- By Ernie Rapiere

June 24, 2010 Disney Wide World of Sports, Kissimmee, Florida 9U AAU Nationals Pool Play and Championship Summary

Pool Round - 1

In Pool A action during round 1, the East Cobb Long Horns, ranked #12 by TravelBallSelect, didn’t fare quiet as well. Although they finished strong with a 2-1 record, they dropped a close 10-8 game to the Florida Pokers who is an excellent team that has proven over and over that they can pull the upset win.   Still, many say the Longhorns are one of the favorites to win this National title.

In Pool B, action of round 1 play, the Gulf Coast Shockers also went 3-0 with a 6-5 win over the S. Brandon Hornets, followed by a 14-4 calming of the North Florida Hurricanes, culminating with a win over the Palm Beach Piranz.

In Pool C, the Mo Steel (ranked #4 by TravelBallSelect) are now sitting at 3-0 going into their 2^nd rounds of pool play at the AAU Nationals. The Steel played in the Pool A group and opened with a tough 8-6 win over the surprising Milton Mustangs (GA) who went on to a 1-2 pool record in the first round of play. The Boys of Steel also beat TEAM Mizuno (Houston, TX) by a 9-2 margin, followed by a 15-0 smashing of the Ormond Beach Spikes in an absolutely beautiful pitching performance by Carlos Fernadez (of Cuba) who pitched a perfect game for the Steel to get this dominating win.

In Pool D of round 1 action, the Lakeland Lightning and the 757 Slammers are each tied at 3-0 going into the bracket rounds.

DIAMOND PLAY - Round 2 

The Boys of Steel breezed through the Diamond Pool A in the 2^nd action. They opened with a 12-2 trumping of the Florida Pokers, and followed with a 5-1 win over the Gulf Coast Shockers of Friendswood, Texas.

In group B of Diamond action, the East Cobb Longhorns bounced back to championship form as they opened with a 13-3 win over TEAM Mizuno (TX) and followed with a 7-0 shutout of the Lakeland Lightning. They closed out play on Thursday with a 7-3 win over a very solid PB Piranaz (TBS Honorable Mention) of Palm Beach, Florida.

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS

The MO Steel opened bracket rounds by slamming the door on the 757 Slammers by a 13-3 margin. Next up, they face TEAM Mizuno who edged past the PB Piranaz by a score of 3-2.

In the 2^nd half of the bracket, the East Cobb Longhorns wasted no time sending the Lakeland Lightning home with a dominating 11-5 win. The Longhorns will face the Gulf Coast Shockers in the semi-finals. The Shockers pulled off an 11-6 win over the Florida Pokers in their first round of bracket play.

FINALS Wrap-Up

In the semi-finals, the Gulf Coast Shockers of Friendswood, Texas beat the East Cobb Longhorns in a game that went to the wire before the Shockers took an 11-8 win into the finals where they faced the TBS #4 ranked MO Steel who had beaten the Mizuno USA for the second time in the tournament.

But, the Shockers were running high as they pulled off a huge upset win over the MO Steel to take the AAU National Title.  They came into this tournament with an 18-13 record in USSSA play.  They had no major tournament wins and were a relative un-noticed team.  But, this team proved that they have stepped up their game and now belong in the list of the Best of the Best!

Congratulatons - Gulf Coast Shockers of Friendswood, Texas.

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