Trail Orioles conclude amazing season with State Tournament showing
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The future is so bright the coaches of the Trail Orioles American Legion Baseball team had better find a pair of shades.
The Silver City-based squad, with players from throughout the region, combined a solid season with an amazing performance at the District Tournament to qualify for State Finals.
“Every player on the team made a significant contribution to our success,” said Orioles manager, Ron Mace.
“The team made great improvements from the start of the year to the end, as can be seen by us getting to the State tournament which has not been done in Trail for some time.”
The Orioles finished third in the American Legion Division with a 10-4 record before making a run during Districts to qualify for the elusive State Tournament in Seattle.
Trail blasted University High 8-1 to open the Districts before edging Mead 8-7 in a thriller.
The Orioles suffered a 9-1 loss to Mount Spokane.
However, Trail rebounded to dump Pullman 7-4 to qualify for the State Tournament.
The Orioles finished the tournament losing a close one, 9-8 to Asotin.
At the State Tournament, the young Orioles, with no less than a player in the eighth grade, three in the ninth, four in the tenth and two in both the 11th and 12th grades, Trail dropped both games 7-2 to Bellingham and 12-4 to Yakima.
“We were the youngest team at States and look to improve for next year as we have all but two players eligible to return,” Mace, who along with his son Kyle Mace and Kyle Paulson, form the coaching staff for the for the Orioles.
“The coaches are also very proud of some individual accomplishments from our players this year as we have two players heading to college to continue to play baseball.”
Mace said Nathan Soukeroff is headed to play in Lethbridge play in the Prairie Baseball Academy while Austin Tambellini has received a scholarship at Hill College in Texas.
Two other players are continuing on playing as Brendan Makay is off to the Dominican Republic to represent Canada in a tournament while Daniel Gagnier will get a chance to strut his skills at a fall baseball showcase in Calgary.
As for next year, Mace is pumped for the return of pitchers Brendan Makay, Tyler Atkinson, Derek Green and Colton Miracle as well as catchers in Reese Tambellini and Bradly Ross.
Austin Cox, Ross St. Jean, Casey Harrison, Atkinson and Gangier will lead the core of the infield.
“We will be looking for some strong players to add to this team and hope to see many athletes out for the tryouts next spring,” Mace concluded.
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