12-year-old Extreme team head to Baseball Hall of Fame for nat’l
tournament plus a N.Y. Yankees game
GILROY – A visit to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Playing in ‘The Greatest Tournament in America’ inside Dreams Park.
Plus, going to Yankee Stadium for a ball-game and taking a sight-seeing tour of the ‘Big Apple’.
It’s the stuff dreams are made of, and for the Silicon Valley Extreme travel baseball team, it is a reality.
The local 12-year-old ball club is already in-flight to New York and its players, as well as coaches, must have chills running up and down their spines.
And it’s all because of Head Coach Warren Gaspar, who registered his third-year team to compete in the prestigious American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame Invitational Tournament.
But it nearly didn’t happen.
At first, the Extreme team was put on the waiting list. They needed two other teams to drop out for them to get in. But like their Cooperstown shirts say, ‘Believe in the Dream … Believe in Yourself.’
“We were all real bummed that we didn’t get in. Then they called a couple of days later and we all got excited,” said Taylor Chris, a pitcher and outfielder for the Extreme. “It’s like a dream for any kid that loves baseball. Just playing baseball in the baseball capital of the world is going to be cool.”
The Extreme, which was one of 7,600 teams to apply and only 760 invited, will be playing tournament games right outside of the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown from July 31 – Aug. 6.
There is an 80-team bracket with each team guaranteed a minimum of eight games. After competing in preliminary pool play, the teams are then seeded accordingly. The tournament then moves into elimination rounds in mid-week, leading into the championship game.
The Extreme plan on going all the way.
“I’m going there to win,” Chris said. “When we have a good game, nobody can touch us.”
Cooperstown Dreams Park, considered the ‘Crown Jewel of Youth Baseball’, has 14 lighted enclosed baseball stadiums, 62 clubhouses in a baseball village on 105 acres. It plays host to weekly tournaments 11 weeks out of the year.
No matter the outcome, the entire Extreme roster – coaches and players – will receive Hall of Fame rings and be inducted into the American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame.
“The cool thing is we get rings,” said Kaohu Gaspar, a pitcher and shortstop. “I’m looking forward to everything.”
In addition to the tournament, there are also four skills competitions – the King of Swat, the Road-runner, the Golden Arm, and Around the Horn Plus.
For the Extreme, Zachary Decremer will be in the Homerun Derby; Kaohu Gaspar will run the bases in the Road-runner; Patrick Shields will try to hit a target behind home plate from 125 feet out in the Golden Arm; and the rest of the team will throw the ball around the horn including the outfield.
“I think definitely in around the horn (we can win). Our first try we broke the record. Hopefully, we’ll be able to pull it off over there,” said first baseman/pitcher Nicholas Dessau, who only joined the Extreme team six weeks ago.
“I’m pretty grateful to get to go there. They just opened a spot.”
When the Extreme got word that a spot opened for them, they only had nine players, so Coach Gaspar added four more players to complete their roster.
“It was awesome (when I found out) because I was still new to the team … I can’t wait,” said Decremer, a pitcher and third baseman who is making his very first trip to New York. “We have a good group of players. We have a shot.”
In preparation, the Extreme have played a total of 30 tournament and practice games over the past five weeks. This summer they have played in five tournaments, winning one, while placing second twice and third twice.
“We don’t want to go to Cooperstown just for a trip,” said Coach Gaspar, who will also be making his first trip to New York. “We want to go have fun, but we also want to be competitive.”
Last week, the Extreme got permission to practice on Buck’s Field off Monterey Street. Everyone was hard at work and focused for the upcoming tournament.
“We’ve had so many practices for this,” said third baseman/catcher Michael Croft, who also “can’t wait for the peanuts from the airplane.”
Like most of his teammates, this will be his first trip to New York.
“I’m getting pretty nervous, but mostly excited,” said outfielder Jonathan Asuncion, who’s been with the Extreme for three seasons. “It was kind of shocking at first, but I was amped up about it.”
“I’m just counting the days,” added Kaohu Gaspar during last week’s practice. “I think everyone probably won’t go to sleep the first day we’re there. I think we’re ready, but some people will be nervous, including me.”
Along with the Cooperstown experience, the team will take a train ride to Manhattan, where they will stay a few days, and attend a New York Yankees’ game in Bronx.
“This is the ultimate of all ultimates,” said Coach Gaspar, who continuously called the tournament directors until he finally got the answer he wanted. “I think for every coach – a lot of coaches coach their sons – to be with their son and go over there is an experience every dad would like to have.”
It’s special for everyone involved.
“I want to go there and see all the stuff,” said pitcher/shortstop Jordan Holler, whose father, Billy Holler, is the team’s outfield coach. “Seeing the Hall of Fame (is what I want most.)”
