner T provided support driving him in twice, collecting 2 hits himself.

Game 2 against PCH Baseball followed a similar script.  The team jumped out to a 3-1 lead into the 3rd as Tanner T. provided a strong start.  Unfortunately, the team faltered again late taking a 10-3 loss and an 0-2 record into day 2.

Despite a tough day 1, the boys came out swinging again in Day 2.  The offense was on fire, led by leadoff hitter Jack P who provided 2 hits and got the offense rolling.  The 3-4-5 combo of Lucas S, Big Kat H and Kole T provided quick a punch combining for 5 hits, and 7 RBIs.  Kenji O provided 2 hits and 2 RBIs as the team posted another 9 runs.  However, the theme of the weekend continued, and the boys lost 10-9 on another walk off loss to the Road Dawgs.

The final game of the tournament pitted LVBA against local rival Team Adidas.  The 12s fell behind early giving up a 4 run first inning but continued to show their toughness and resolve with an 8 run answer.  Eisa K delivered a strong zero to continue the momentum, but the offense finally fell flat, and the team couldn’t hold off Adidas who came back for a 13-8 victory.  Eisa K and Dom L provided some bottom of the lineup offense with a couple of hits and RBI and Lucas S. continued his hot hitting weekend with 1 hit, 2 walks and RBI.  Ty K. finished off his unreal weekend getting on base 9 times in 4 games creating havoc for the defense all weekend.

Overall, the scoreboard says 0-4, but was not indicative of how the team played over the weekend.  3 of the 4 losses occurred in the last inning and the team held the lead in each game.  With a little more attention to detail late in the games and the boys are sure to turn around that record going forward on their march to New York in August