FL Freelance Sports Writer

If you were asked to pick a city in Florida to visit for the summer you may be quick to think about standing an hour in line for 5 minutes of thrills at Orlando's theme parks. Maybe you prefer spending your time in the beautiful ocean beaches of Miami, or if you are a fan of watching the underdog become a champion you may come to Tampa to watch the Rays. I doubt there are many out there who are saying “Let’s go to DeLand! ". Well....if you are a die-hard youth baseball fan there may just be a reason!
 
There you will find one of the fastest rising 10U baseball teams in the country, the RBI Hawks. Most of the kids are made up from the surrounding area, going to the same schools and some living in the same neighborhood; and I can tell you with the level of competition they have been playing I doubt there is anywhere else they would rather spend this summer than at home, with each other, perfecting their game and disappointing their competitors on the road. Since forming as a team in September of 2008 the team has gone 21-8, an average of 10 runs per game, and 5 tournament championships (2 of them as 11’s). If that doesn't convince you ask Mizuno's Glory Baseball 10U (7th TBS ranking in 2008), who the Hawks beat for a championship, by the score of 7-4 in their second tournament as a team. Coach Roger Hutchinson had this to say about that game “The Glory is a very tough team with loads of talent. This game really meant a lot to our players."
 
Their ever growing confidence found them playing and winning 11U tournaments to get their game up to par for what is coming next. Their level of play has them believing they have every right to be considered one of the most elite teams in the nation; that is why they are raising their efforts to getting to the Elite 32 by playing two USSSA Super NITs ( Greensboro and Fort Pierce ). Here is my message to anyone playing these tournaments... “DO NOT TAKE THIS TEAM LIGHTLY! ".
 
Enough fluff, how does this team get this done? Well, I have heard it being said that the team plays small ball better than any 10u around... but, it doesn't hurt when the heart of lineup has hit just about 40 home runs since the 2009 season began. Their two TBS “Players to watch” have been big catalysts. First is Austin Wood, who bats the 3 hole and may just be one of the better pitchers in the state; if he is pitching, start bunting because
you won't be putting the bat on the ball otherwise, and if he is hitting, tell your players to be ready because his hits are absolute frozen ropes. Oh, but don't think about pitching around him, because it doesn't get better from there! Next is their second PTW, Bryson Hutchinson. Even if you did not know that he has already hit 25 home runs this season, his sheer size, 5'6 and 142 pounds, would be enough to guess that he can take just about anyone deep !

But anyone who knows anything about baseball knows that winning is a team effort, not the measure of a couple of great players, and the Hawks' coaches know that better than most. Coming together as a team they landed 6 previous shortstops; so they knew that to make it all work they had to adopt four crucial expectations...respect, maximum effort, positive attitude and unrelenting team work. That is why the Hawks success begins from the top and transcends all the way to the bottom. And here is how it goes:

1. Bret Cormier (2b, OF)- on a team that runs the bases very aggressively Cormier is where it all begins.
2. Sean Hupp (2b, SS) - one of their only considered weaknesses is that they only hold one lefty bat, but if there must be only one, Sean Hupp sure does the trick. His willingness to do what he must for the team, tackled on by his speed earns him a spot at the top of a great lineup.
3. Austin Wood (SS, 3b, P) - see above
4. Bryson Hutchinson (1b, P) - see above
5. Chad McDaniels (C, 3b) - another one of their power hitters, and holding it all together behind the plate.
6. Cody Collins (C, SS, 2b) - his coach considers him one of their smartest players... quite the compliment.
7. Greg Lewandoski (2b, SS, P) - work ethic is a must for every great player and Lewandoski is great because he works harder than most.
8. Quenelle Rutledge (OF) - his great speed puts him here to create a balance between all this great power.
9. Tyler Jones (1b, 3b, P) - his pitching is a key to their many championships. And he has the kind of power to be hitting clean up for just about any other team.
10. Brad Peeples (OF) – this is another one of their speedsters and great outfielders.
 
Needless to say they have good talent but their coaches, Roger Hutchinson, Dana Cormier and Buddy Collins, are cranks turning and churning a finely-tuned machine. Because of them, these players are willing to sacrifice themselves for the good of the team.  They understand it is a good thing when they sacrifice bunt, or hit a fielder’s choice back side to move a runner or hit a sacrifice fly ball to the outfield to score the run from third.  They understand it is good to get experience at other positions other than the one they want to play... Not as simple as it sounds at any age.

This team from little old DeLand, FL deserves to be nationally recognized, here and everywhere else!  Come see them sometime.

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