TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - For the first time in modern Babe Ruth baseball history, three Tallahassee teams won their state tournaments and advanced to the regional round of the playoffs.
The 13 and under team advanced in four games after AJ Thorp rose to the challenge and pitched a complete game shutout against Fort Caroline 3-0. Head coach Bruce Williams enjoys his team's chemistry. It has carried over off the field. His young men raised more than 4000 dollars over the phone for their regional trip .
"They found a way to raise money and they found a way to play baseball," Williams said. "They are committed to wanting to win. That's a great thing to have as a coach."
The 14 and under team scratched and clawed its way out of the losers bracket to run-rule its opponent in the championship game. However, their luck was not just on the baseball field during the state tournament. They had a special spark from the dugout with coach Ken Silvestri's championship beard. The assistant coaches stopped shaving as well.
"Last year the team challenged me," Silvestri said. "We all grew beards starting at states and as long as they kept winning we keep growing our beards. So I started it again this year. Last year we advanced all the way to the World Series."
The 15 and under team advanced to regionals in four games thanks to some clutch hitting and solid defense. Head coach Mike Harrison says the team stayed loose with a few jokes from key players such as shortstop Tyler Bourgeois.
"Tyler Bourgeois hid coach Paige's jersey," Harrison said. "So we are getting ready to start the state championship game and Bourgeois hid it from him. The chemistry has been great already because they have been together so much. The two players we picked up before all-stars have seemed to fall in line with these players."
The Southeast Regional Tournament begins for all three teams on July 26. The 13 and under team is playing in Altomonte Springs, Florida. The 14 and under team travels to in Colonial Heights, Virginia. The 15 and under team is playing in Union City, Tennessee.
