SOUTH BEND — They’re in it to win it.
That’s the approach the Chet Waggoner All-Star baseball team is taking into the Babe Ruth World Series.
The local group of 13–16-year-olds is set to begin pool play competition Friday, Aug. 7 in Branson, Missouri, versus the host team. The 20-team tournament runs through August 16.
“This is fulfilling everyone’s dream of playing in a World Series,” said coach Sam Carpenter. “You dream about getting a chance like this. We’re all just so excited and amazed that we’re doing this.
“That being said, we are going there to win it. We’ve told the team, ‘Why can’t we win it?’ We know the work that all of these players have put in. It’s a confident group.”
Carpenter has coached the team the past four years. The core of the team has played together for multiple years, and the roster of 11 players only has four who are new this season.
“We’re a family,” said Carpenter of the key to success for his squad. “A lot of our players have known each other and played together for a long time. They push each other and like I said they are a confident group. … The players have started their own tradition before each game. They get together and pray before games. That just illustrates the bond that they have as a team.”
The team won the Ohio Valley Super Regional to punch its ticket to the World Series, which features 20 teams from all over the World. There are 10 teams from the United States listed in the tournament and others from places like New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Philippines.
“All of our guys love baseball, but I think they are most excited about getting to play different teams from all over the World,” Carpenter said.
The Chet Waggoner team, which moved into the Babe Ruth division this year, includes Sam Carpenter, Joseph Cleveland, Roland Mariscal, Rayllen McCaffery, Rhiley Ramsey, Basil Griffin, Kaleb Lanway, Jude Klee, Reece Johnson, Franklin Passwater and Gavin Lochotzki. Shawn Benson and Gavin Benson are on the coaching staff with the elder Carpenter.
The team has had a trio of players in Carpenter, Passwater and Lanway all overcome injuries. Carpenter, who attends South Bend Riley, has had to come back from a knee injury and a labrum injury.
“I’ve seen all of the hard work that my son has put in to be back playing and that just makes this even more sweeter for us,” remarked coach Carpenter.
Not a cheap trip
The team left Wednesday for Branson and has a GoFundMe page to help pay for some of the expenses for the trip like transportation, lodging and meals.
“The community response to help out has been outstanding and we really appreciate it,” Carpenter said. “It means so much to the boys and all of us. We will continue to raise funds because we want to make this a fun trip for these boys.”
Carpenter noted that just housing the team and coaches in the dorms at the World Series is costing $9,000.
Carpenter emphasized that one thing is a certainty as his team prepares for the moment of their lives.
“This team will represent Chet Waggoner, the city of South Bend, Indiana and the Ohio Valley in the right way,” concluded Carpenter. “We will always show good sportsmanship. This is a really good group of kids.”
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Local Chet Waggoner All-Star baseball team in Babe Ruth World Series
Reporting by Scott Davidson, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Scott Davidson, South Bend Tribune | USA TODAY Network
