The 9-10-11 All-Stars have built upon several years of state championship success.
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’m a firm believer in the saying that it’s harder to defend a championship than it is to win one. With that in mind, I have to tip my cap to Plant City Little League’s 9-10-11 Baseball All-Stars.
Last weekend, manager Mike Palestrini’s team won the state championship. It was the third in a row for Palestrini and a chunk of the roster, meaning that next weekend’s trip to Greenville, North Carolina, will also be their third in a row. Getting to the Tournament of State Champions is no easy task, but these boys and their coaches know how to do it better than many other teams.
I can think of one other local three-time state champion, Strawberry Crest High School’s cheerleading team, off the top of my head. These two teams have been so successful over the last three years because their experiences have made them stronger both physically and mentally. Nothing prepares you for the big game quite like actually being in it and, even if the opponents change from year to year, you can just about always give yourself a chance to win when you know what you’re getting into.
The trick for the 9-10-11 All-Stars this time will be to change the final outcome in Greenville. Palestrini’s teams placed third overall in both previous TOSC appearances, so they’ll count on another old saying: “the third time’s the charm.” A championship win would be Plant City’s first since 2012, when the 10-11 All-Stars did it with a 4-1 victory over Tennessee’s team in the final.
Regardless of what happens in Greenville — though I do think the boys will play well again — I’d say they deserve some high praise.
They’re definitely getting that around town. If I’ve learned anything in the last four seasons of covering Plant City Little League it’s that our town loves its Little Leaguers. Participation numbers may be down, as they are nationwide, but I’ve been stopped to chat about Plant City Little League quite a bit during those summers. Heck, Al Berry and I talk baseball several days each week and he always lights up when the conversation turns to PCLL.
Major League Baseball umpire “Cowboy” Joe West even offered his support in a message to the team, telling the boys they “played like a team and pulled for each other and not just for themselves.” West added he’s “very proud of what they’ve accomplished.”
Winning big games is hard to do, but it always gets a little easier when you know you have a lot of fan support. Even if you can’t be in North Carolina next weekend, I’d bet the boys will appreciate knowing many folks want to see them succeed.
