The Birmingham 14u Giants finished 2nd at the Field of Dreams, Allstar Ball Park Heaven in Iowa over the past weekend. In game, after ton arriving just 4 hours prior to the game, the Giants were beatener 6-2, despite great pitching efforts from Quenton Kersey and Noah Hathorn.
In game 2, the Giants behind a strong pitching performance from Mikey McGuire (4 innings , 8 k’s 1 run) Offensively the Giants were lead by Charlie Cobb, Noah Hathorn, Ethan Thrasher, Quenton Kersey, Tyler Miller, and Preston Jones all with a hit each.
In game 3, the first game on Sunday, the Giants faced off with a team from Wisconsin, and despite leading most of the game, the Giants were beaten by 4 unearned runs late, wasting a dominant pitching performance from Noah Hathorn, who allowed just 4 hits over 5 innings and registered 4 pickoffs. At the plate, the Giants received hits from Mikey McGuire and 2 from Quenton Kersey.
The final game of the weekend again matched the Giants with a team from Illinois, and again the Giants came out on top 10-1. Quenton Kersey pitched well, going 5innings and allowing 2hits and 1 run, while striking out 3, and a scoreless relief inning from Hunter Garcia capped the win for the Giants. Kersey in earning the win on the mound, tied Ethan Thrasher for most pitching wins in a season(4), and Chris Salter for most wins all time (7). 2 Hits from Mikey McGuire, and Joey Schramm, and Tyler Miller and 1 hit each from Ethan Thrasher, Evan Williamson, Hunter Garcia and Preston Jones lead the way offensively.
The Giants wrapped up the spring season at 11-11 in class and 11-12 over all.
On Saturday after their games, the Giants made the trip to the Field of Dreams Movie site. The history and magic of being on the same field that one of the most famous baseball movies, Field of Dreams was filmed , the Giants were able to hit and throw and field, and most importantly walk the same corn, that became the story line behind the Field of Dreams. Coach Greg Garcia said it best “Our LOVE of Baseball is the catalyst that brought us all together. The bond that we all share, but it is only the surface of something much deeper. I love each of these boys and we all work side by side to help their baseball dreams for their future come true, but no matter what the future holds for them they will always have the memories we create each and every day. This weekend was special beyond belief. “It was as if we dipped ourselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick we will have to brush them away from our faces.”
It truly was Heaven in Iowa this weekend.” Coach Rob Kersey went on to say “The Giants want to thank Denise Stillman, From the Field of Dreams Movie Site, Dan Kennedy from All Star Ball Park Heaven, Tyler Daugherty from Dubuque Tourism and all the folks who work with them, this was far and away our best trip and we are blessed to have been able to work with those folks”.
