Published: July 13, 2008 11:24 pm            

Column: Dalton Tigers seize opportunity

Although you may not have known, Dalton was represented well last week with an outstanding performance from the 12-year-old Dalton Tigers traveling team at one of baseball’s most sacred venues.

The Tigers were in Cooperstown, N.Y., for the Youth Baseball Hall of Fame tournament on July 5-11. Of the 28 teams in the pool-play/single-elimination tournament, the championship came down to the Tigers and the All-American Sports Academy from northern California.

The Tigers fell to the Academy 8-3, but their coaches said they had played with such class — along with an exciting brand of power-hitting baseball — that they won over the crowd. Dalton assistant coach Brandon Sane said everyone from the parents to eliminated opponents were pulling for the Tigers in the championship game — so much to the point they were booing the Academy.

Coach Alan Coley described how his Tigers won over everyone.

“Through the period of the week we hit so many home runs that all the kids (from other teams) wanted to watch us play,” Coley said. “They were running over to our bunkhouse and asking how many home runs we hit and who hit them. They looked up to us.

“And our kids were so outgoing and receptive to everyone and there were a lot of teams that weren’t as outgoing. We cut up, and that’s what made us stand out.

“And it was kind of that way with the parents. They said we had well-mannered, great kids because of the way we acted. Our kids never let anything get to their head.”

And the Tigers had several opportunities to let their performances get to their heads.

In the special events, Sane’s younger brother, Grant, won the home run derby. Nathan Demers won “Fastest Kid in Camp,” a base-running drill.

In tournament play, they waxed the Indiana Longhorns 27-0. Needless to say, there was no mercy rule in this tournament, which may have helped the Tigers set the all-time tournament record with 43 home runs (previously it was 36).

While compiling a 9-1 record, the Tigers outscored their opponents 138-49, including blowouts against teams from all over the country: the Long Island Ducks (18-4), California Desert Storm (13-2), Pinecrest (Miami, Fla.) Piranhas (13-4), Yorkville (Ill.) Reds (12-1) and McHenry County (Ill.) Heat (17-5).

Brandon Sane talked of how others reacted to the Tigers’ incredible run.

“We had everyone cheering for us,” he said. “All the teams that lost in the tournament were at the championship game, beating on the walls cheering, and they knew us by name. It meant more to us to see the kids and teams we ran all over come back and cheer for us. At the closing ceremonies, we walked out and the place went nuts.”

Aside from the great baseball played, the Tigers also enjoyed the scenery. The Hall of Fame gave the players the opportunity to see equipment used by legends such as Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb, along with many other priceless collectibles.

“The kids loved it,” Sane said. “No-hit baseballs, Pete Rose’s uniform, old gloves — things we dream about as baseball players, to see the equipment used back in the day how it’s changed to now was incredible.”

On the diamond, the Tigers were leaders. But they also set a good example of how to act off the diamond, as opposed to other teams, Coley said.

“The kids from the North curse around their coaches and in front of us at the bunkhouse,” Coley said. “Every other word, coaches to players, players to coaches and so forth. I complained to the tournament director, but he’s from the North and he just said that’s what the culture up here is.”

The Tigers may have learned some new words and sayings, but they’re not intent on repeating them, Sane said. And he knows his players are better off acting the only way they know how.

“We showed a lot of Southern hospitality,” Sane said. “Every question they answered was with a ‘Yes sir’ and ‘No sir.’ Our kids made a big impression on everyone and were so well-behaved. I told them they didn’t understand what they had done.

“They had 2,000 people cheering for them 100 percent. When the crowd was chanting their name it gave me cold chills when I was coaching at third base. I got emotional with them after the game because I was so proud of them for being good young men.”



Adam Krohn is a sports writer for The Daily Citizen.

        

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