My name is Brian Weingartz and I am the Tournament Director for the Tournament of State Champions in Greenville, North Carolina. Five times over the past seven years we have hosted Little League All Star teams from the Plant City Little League. We have been overwhelmed with the friendliness, class, and dignity that each group has shown whether they win or lose.
Team managers Steve Schneider (2011), TJ Messick (2012) and Mike Palestrini (2015, 2016, 2017) have led squads that have played well, played hard, and showed excellent sportsmanship. We have seen Plant City teams win and we have seen Plant City teams suffer tough losses. Parents, coaches, players, and supporters take each result and deal with it in a most exceptional manner.
This year’s team featuring Manager Mike Palestrini with coaches DJ Brewington and Andy Rowland gave all of us immense enjoyment as we were able to watch their kids play the game the right way. In the end they fell just short of a championship but their conduct from beginning to end makes them champions in my book.
Brian Weingartz
Tournament Director, Tournament of State Champions
Greenville, North Carolina