With the exception of coming home without a victory, the 琉璃神社 Sun Devils couldn鈥檛 have asked for a more memorable way to close out the 2017 baseball season.
The B.C. champs returned this week from Rhode Island where they competed in the Northeast Prospect Select Showcase, an eight-team international tournament.
With the other seven teams being American-based, 琉璃神社 coach Rob Law admits his players were, at first, a little bit 鈥渁westruck鈥� by their opponents.
But once they settled in and focused on the task at hand, Law said the Sun Devils performed admirably.
鈥淭hose teams are good down there,鈥� Law said of the U.S.-based programs. 鈥淭hey get to pick from thousands of kids, they all eat, breathe and sleep the game, and they鈥檙e well-coached.
鈥淥ur boys were a little shell shocked the first couple of games, but once they realized they could play with those teams, they were fine and they competed. We didn鈥檛 go all that way to roll over and play dead. I liked the way guys got down to playing gritty and hard, like they did all year.鈥�
The Sun Devils鈥攌nown at the event as Team B.C.鈥攐pened up the tourney with a couple of lopsided losses, 7-0 to the Bandits Baseball Club and 15-1 to the Boston Prospects. Despite going 0-5 overall, 琉璃神社 turned in solid efforts in its last three games, falling 5-2 L and M Baseball,鈥攖he eventual tournament champs鈥攍osing 7-3 to Toppers Baseball, and falling 5-2 to the Bandits Baseball Club.
The club鈥檚 outgoing seniors鈥擭oah Ringness-Law, Jay Taylor, Noah Foufoulas, Gavin Barrett and Kurtis Wall鈥攁ll were given starting assignments in their final game.
鈥淭hose kids are going out with some really good memories,鈥� Law said.
For the Sun Devils鈥� Grade 10 and 11 players returning next season, Rob Law said playing in an elite tournament of such a high calibre was an invaluable experience.
鈥淥ur guys learned a lot and realize they have a long way to go,鈥� said Law. 鈥淭hey know they have a lot of work to put in if they want to shot at playing pro ball one day or even getting college opportunities. They should all be better players for it.
鈥淚t gave us a great idea where our program needs to go in the coming years.鈥�
Aside from the games, Law said Sun Devils鈥� players and coaches will have a lifetime of memories to look back on, including their visit to historic Fenway Park in Boston, watching a Pawtucket Red Sox game, and taking a trip to Newport Beach.
Between their B.C. 18U AAA championship win last month at their home park and a trip to Rhode Island wearing Team B.C. colours, Law said the Sun Devils couldn鈥檛 have asked for anything more from an unforgettable 2017 season.
鈥淚n all my years in baseball, this season definitely stands out above the rest, one I鈥檒l never forget,鈥� Law said. 鈥淲e may not have won a game down there, but that was the trip of a lifetime. I told the guys, it doesn鈥檛 matter what happened on the field (in Rhode Island), because no one can ever take away that provincial championship.
鈥淵ou鈥檒l have that forever, 25 years from now you鈥檒l be able to point at that banner and show your kids. The B.C. title is etched in stone.鈥�
The Sun Devils will open their fall season on Sept. 7.
