That time we went to the Dominican to support Xander: Day 5 Championship Day!

Championship Day

Not everyone played this day. Some teams who didnt seed as well had this day off. We only lost one game, so we did well. Though our first game was against the team we lost to... If we lose this game, we were out.

we came ready

Well, we won this game!

This Dominican team was a team full of really great players. I know a couple of these boys we will see in the MLB one day. The team is very well coached with great families supporting them. The boys are all very respectful and nice. It was very fun to play them! (I follow them on instagram and facebook)

We werent sure who we would play in the championship day, until the bus pulled up. (it was between 2 other teams that were playing on another field). Then the bus unloaded the other American team!! This team has gone undefeated so far. Between these 2 teams great friendships were formed. As I said in my earlier post, most of Xanders friends he made right away were on that team. So they had all talked a little trash on what team was better.

Now know that at this point no matter what we would take a trophy home. Xander hates more than anything.. is being 2nd place. He has taken home many trophy's and rings since playing club-ball, and they have all been 2nd place. The last thing he wanted was to leave the Dominican with a 2nd place trophy!

This game was so much fun to watch. They both played very hard, but had so much fun at the same time.

USA Blue(us) vs USA Red

I love this ^ picture. This was the usual. Local kids all flocked to watch baseball games!

Xanders closest he made friend, I believe was pitching in the video.

The game ended with this play:

We won!!!!!

I pretty much instantly started to tear up! Xander 1st time getting 1st place playing club-ball, and it was in another country playing against the best of the best! No better way to get it!

All the 13U USA Boys and Coaches!

This group of boys, I will never forgot. I wish I could gather them all up and bring them to Vegas and play a tournament together again. This team was created by scouts who traveled the US and picked the best kids they could find and without ever playing together as a team, put them all together with no practice as USA blue.. put them on a field (also with no real warm up time).. and play other amazing teams and go home with 1st place Gold Metals! We spent one week, hot, sweaty, smelly, hungry, and exhausted (and not just the boys.. the families too)..we formed great friendships and bonds over the this amazing experience.

One great friendship that was formed was this one: "Sosa" (Jonathan Sosa)and Xander. They played on separate USA teams. but on any downtime they spent it together. His family is from Puerto Rico/Florida.