For most teams, a sixth place finish at the prestigious USSSA Elite 24 World Series in Orlando would be cause for celebration. However, for the powerful 2007 11U Southern California Redwings, it was cause for concern, re-focusing and changes. After returning home from Orlando last August, the team took a well-deserved break to heal from some ill-timed injuries and to develop its strategy for 2008.
 

The first change was the hiring of Coach Wes Etheridge. Etheridge comes to the team with many years of travel ball coaching experience, including National Championships with the 13U Redwings team. His primary goal is player development and getting the boys ready to be immediate impact players at the high school level. Second, the team merged with the highly respected Huntington Beach Nitro Baseball Organization, which was founded by Phil Urabe. The merger has provided many benefits for the team, and led to the name change, the Nitro Elite. Third, the team made a few key player acquisitions in the off-season. Matt Jervis (SS/P) from San Diego, Tyler Megill (C/1B) from Temecula, and Chris Chavarria (OF) joined the team and are nice compliments to a line-up already stacked with some of the best 12U players in the country.
 

The majority of last year’s team is back and they’re bigger and stronger than ever. Jason Martin (OF) from Corona has moved into the leadoff spot and has done an outstanding job. Jervis, a prototypical line-drive hitter, has been a nice fit in the two hole. Left handed hitting A.J. Balta (2B/P) from Valencia, Nathan Rodriguez (C/1B) from Huntington Beach, Josh Morgan (3B/SS) from Corona, Kevin Wade (P/1B) from Mission Viejo, Brett Henderson (P/OF) from San Diego, Izzy Fuentes (P/INF/OF), a top-quality 11-year-old from Chino Hills, Megill (C/1B), Brandon Boyd (OF) from Valencia, Nathan Hadley (OF) from Sherman Oaks, Chavarria (OF), Matt Fiene (P/1B) from Kansas City, and Justin Tilton (P/3B/1B) from Palmdale, round out the squad.

While the Nitro Elite’s line-up is impressive, the pitching staff of Wade, Henderson, Fuentes, Balta, Jervis, Fiene and Tilton may be the team’s strength. Defensively, the team also looks very strong this year. Rodriguez, who is fully recovered from the arm injury that shut him down during last year’s Elite World Series, is doing a great job behind the plate, while the double-play combination of Jervis and Balta are  turning two on a regular basis. Morgan, who is splitting time between third base and shortstop, also provides a top quality glove in the infield. The outfield of Henderson, Martin, Fuentes, Boyd, Hadley and Chavarria is also improved from last year.

The recipe of quality pitching, above average hitting and good defense has served the Nitro Elite team well this season. The team is currently ranked 4^th in the nation by Travel Ball Select, and has only lost two games in the 12U division this season (both to the Norwalk Stingrays by one and two runs, respectively). The Nitro Elite has a busy travel schedule mapped out for this season, as they will play in the East Cobb Invitational in Atlanta, the USSSA Elite 24 World Series in Orlando, and the Dreams Park Tournament in Cooperstown. Based on their play to date, it is clear that the Nitro Elite are ready to compete for the top spot in each of these tournaments.

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