by William Saunders
This week we head to Paramount California home of Travel Ball Select 2008 10U National Champions, Tomateros de California. This elite team from Southern California is also the 10U National Youth Baseball Champions and the USSSA Elite 24 runner up.
 
Head Coach Joe Ruiz assembled this team in July 2006. After winning multiple tournaments at 8U the Tomateros would finish by winning the Triple Crown 8U State championship, USSSA 8U State Championship and finally the USSSA 8U World Series Championship.
 
At 9U this team continued their dominance by winning eight Triple Crown or USSSA tournaments including the USSSA State Championship, USSSA Winter State Championship, and the Triple Crown World Series in Steamboat, Co. What is more impressive is how this team did in 10U events. They won the USSSA 10U AAA California State Championship to go along with a 10U Major Championship, a 2nd place in the 10U Major Spring Classic and three third place finishes in other 10U events.
 
At 10U is where this team truly set themselves apart. In the fall of 2007 the Tomateros won several USSSA 10U Major events another USSSA California State Championship and the 10U Major Thanksgiving Super NIT. Heading into 2008 Head Coach Joe Ruiz had a plan to challenge his team. In January they played up in the 11U USSSA MLK/Diamond Sports Super NIT. This 10U team went 4-2 losing in the Semifinals to the Chino Hills Storm 11U. Next up was the USSSA Presidents Day NIT were they went 3-1-1. The tie was to the Chino Hills Storm. The loss also came to the Storm again in the Semi's. They would continue to play in several more 11U events placing second in two of them. From March 2008 to July 2008 this team played in ten tournaments winning most of them. This was all preparation for the cross country trip that was coming. The USSSA Elite 24. This was the goal all season.
 
Finally, August would come and the Tomateros made the much anticipated trip to the Disney Wide World of Sports. The Tomateros would go 6-0 leading up to the championship game.The six wins would come against TBS #12 West Pines Nike Cobras, Lehigh Valley Stealth, former TBS ranked VYAA Bombers, two wins against TBS #10 O. C. Black Sox and a semifinal victory against former TBS #1 Oklahoma Elite. The Tomateros would end up facing the Banditos Black from Texas for the Elte 24 Championship. It was an exciting game but unfortunately for the boys from Cali. they would go down to the Banditos by a score of 8-6. Bryan "Big Mac" Duenas would be named the Elite 24 Defensive Tournament MVP.
 
With this strong finish, the Banditos were invited to represent USSSA in the inaugural National Youth Baseball Championship. Due to scheduling conflicts the Banditos were unable to attend and this allowed the Tomateros to step in. The Tomateros would jump back on the plane and head to Memphis, TN. They had key wins against the Pony World Series Champions TBS #7 Miami Playmakers and the AAU National Champions TBS #11 Chet Lemon's Juice. They would outscore their five opponents 61-16.
 
With their willingness to travel and their dominance in major tournaments, the Tomateros de California have proven they are the number one team in the country. Travel Ball Select would like to congratulate Head Coach Joe Ruiz and his group on an outstanding season. He and his staff have given these kids a lifetime of memories and shown his players as well as their parents that with hard work and dedication you can achieve your goals.

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