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Most kids return from Orlando with bags of souvenirs from Walt Disney World.
The South Philly-based Philadelphia Senators Nationals did hit the water park Typhoon Lagoon as a break from the scorching Florida heat, but this was more of a business trip for the 14-and-under baseball team. Riding Splash Mountain just doesn’t compete with trying to win a national title.
The Senators were one of 24 teams invited to the United States Specialty Sports Association Elite 24 World Series, which took place at Walt Disney World’s Wide World of Sports complex July 30 to Aug. 6.
Going by their 3-4 record, the trip was a disappointment for the team. But, after the games were played and the scores tallied, the squad finished in the top eight, specifically a four-way tie for fifth place.
The three teams they lost to in play all finished higher in the final standings. Team Kelley from Texas defeated the lone Pennsylvania squad twice in bracket play, including a 6-5 loss that took the Senators out of the double-elimination tournament. The winning run was scored on a walk. In pool play, the team lost 13-1 to the Richmond Braves National and 11-7 to Mississippi-based PSA/Worth Bandits.
“We played well enough to get to the final eight of 24 after a slow start,” Manager Steve Koplove said during phone interview from Florida last week. “We could’ve played a lot better than we played.”
IN BRACKET ACTION, the Senators defeated Team Louisiana, 4-2, followed by an 8-7 win over the Arkansas Lasers, who were the top-seeded squad heading into the tournament. After losing 8-0 to Team Kelley, the Senators came back to beat the Louisiana Tigers, 5-3.
“A hit here and a hit there, we would still be playing,” Koplove said.
Last week’s event was the culmination of a long 81-game season, which started the beginning of February, fittingly, in Florida. The Senators have a 69-9-3 record to show for their efforts. Heading into their final game against Team Kelley, the players, the majority of which will be high school freshmen this fall, displayed strong team unity.
“We are entering the last game today as brothers,” Koplove recalled his group’s members saying to each other. “Regardless of what happens, we will remember each other for the rest of our lives.”
Going to national tournament games is just one aspect of the Senators. Each member is set to play varsity baseball for private high schools, with the bigger goal of snagging college scholarships and possibly being drafted into the Major Leagues.
Koplove said pitcher-outfielder Jonathan McAllister, of the 1800 block of Siegel Street, has already been contacted about trying out for USA Baseball’s Junior National Team. At last week’s tournament, McAllister’s dad, John, was approached by a USA Baseball scout who asked, “Do you know who No. 19’s father is?”
“It just so happens it was me he asked,” John said.
The tryout is scheduled for next summer.
Although heading to different schools, this group isn’t about to break up. Next month, the team heads to Virginia for the Jerry Gardziel Fall Classic, where some 80 college coaches and Major League scouts are expected to attend. For the Senators, it will be another chance to showcase their talents.
“We’ve made our mark nationally and everybody knows who we are,” Koplove said.
