The fifth-seeded HB Vikings (Huntington Beach, CA) clinched the National American Tournament of Champions (N.A.T.C.) title at Cooperstown Dreams Park Thursday night, September 2. The Vikings battled their way past 22nd-seeded OC Juice, 14-13, to close out the 11th and final week of the season.The Vikings finished the regular tournament 7-0 with 2.43 averaged runs allowed for the fifth seed. A spectacular fireworks display capped off closing ceremonies for the National American Tournament of Champions week, followed by the traditional first pitch and then the HB Vikings took the field to start the game. After a scoreless top of the first, the Vikings responded with a lead off homerun by Vincent Ponce. Callan Dawson singled on a 1-2 count to put a man on first with nobody out. Following a strikeout, Kyle Kerby launched a pitch into the left field stands to put the Vikings up 3-0 after one inning of play. The Juice countered with an 11-run second inning. Anthony Garcia, from the Juice, blasted a grand slam in his second trip to the plate that inning. Every player in the Juice lineup crossed the plate in the second to put the Vikings in a very deep hole, now down 11-3. The Juice shut down the host Vikings in the second, who left two base runners on first and second. After the Juice went down in order in the third, the Vikings began clawing their way back into the ball game. Devin Rodriguez homered to start the inning, followed by a base hit up the middle by Jonathan Cubillo. Tyrone Wiggins hit a bunt single to put runners at the corners with one out. Vinny Ponce took one for the team by reaching base after being struck by a pitch, which loaded the bases for Callan Dawson. On the first pitch, Dawson crushed a line drive home run into the stands, cutting the Juice's lead in half. When the third was all said and done, the Vikings was now only trailing by three. The Juice picked up two more runs in the top of the fourth to widen the gap to five, however, Kyle Kerby got one back with his second home run of the contest. The Juice were shut down in the fifth, leaving the door open for a tremendous Vikings comeback. Five runs were scored in the inning, thanks to clutch hitting by Ponce, Dawson and Rodriguez. Eric Snyder hit the game-winning base hit, scoring Rodriguez and giving the Vikings the lead since the first inning. The OC Juice promptly fell in order in the top of the sixth, with an amazing game-ending snag by Dawson at third base. With that catch the HB Vikings were crowned champions at Cooperstown Dreams Park's National American Tournament of Champions. Kyle Kerby was credited with the win on the hill. He pitched the final 2-2/3 innings with three strikeouts. At the plate he went 2-for-3 with two homeruns and four RBI. His three runs tied the game high along with Ponce and Dawson. Ponce was 1-for-2 with a homerun and RBI. He was walked once and was hit by a pitch in the third. Dawson went 3-for-3 with a homerun and two singles. His three stolen bases were a game best. Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with a homerun and a single. He also contributed three RBI for the champion Vikings.

First-seeded Star Maker Red Legs of San Mateo, California clinched the week #10 championship at Cooperstown Dreams Park Thursday night, August 26. The Red Legs, coached by Rick Sundberg, powdered their way past third-seeded Nevada Wildcats of Henderson, Nevada 9-2 to close out the tenth week of the season. Star Maker finished the regular tournament 7-0 with 0.86 averaged runs allowed for the first seed. Star Maker's starting pitcher Jesse DeLong was solid in the game's first inning, striking out three Wildcats. His success continued throughout the game, recording a total of 12 Ks. Offensively, Star Maker was unyielding. Their first two batters reached base safely on a Wildcat error and then a single by center fielder Timothy Quiery. After a strikeout, DeLong helped his own cause by smacking a single up the middle to plate Quiery and catcher Grant Nelson, giving the Red Legs the all-important first runs. Third baseman Tyler Goedell lined into a double play to end the first inning and give Nevada a chance to score some runs. However, DeLong remained firm, striking out four of the Wildcats' next six hitters over the next two innings. Star Maker, still up 2-0, opened their bag of offense in the bottom of the third. Shortstop Julian Merryweather walked to start things off, followed by a base hit by extra-hitter Nick Sanzeri to put runners at first and second with no outs. Grant Nelson then stepped up to the plate and, on a 2-2 count, launched a shot over the right field wall to drain the tanks of the Wildcats. Two additional runners crossed the plate after back-to-back singles and a throwing error on a fielder's choice play. This gave Star Maker a commanding 7-0 lead. The Wildcats got one back in their half of the fourth, singling twice. Nick Kingham, from Nevada, drove in the first run of the game for the visitors. The Wildcats' second run came from a solo shot into left field by Drew Robinson in the top of the sixth. Unfortunately, for Nevada, that was all Star Maker would allow, as they struck out a total of 14 times during the contest. In the bottom of the fourth, Nelson stepped up and blasted another drive into the bleachers, this time a two-run bomb. He earned five RBI's for the evening, a game high, on just two swings. He also scored three runs and recorded one stolen base. A force out at second and two strikeouts were all Nevada could muster in the top half of the sixth. Quiery also stole two bases, a game high. DeLong went 3-for-3 with three singles and two RBI. On the mound, he gave up just two hits, pulling a no-hitter through three complete frames. He gave up only one run and walked five batters.

The 11th-seeded Susquehanna River Raiders (Harrisburg, PA), coached by Jeff Myers, clinched the week nine championship at Cooperstown Dreams Park as the Raiders slugged out a victory over the fifth-seeded Pittsburgh Diamond Dogs (Pittsburgh, PA), 12-0. Due to the 12-run mercy rule after four innings at Cooperstown Dreams Park, the game ended in the fourth. Susquehanna finished the regular tournament 6-1 with 2.29 averaged runs allowed for the 11th seed. After a glorious and patriotic fireworks display, the game got underway with the Raiders up to the plate first. A seven-run first inning set the pace for Susquehanna. Catcher Thomas Bernal, on a 1-1 count, got the offense started with a solo jack into the right field bleachers. Bernal's home run was followed immediately by another solo round tripper by pitcher Sam Crater, also on a 1-1 count. After a walk, Pittsburgh changed hurlers; however a pair of errors allowed an additional run to score for Susquehanna. First baseman Luke Drayer then singled to plate two more runs. Third baseman Ken Kremer capped off the inning with a two-run shot into the left field stands. Crater singled to start off the second. Shortstop L.K. Thompson then promptly launched a pitch into the stands to give Susquehanna a 9-0 lead.A three-run blast by second baseman Derik Wilson in the top half of the fourth iced the Diamond Dogs and put the game completely out of reach. After Pittsburgh went down one, two, three in their half of the fourth, the 12-run mercy rule was implemented and the game was called. Sam Crater picked up the win and no-hitter for Susquehanna. He silenced the Diamond Dogs' bats with eight total strikeouts, surrendering one lone walk in the first inning to void his perfect game. He went 2-for-2 at the plate, with a single and a solo home run. He scored a game high three runs, including one in the fourth after being struck by a wild pitch by the Pittsburgh hurler. Catcher Thomas Bernal went 2-for-3 in the contest with a single and his leadoff home run. Derik Wilson registered three RBI, a game high, from his three-run shot in the fourth. Wilson went 1-for-3 in the game. L.K. Thompson and Ken Kremer each recorded a pair of RBI.

Second-seeded Santa Clarita Express (Santa Clarita, CA), coached by Ray Scarcello, squeezed out a victory over the fourth-seeded Jacksonville Blackwolves (Jacksonville, FL), 6-5, to close out the eighth week of the season. Santa Clarita, who finished the regular tournament 7-0 with 2.86 averaged runs allowed for the second seed. After a soaking American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame induction and ring ceremonies, the two championship game teams took the field as the rain continued to come down. Jacksonville brought the bats with them in the first to score the game's first two runs. Center fielder Patrick Leonard launched a two-run shot out of the park on a 3-1 count to put the Blackwolves up by two. Santa Clarita starting climbing back in the second, starting with a lead-off walk to starting catcher Kyle Eaton. Third baseman Jared Ortiz walked as well to put runners at first and second with nobody out. A double play pushed Eaton to third and after another base on balls, right fielder Brennan Bernardino smacked a single into left centerfield to plate Eaton and cut the Blackwolves' lead in half. In the bottom of the third designated hitter Connor Garelick walked with one out to put the pressure back on Jacksonville. Shortstop Allen Sarkissian followed immediately with a towering two-run blast to give the Express their first lead of the ball game. A trio of singles brought in two more insurance runs for Santa Clarita in the fourth. Center fielder RJ Mundell started the inning with a single to left field. Garelick eventually singled him home for his first RBI of the game. After a fly out and strike out, first baseman Scott Liske singled up the middle, who would later score on a wild pitch putting Santa Clarita up 5-2. The game turned interesting in the top of the sixth when three of the Jacksonville's first four batters reached base safely after two singles and a base on balls. This set the stage for Jacksonville's Cody Sharpe who sliced a bases clearing double into rightfield to plate three Blackwolves and tie the score up at five. Sharpe advanced to third after a passed ball, which instilled the nerves of most Express players. However, relief pitcher Kyle Eaton ended the inning by trapping Sharpe in between home and third base, tagging him to end the frame. In the bottom of the sixth, with the rain easing up, starting pitcher Trevor Brown hit a solid single into left to start things off. A past ball allowed Brown to trot to second putting the game winning run in scoring position. After Liske struck out, Connor Garelick became the hero. Connecting on a 2-and-0 count, Garelick forced a single in between the infielders. Brown's speed and an accurate throw from centerfield made for an exciting end to week eight at Cooperstown Dreams Park, as Brown slid under the tag and put the game winning run up on the board. Garelick went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles and a couple of walks. His two RBI matched Allen Sarkissian's, which came from his two-run shot in the third. Sarkissian went 1-for-2, including a walk in the Santa Clarita's two-run fourth. The Express were given eight free passes, due to walks, two of which inevitably scored. Six different Express players plated in the game as well as six different batters hitting safely, Garelick the only with two.

The first-seeded Tallahassee Titans (Tallahassee, FL), coached by Ed West, clinched the championship at Cooperstown Dreams Park Thursday night, August 5th over the second-seeded Beaver Valley Red, 7-3. Tallahassee finished the regular tournament 7-0 with 1.57 averaged runs allowed for the top seed. Beaver Valley Red, whose organization has won the last three years during week seven at Cooperstown Dreams Park, got off to a decent start, scoring twice in the top half of the first inning. Beaver Valley's first two batters reached base safely after a single and a hit batsman. A single and a pick off attempt that went wrong allowed the original base runners to plate, putting Beaver Valley up 2-0. In the second, however, the Titans stormed back. Starting pitcher Ryan Sheplak and winning pitcher Will West started with back-to-back walks followed by a sacrifice bunt by right fielder Brad Bell to move the runners into scoring position. Second baseman Dylan West plated Sheplak with a single and catcher Griffin Hamilton singled on a bunt of his own to score West and tie the game for the favored Titans. West and Hamilton both scored on a strike out play that was foiled when Beaver Valley's catcher threw the dropped third strike over the first baseman's head to give Tallahassee a two-run advantage. Beaver Valley got one back in the top of the third after another throwing error by Tallahassee. The Titans answered with Hamilton's solo home run into centerfield in the bottom of the inning. The game was iced by Tallahassee in the bottom of the fifth when John Nogowski blasted a double off the leftfield wall and Sheplak recorded an infield single. With runners at the corners, Beaver Valley hurled a past ball, scoring Nogowski and moved Sheplak up to third. Dylan West placed a successful bunt past the pitcher to record the RBI and put the Titans up, 7-3. Earning the win on the mound was Will West, despite being injured by a line drive in the third. He pitched just 1-1/3 innings, giving up one run and one hit. Nogowski took home the save by pitching 2-2/3 innings, striking out nine and surrendering just one run. Ryan Sheplak started the game for the Titans. He lasted only one inning, collecting all three outs on strike outs. At the plate, Tallahassee's best man was Griffin Hamilton. He went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, two runs scored and two RBI. Dylan West also went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and two RBI. Beaver Valley's bats were silenced after Nogowski walked to the hill. Combined, he and Sheplak struck out 12.

The 18th-seeded Williamson County Lightning (Franklin, TN), coached by Tim Gross, cruised to victory over the 12th-seeded Anchor Bay Angels, 4-1, to close out the sixth week of the season. The Lightning victory marked the first Tennessee team to win a Cooperstown Dreams Park championship.The Lightning finished the regular tournament 4-1 with 5.20 averaged runs allowed for the 18th-seed. Williamson County got off to a hot start scoring half their runs in the opening frame. With one out and nobody on, right fielder Garrison Parks was hit by a pitch to give him a free pass. On a full count, first baseman Christopher Marconcini launched a line drive over the centerfield wall to put the Lightning up, 2-0. Anchor Bay cut the lead to one in the bottom of the second. Adam Pilarski, right fielder for the Angels, started the inning with a base hit, followed by a stolen base during the next at bat. Shortstop Steve Laudicina then singled home Pilarski to split the score. Unfortunately for the Angels, the remaining innings saw their side retired in order thanks to stellar pitching by Garrett Gross. Earning the victory was Gross, who helped his own cause by adding an additional two-run insurance home run in the sixth, pitched six complete innings. He faced 21 batters, striking out eight and walking none. He gave up only four hits and one run in the second. Christopher Marconcini had the best offensive night for the Lightning. He went 2-for-3 on the night, including his first inning round tripper with two RBI.

The third-seeded Texas Steel (Flower Mound, TX), coached by Michael Boughton, rolled to victory over the first-seeded Miami Mudcats (Miramar, FL), 10-3, to close out the fifth week of the season. The Steel finished the regular tournament 7-0 with 1.29 averaged runs allowed for the third seed. Texas wasted no time getting their offense started against the favored Mudcats. Starting pitcher Larry Viddaurre got the ball rolling with a lead-off single and a pair of stolen bases to place him at third with one out. Shortstop Matt Lipka grounded out to second, only to score Viddaurre and give the Steel the all-important first run. Catcher Chad Long promptly smacked a double into the outfield followed by a Cody Polk single to score Long and give Texas a 2-0 lead. First baseman Joe Reyna then singled on a 1-and-2 count to plate Polk and put the Steel up by three. Miami collected two runs of their own in the first inning after a double and a couple of singles. However, their offense didn't succeed again until later in the game. Lipka and Long connected again in the third. With a man on second, Lipka grounded to third only to catch third baseman Wes Jones in a rundown in between second and third base. After the putout, Lipka remained on first and Long, with one double already, launched another into right field to score Lipka and put himself in scoring position. After Polk grounded out, Reyna stepped up and towered a shot deep and over the centerfield wall for the two-run homerun. Texas went up by four going into the bottom half of the third. Third baseman David Vazquez, of Miami, crushed a pitch into centerfield in their half of the third to bring Miami within three, but that was all the Mudcats could do.Texas racked up two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to pull away with the game and send the rowdy Mudcats' fans home empty handed. Earning the victory on the hill was Viddaurre. Although he pitched just three innings, he struck out five, giving up three runs on five hits. At the plate Viddaurre went 2-for-4 with two singles and two runs scored. He also stole two bases in the first. Picking up for Viddaurre was Ryan Simpson who also pitched three solid innings of ball. He struck out three and surrendered no runs on three hits. Simpson went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles, also stealing a game-high three bases. Chad Long had a game to remember at the plate. He went 3-for-4 with two doubles early in the contest to help silence Miami. Joe Reyna went 2-for-2 in the game counting his round tripper. His three RBI matched the game-high with teammate Cody Polk who went 2-for-4 in the game with a couple of singles. Lipka went 1-for-3 with two RBI. Collectively, the Steel played a very hard fought game. They turned three double plays in the contest, all three obliterating possible Mudcats comebacks. Their pitching was unyielding striking out a total of eight Miami batters and walking only one. With the bats Texas, at times, seemed relentless pounding a total of 16 in the six innings.

The 14th-seeded Florida Sun Devils (Sanford, FL), coached by Mark Allen, rolled to victory over the 13th-seeded Tinley Park Bobcats of Illinois, 10-2, to close out the fourth week of the season. The Bobcats finished the regular tournament 6-1 with 4.14 averaged runs allowed for the 13th-seed. Due to Florida's relentless defense, the Bobcats were unable to get their offense going until the fourth inning. The team collected its first hits and runs from designated hitter Jeff Zimmerman and third baseman Alex Stewart. Zimmerman began the inning with a line drive single to centerfield. Two batters later Stewart hit a shot to left center for the two-run home run. Tinley Park had two offensive threats in the sixth and final inning with back-to-back one-out singles from Stewart and first baseman Dan Eliopulas. However, the Bobcats were silenced with a strikeout and ground out to finish the game. Stewart anchored the Tinley Park offense, ending the game 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored. The Sun Devils were led by catcher Brett Allen and pitcher Tyler Marincov. Allen went 2-for-2 with two runs scored, while Marincov was 1-for-3 with a grand slam and five RBI.

The first-seeded Austin Eagles (Austin, TX) clinched the championship at Cooperstown Dreams Park early Friday morning, July 9. Coached by Mike Soliz, the Eagles defeated the 15th-seeded Lakeland Renegades, 12-0, to close out the third week of the season. Austin finished the regular tournament 7-0 with 0.43 averaged runs allowed for the top seed. After a thunderstorm in the Leatherstocking region knocked out a few energy supplies, the game commenced, at midnight, when power was restored. The Eagles didn't waste time getting things underway offensively. After retiring Lakeland's first three batters of the game, Austin capitalized with a three-run response in their half of the first inning. Short stop Anthony Pesina, center fielder Parker French and pitcher David Paiz provided three runs for the Eagles, who put eight batters to the plate in the bottom of the first. In the second, the Eagles picked up where they left off. With one out and nobody on, Pesina smacked a single into left field to get the inning rolling. French took his first pitch and launched it over the centerfield wall to put the Eagles up by five. Paiz stepped up and blasted a single into the outfield to keep the rally going. After a strikeout, catcher Paul Boecker crushed a pitch into the bleachers to make the score 7-0 after two innings. In the bottom of the fourth, Austin reopened their can of offense. Following a pair of fielder's choice plays, Boecker led off with a single and rounded the bases. Leftfielder Michael Soliz walked, Wyatt Church singled up the middle and Pesina finished the attached with a three run homerun into the right field stands to widen the gap to 11 runs. In the fifth inning, third baseman John Paul Flores used excellent base running skills to score the game-ending 12th run. After fanning on strike three, the Lakeland catcher dropped the ball. Flores, wisely, sprinted to first base reaching safely when the attempted throw out was bobbled by the first baseman. After stealing second and advancing to third on a past ball, Flores saw his opportunity to score when another ball squeezed by the catcher and rolled to the backstop. Austin won the championship with the 12-run "mercy rule" coming into effect after Flores slid safely at home plate. Flores went 1-for-4 in the game with a run scored. Paul Boecker went 3-for-4 in the contest with a homerun and a pair of singles, also contributing four RBI. Providing a large chunk of Austin's offense was Parker French. His 2-for-2, two RBI performance helped the Eagles set the tone early and stroll to an easy victory. Parker cored two runs to help silence the Renegades. Pitcher David Paiz pitched a solid five-inning game. In the 17 batters that approached the plate, he struck out 10, including five in a row in the second and third innings. He walked only two batters and surrendered one hit that came with two outs in the fourth frame. At the plate, Paiz went 1-for-2 with a single.

The 12th-seeded Greensboro Batting Center out of Greensboro, North Carolina 12 and under organization won the championship at Cooperstown Dreams Park Thursday night, July 1. Greensboro, coached by Tony Sutphin, trounced the number 6-seeded Cincinnati Flames 9-0 to close out the second week of the season. The Flames from Northern Cincinnatio, )hio were managed by Roger Hart. The Greensboro Batting Center finished the regular tournament 6-1 with a 2.86 runs allowed average to earn the 12th seed. Pitcher Jake Joyce set the tone of the game before he even stepped on the hill. His round-tripper with a man aboard put Greensboro up 3-0 in the top half of the first and he added another homerun, a solo shot, in the fifth to help douse the Flames. Travis Wray and Michael Zeblo provided the offense for Greensboro's first two runs. On the mound Joyce pitched six solid innings allowing only one hit. He struck out eight and walked one in the victory. At the plate, Joyce finished 3-for-3 including his two homeruns and a total of three RBI's. Shortstop Michael Zeblo had a memorable game both offensively and defensively. Zeblo went 3-for-3 with a pair of two-run homeruns in the fifth and sixth innings to widen the gap. He scored three runs in the contest and recorded five RBI. Cincinnati's only hit of the contest was muted after a perfect throw-tag combination between Desean Andersen and Zeblo. The runner, trying to stretch his single into a double, was caught just short of second base when Zeblo made the tag to end the inning. Jonathan Holt added a solo round-tripper in the sixth capping off back-to-back homeruns for the visiting Greensboro Batting Center. Holt went 2-for-3 in the game, including a fourth inning single. First baseman Travis Wray picked up a couple of runs for Greensboro while going 1-for-3 in the game. The North Alabama Vipers, 2003 Week 2 Champions, fell to the Northside Youth Organization in the Sweet 16.

The first-seeded OC Juice from Orange County, California 10 and under organization won their first championship at Cooperstown Dreams Park. The Juice, coached by Joey Martinez, defeated the number 18-seed Virginia Wildcats North of Virginia Beach, Virginia, managed by Rob Younce, 7-3 to close the opening week for 2004 at Cooperstown Dreams Park. 64-teams competed for the title. The Juice finished the round-robin tournament 7-0 with a 1.00 runs allowed average to earn the first seed. In the championship game Matt Carlson earned the victory pitching six solid innings while allowing only four hits. He struck out eight Wildcats and didn't walk a single batter. For the Juice first baseman, Timothy Robinson went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs. His biggest hit was in the second inning when he nailed a line drive down the leftfield line that knocked in two runs to put the Juice up by three. Robinson's second double knocked in the game's eventual game-winning run. The Virginia Wildcats took the lead in the first inning with two unearned runs. After that, Carlson and Orange County silenced the bats of Virginia and cruised to victory. Designated hitter Matt Taylor went 2-for-3 for the Juice, including an RBI double in the bottom half of the first. Six different Orange County players scored in the game, including two from shortstop David Fletcher. Extra hitter Colton Johnson went 2-for-2, including an RBI double to start off the Juice's four-run second. Johnson, Fletcher and Tyler Baublit each stole a pair of bases for the California team. The championship for the OC Juice ended a four-year tenure for Lyle Gabriel and the San Diego Stars North 10U squad. Gabriel's Stars fell to the Wildcats in the Sweet 16.