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12U Lamorinda Cougars Print E-mail

The 2009 12U edition of the Lamorinda Cougars are poised to repeat as National Champions

By Ernie Rapiere

The reigning Elite 24 champions, the Lamorinda Cougars, are continuing their winning tradition that was established as 11 year olds.  Coached by Rick Rider, this year’s 2009 edition of Cougars is continuing to play at a high level. Despite carrying a target on their caps as the reigning Elite 24 champions.  This team started their 2009 year with 16 straight wins before losing to rival Team TABU of Fremont, California.  But, that is what happens once a team has proven that they are among the best of the best - as every team comes with their “A” game.

This year’s Cougars return 8 players from last year’s championship team, including TravelBallSelect "Players to Watch" Matt Bicker, Joe DeMers and Daniel Slominski (the MVP of the 2008 Elite 24).  Their roster is loaded with talented players from top to bottom of their order.  In fact, this 2009 edition of the Cougars has eight players who are listed as “Players to Watch” by TravelBallSelect also including newcomers Lucas Herbert, Michael Palos and Mitch Hart.

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The 2009 edition of the Lamorinda Cougars are currently ranked #2 nationally by TravelBallSelect.  With an overall record in 2009 that consists of 52 impressive wins and 16 losses  (6 against 13U Major competition) while outscoring 2009 opponents 515-195.  This is impressive when one considers that they are playing in the Western region – an area that is packed with excellent teams that come ready to beat you on each given day  - and playing against both 12U and 13U Major competition this season.

The Cougars have some impressive wins and some heartbreaking losses.  But their losses have come from the likes of the TBS #1 ranked Norwalk Stingrays who edged past the Cougars in extra inning classics in each of the two face offs between these two great teams.  Other notable competitive match-ups include their 4 and 2 record versus the TBS #5 ranked TEAM TABU.   The Cougars tournament championships include the Winter Nationals Super NIT, the Las Vegas Desert Fall Classic, and the Western Elite Classic that included many of the top teams from SoCal.

In the Cougars most recent outing at the Socal Super 16 tournament (that was packed with outstanding teams), the Cougars played like champions winning 3 straight shutout games while outscoring their opponents 31-0 before falling by one run to TEAM GH1 in the semi-finals of this event.

Thus, even though the Cougars didn’t win this event, they played at a high level suggesting that they are once again getting stronger as the season moves down the stretch.   The Cougars will be competing at Cooperstown Week #2 before returning home to prepare for roadtrips to Florida and Texas for the Elite World Series and Super 16 Championship.

Look for these Cougars to come ready to once again challenge for the #1 ranking as the 2009 winds to its close.  There is still a lot of baseball to play.

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Last Updated on Wednesday, 03 June 2009 09:09
 

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