EMERSON, Ga – Coach Brian Tehako of Rhino Baseball had nothing but praise for his team following two tough one-run losses over the weekend during the Perfect Game Memorial Day 14u WWBA tournament at LakePoint. He understands that sometimes baseball is a game of breaks, and if Rhino Baseball had a few more breaks go their way they might be 2-0 instead of 0-2.
“For us coming from Illinois we really wanted to challenge our guys and get them used to coming to a tournament like this.” Said Tehako. “We wanted to get them used to the competition, for them coming down here to be competitive we’re happy with that. Both games we had tough losses but for us to be competitive and give the boys experience playing at a facility like this, at a great tournament, that’s what is most important.”
The team suffered two 4-3 losses against the North Alabama Storm on Friday night and against Roadrunners Baseball on Saturday afternoon. They came into today’s game against the Game On Lookouts understandably frustrated with the results, but confident in their team’s abilities and their chances at winning today.
Rhino Baseball, based out of Illinois, is the only 14u team from the Midwest region at this tournament. Rhino Baseball is only four years old as a baseball program, but Tehako believes it is a program on the rise with the ultimate goal being to develop and train these players specifically for tournaments of this caliber.
“We are on our fourth year, I’m one of the co-founders (of Rhino Baseball),” said Tehako. “We are a year-long program and we have our own private facility that the boys have access to all year to practice. We have fall, winter, spring, and summer where the boys can get their work in. We’re trying to create a great program to come to tournaments like this and compete and represent Midwestern baseball.”
Tehako discussed his philosophy on the development of the players and the overall philosophy of the program. He aims to introduce the players to big tournaments and talent-filled environments at an early age so the players can get used to playing in tournaments of this caliber. Tournament exposure along with the year-round training facility bodes well for the athletes who are developing, maturing, and being around top-level competition.
“We want to start the development as young as possible,” said Tehako about the developmental process. “We try to groom our guys as young as 9 and 10 so that when they get to tournaments like this it’s not a shock and it’s not a surprise to see the talent and see the competition. 14u is where we feel is most important so they get used to the environment with scouts and coaches and there’s no pressure.”
Excited to get underway, Tehako had a message for his team today. He wants to focus on the factors that the team can control and for them to remember that they are a talented team who is well-prepared for tournaments like this.
“Keep doing what you’re doing,” urged Tehako. “We would like to put the barrel on the ball more. Getting our bunts down and playing small ball. For most guys this is their first true wood bat tournament, it’s not the same as using metal bats. We’re still trying to barrel the ball up and hit the gaps.”
The coaches were not the only ones excited for today’s game as Friday’s starting pitcher and Saturday’s No. 2 hitter Marc Babicz, along with Saturday’s starting pitcher and cleanup hitter, Ben Hernandez, were anxious to get underway.
“You just want to forget what happened,” said Tapicz referring to his team’s 0-2 start. “Go in and fix the errors and keep hitting like we were and we should be good today.”
“Short memory,” added Hernandez. “Just forget those two games even happened, it’s all about the game today.”
Unfortunately for Rhino Baseball they were unable to finish the tournament on a positive note. Game On Lookouts defeated Rhino Baseball by a score of 7-2. It was an ugly game for Rhino as they preached before game to play smart baseball and to limit errors. Four errors in total and giving up a run every inning besides the first does not bode well for success.
Rhino Baseball did get off to a good start by grabbing the lead in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI groundout from Hernandez to score Babicz. Unfortunately they were only able to tack on one more run in the entire game and were ultimately defeated by the Game On Lookouts.
Babicz – who came into Sunday 3-for-4 in the previous two games – finished the day going 2-for-3 with one run scored but the rest of the Rhino Baseball lineup was held in check for most of the day by Game On Lookouts starting pitcher Wilton Pittman. The southpaw from Bascom, Fla., held Rhino Baseball to only two runs over 6 1/3 innings and added six strikeouts.
Even with the defeat today Rhino Baseball knows that their development is a summer long process this year. The members of the team are focused on their success and know what goals they plan on achieving along the way.
“Try to go in and fix what our errors were last year,” said Babicz. “We want to try to get better, and everyday go out and help the team win.”
A 0-3 showing this weekend certainly hurts, but Rhino Baseball will be back at Perfect Game facilities before long. The team plans on traveling to Fort Myers for the BCS tournaments later on this summer and is disciplined and focused enough to make noise at any tournament for the rest of the summer.
Plus, it’s all part of the learning process.