The Auburn Pony League 9- and 10-year-old All-Stars, has one simple motto.
One team, one goal.
Say that in front of the team and you'll conjure up many thoughts, most involving teamwork.
“To us that means you do everything together,” American League coach Nick Daddabbo said. “Win or lose we are happy with the results.”
The American League All-Star team starts their double-elimination tournament at noon today at Emerson Park. A total of eight to 12 teams will be participating in the tournament and it will last through this weekend until next weekend. The National League All-Star team kicks off the tournament at 10 a.m.
Auburn had to bid to host the event and it involved a lot of hard work by both the coaches and board members. The past few years it had been held in Geneva and Seneca Falls.
“We had to do a lot of work around the field last year to host this,” Daddabbo said. “We did work around the fences and with the grass and dirt. We had a lot of help, but this isn't just for us, it's for the community. It's a nice thing to be able to show off.”
Both the American and National teams consist of 13 players from all of the Auburn Pony League teams. Nick Daddabbo coaches Nucor and his son, Tyler, joined him on the team also.
“It was very special to earn the nomination,” Nick Daddabbo said. “I got the call on Father's Day weekend and then I also learned that Tyler had been selected. So it was double the excitement for the family.”
The players are all nominated by their coaches and then voted for by opposing coaches. Coaches are also nominated and then voted on by their peers and board members. Nick Daddabbo and his assistant Eric Hesse were the ones selected to lead this group.
“The thing I enjoy most about this though is that they are just learning the basic concepts of baseball,” Nick Daddabbo said. “At this level you can teach them the advanced skills like bunting and advancing the runners.”
Nucor teammates Tyler Daddabbo and Trevor Hogan take the advancing-the-baserunner concept to another level. During games, the two talk about each situation and scenario presented to them.
“The two of us communicate very well together,” Tyler Daddabbo said. “Like if Trevor is on base I will let him know where I plan to hit the ball so I can advance him into scoring position or score him.”
Most of the athletes are quite honored to be selected, including pitchers Aly Nicolosi and Bridget Moore.
“I don't know the history of girls being selected,” Nick Daddabbo said. “I just know that girls have made the teams before, but I don't think there has ever been two on the same team.”
Nicolosi played during the season on Nucor while Moore played for Gush Orthodontics.
“It feels really good and I'm excited about it,” Moore said of being selected an all-star.
“It's a great feeling to a part of something like this,” Nicolosi said.
The two enjoy baseball the most out of any sport they play. Nicolosi enjoys pitching and catching the most, while Moore enjoys running the bases.
“I like to just throw the ball as fast as I can down the plate,” Nicolosi said.
Moore is a pitcher and catcher as well as a utility infielder. Nicolosi pitches, catches and plays the corner infield positions.
The entire American League roster includes Nicolosi, Moore, Daddabbo, Hogan, Casey Komenecky, Brian Cunningham, Jack Farrington, Mike May, Brian Francescelli, T.J. Baranick, Matt Hesse, Mike O'Hearn and Spenser Lincoln. Every one of the 13 members chosen are honored to get the experience, but nothing sticks out more than “one team, one goal.”
“It doesn't matter what we do individually,” Tyler Daddabbo said. “We all focus on what the goal is. We fight for that goal. If we are down by a few runs we don't get down and if we are up a few runs we don't get overconfident.”
Nick Daddabbo remembers the first team practice in which he asked what team each one of them plays for.
“They all said their individual team,” He said. “Then I told them it's Auburn. When I said that they all smiled and it's stuck with them since.”
Their one goal is nothing more than to win the whole tournament.
“It would be a great way to repay this community,” Nick Daddabbo said.
Say that in front of the team and you'll conjure up many thoughts, most involving teamwork.
“To us that means you do everything together,” American League coach Nick Daddabbo said. “Win or lose we are happy with the results.”
The American League All-Star team starts their double-elimination tournament at noon today at Emerson Park. A total of eight to 12 teams will be participating in the tournament and it will last through this weekend until next weekend. The National League All-Star team kicks off the tournament at 10 a.m.
Auburn had to bid to host the event and it involved a lot of hard work by both the coaches and board members. The past few years it had been held in Geneva and Seneca Falls.
“We had to do a lot of work around the field last year to host this,” Daddabbo said. “We did work around the fences and with the grass and dirt. We had a lot of help, but this isn't just for us, it's for the community. It's a nice thing to be able to show off.”
Both the American and National teams consist of 13 players from all of the Auburn Pony League teams. Nick Daddabbo coaches Nucor and his son, Tyler, joined him on the team also.
“It was very special to earn the nomination,” Nick Daddabbo said. “I got the call on Father's Day weekend and then I also learned that Tyler had been selected. So it was double the excitement for the family.”
The players are all nominated by their coaches and then voted for by opposing coaches. Coaches are also nominated and then voted on by their peers and board members. Nick Daddabbo and his assistant Eric Hesse were the ones selected to lead this group.
“The thing I enjoy most about this though is that they are just learning the basic concepts of baseball,” Nick Daddabbo said. “At this level you can teach them the advanced skills like bunting and advancing the runners.”
Nucor teammates Tyler Daddabbo and Trevor Hogan take the advancing-the-baserunner concept to another level. During games, the two talk about each situation and scenario presented to them.
“The two of us communicate very well together,” Tyler Daddabbo said. “Like if Trevor is on base I will let him know where I plan to hit the ball so I can advance him into scoring position or score him.”
Most of the athletes are quite honored to be selected, including pitchers Aly Nicolosi and Bridget Moore.
“I don't know the history of girls being selected,” Nick Daddabbo said. “I just know that girls have made the teams before, but I don't think there has ever been two on the same team.”
Nicolosi played during the season on Nucor while Moore played for Gush Orthodontics.
“It feels really good and I'm excited about it,” Moore said of being selected an all-star.
“It's a great feeling to a part of something like this,” Nicolosi said.
The two enjoy baseball the most out of any sport they play. Nicolosi enjoys pitching and catching the most, while Moore enjoys running the bases.
“I like to just throw the ball as fast as I can down the plate,” Nicolosi said.
Moore is a pitcher and catcher as well as a utility infielder. Nicolosi pitches, catches and plays the corner infield positions.
The entire American League roster includes Nicolosi, Moore, Daddabbo, Hogan, Casey Komenecky, Brian Cunningham, Jack Farrington, Mike May, Brian Francescelli, T.J. Baranick, Matt Hesse, Mike O'Hearn and Spenser Lincoln. Every one of the 13 members chosen are honored to get the experience, but nothing sticks out more than “one team, one goal.”
“It doesn't matter what we do individually,” Tyler Daddabbo said. “We all focus on what the goal is. We fight for that goal. If we are down by a few runs we don't get down and if we are up a few runs we don't get overconfident.”
Nick Daddabbo remembers the first team practice in which he asked what team each one of them plays for.
“They all said their individual team,” He said. “Then I told them it's Auburn. When I said that they all smiled and it's stuck with them since.”
Their one goal is nothing more than to win the whole tournament.
“It would be a great way to repay this community,” Nick Daddabbo said.
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