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“I knew we were going to have a pretty talented team this year, but I didn’t expect us to be as good as we are,” said Bats coach Jamarr Stinnett said. “We came together pretty well. I knew we had a talented team, but I didn’t know we were this talented. I’m really proud of the boys.”
The 12-team tournament will bring squads from a seven-state region, including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Michigan and West Virginia. The winner will advance on to the 15U Babe Ruth World Series in Longview, Wash.
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“We want to win ball games, but we also want to get the experiences and the memories,” Stinnett said. “These are things that these boys will remember for the rest of their lives.”
The Bats lost in the state tournament championship game to the Springfield Heat, but were still invited to the upcoming regional tournament. The state tournament was held at Carleton Davidson Stadium in Springfield.
“It was definitely an advantage,” Stinnett said. “It helps being able to go home and sleep in your own bed.”
The team is 16-5 and also finished second in the Clark County league. A high-octane offense has been crucial to the team’s success, Stinnett said. They’re averaging 12 runs per game.
“We put the ball in play and get around the bases,” he said. “We’re very athletic.”
Stinnett said he and his assistant coaches teach his players not just the game of baseball, but also how to be respectable young men.
“I’m teaching to respect each other and respect themselves and to represent Springfield and their families in the proper manner,” Stinnett said. “We do more than just coach. I’ve been coaching these boys for five or six years now. They’re like family.”
The team is hosting two car wash events Saturday to help raise money for the tournament. The events will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Advance Auto Parts store at 1831 E. Main St. and from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Advance Auto Part store at 660 N. Limestone St. The fundraiser may be rescheduled in the case of inclement weather, Stinnett said.
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