Pictured above is Coach Beckman and Ethan Olivero

The most exciting fall in baseball history did not take place in New York or Philadelphia in 2009.   It took place in Clearwater, Florida at Historic Jack Russell Stadium and Ross Norton Fields.   The Winning Inning Baseball Academy kicked off the inaugural season of its Level 3 league.   This league was created to give players age 13-15 a first look at competitive baseball and learn the fundamentals of the game.

This season’s league had four teams, one of which was the Safety Harbor Crush.   The Winning Inning coaches in the league were all college players and they brought the college coaching atmosphere to the league.   The initial 8 games gave players and coaches a chance to learn each other and give players the opportunity to do things on the field they have never done before. The middle four games in the league were treated as a regular season and this created the standings and seeds for the playoffs.

Team Beckman was the 2009 Fall League Champions, playing 4 games in 5 days, having to go through the gauntlet of teams in the playoffs.   Having won a one run game against Team Farkes that sent Team Beckman to the Finals against Team Dublino.   In the finals Team Beckman got on the board early and never looked back, beating the heavily favored Team Dublino for the League Championship.

Team MVP for Team Beckman was Ethan Olivero who caught every inning of every game in the playoffs, handled the pitching staff like a professional, and led the team in hitting for the season.   The Team had many leaders and a great coaching staff in Sam Punda, and Jerry Cunningham.  

Congratulations to the 2009 Fall Level 3 Champions!

Jacob Wilson

Ryan Cunningham

Taylor Parker

Michael Delmonte

Jason Punda

Ethan Olivero

Jordan Pendelton

Justin West

John Paul

Cody Tibbits

Louis Bobelis

Ethan Grangtes

Zane Spencer

Jacob Grigsby

Kyle Collins

Sign ups for the 2010 Spring Level 3 league have already started.   Tryouts will be held on January 26^th at Jack Russell Stadium.   You must be registered before January 25^th to be able to participate in the tryout.   For more information click here.  Space is limited so sign up today  .