Jeff Jacobsen is no stranger to coaching this All-Star team and this particular group of boys, most of whom played on last year’s edition.
“They’ve been through it a couple of times with me, so they know what to expect,” Jacobsen said. “Hopefully, they’ll go through it with cooler heads and, if we do get down, we’ve got to not let it get to us, so that we can come back.”
Led by ace Austin Farmer, the seniors will begin tournament play on Monday, June 27, in a tournament field consisting of themselves, Haines City and Lake Wales. Jacobsen says the pitching growth from 2015 to 2016 will be huge for the team and that its defense is not to be taken lightly.
“They’re a lot more confident with their throws,” he said. “They’re a little bigger and a little stronger, so their range has grown a bit.”
Jacobsen says his favorite thing about the team is its no-frills style: these kids just go out there and do what they have to do to win ballgames.
“They play hard,” he says. “They play with grit. They may not be the prettiest team, but they play with grit. That’s what I like.”
Not pictured: William Dunbar – OF