CUMMING,
Ga. – The Dallas Patriots 14u Stout are cruising through the
2012 14u WWBA National Championship in dominant fashion. In its first
three tournament games, the team has outscored opponents by a
combined 29-2 margin, including a 8-1 victory against Team Georgia
Baseball Academy 14u on Tuesday afternoon at Pinecrest Academy’s
Fathers Field.
One
of four 14u teams under the Dallas Patriots’ umbrella at this
tournament, the 14u Stout squad is managed by Logan Stout, who
founded the organization in 2000.
“Going
on 13 years,” said Stout following the win at Pinecrest Academy.
“Time flies.”
Among
the most recent and notable of players to come through the Dallas
Patriots program are 2011 graduates Josh Bell and Trevor Story. Bell
scored a seven-figure signing bonus from the Pittsburgh Pirates last
summer while Story signed for just under a million dollars with the
Colorado Rockies. Developing such talent from a young age is a
priority in the organization, Stout said.
“I’ve
been with this specific group of guys since they were nine- and
10-year-olds,” said Stout of this 14u group. “What we like to do
is find a coach, get him a group of young guys and carry them all the
way up. That’s typically what we do. Josh and Trevor last year: I
had them since they were young.”
The
team’s roster, gathered from all over the Dallas-Fort Worth
Metroplex in Texas, played together as a team against Team Georgia,
in Stout’s words.
“There’s
no individuality,” said Stout in response to what he believes this
group’s strengths are. “They play like a cohesive unit.
Individuals play the game, but teams win championships. We just don’t
put up with any selfishness.”
Tuesday
afternoon’s victory came in spite of the absence of two top
players, one who was fighting an illness and the other who had an
injury.
“In
fact, they’re our number three and four hitters in the batting
order,” Stout noted. “As far as who’s done well, truthfully
there’s not a kid on the team that hasn’t done well. You saw our
nine-hole hitter, Jacob Parrot, hit a home run today. I can’t
really single one guy out.”
After
this tournament, Stout’s team will continue its summer plans in
Fort Myers, Fla., at the 2012 14u BCS Finals in July as well as a
return trip to Georgia later that month for the 2012 14u Perfect Game
World Series.
“Perfect
Game does a great job,” Stout said. “That’s why we come out
here. It’s a long haul from Dallas, Texas, but we come out to do as
many of them as we can because they do it right. We appreciate what
they do for the game, but most importantly, what they do for the
kids."