MARIETTA,
Ga. – The Dirtbags (5-0) got things rolling quickly on Monday
afternoon, scoring nine first-inning runs en route to a 15-0 drubbing
of the East Cobb Team Reebok (1-4) on Monday afternoon in a Pool B
matchup at the 2012 WWBA 15u National Championship.
Conner
Leonard got things going with a three-run double that he smashed past
the second baseman, and Tripp Shelton had a bases-clearing triple to
right center field in that first inning.
“I
thought the pitcher who they threw against us was a good-looking
prospect,” said Dirtbags head coach Andy Partin after the game. “To
do what we just did is impressive. We made the pitcher make some
mistakes over the plate and made him pay.”
The
organization, which is based just outside of Greensboro, N.C., began
in 2002 under Partin’s direction. This particular team is made up
of over 20 players from seven different squads within the
organization.
“We
took a group that we thought we could come down here and compete
with,” Partin said. “This specific group doesn’t necessarily
play together all the time so it’s been fun watching these guys
mesh together these last couple of games.
“We’re
really deep: we’ve got 24 kids down here. I see a lot of the teams
try to win with 14-15 players. I’ve been doing this a long
time…coming to Perfect Game events. If you want your guys to be
really good at the end, you got to have some depth and I think we’ve
got that.”
Partin
said he has had a good time working with these players.
“Our
guys? We’re fired up, man,” Partin said. “That’s what I like.
The 15-year-old guys…they’re very upbeat, energetic and ready to
play. They really take instruction and criticism well. We talk about
the end result…winning the whole thing and how we’re going to get
there, and I think the guys are ready to make a run at this.”
The
Dirtbags will return to action on Tuesday against the Dallas Baseball
Academy of Texas Mustangs-Stiegler at Sprayberry High School in
Marietta.