Union County Union County - Carolina Weekly Newspapers

‘t’ stands for
Team,Title
Porter Ridge T-ball squad
culminates strong season
with state championship
by Aaron Garcia
aaron@unioncountyweekly.com
On June 29, Porter Ridge’s 6-year-old
Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken League All-Stars
got a taste of big-time baseball when they
won the Western North Carolina State
Tournament.
Porter Ridge toppled Indian Trail 28-10
that night.
The tournament, held at the Matthews
Athletic and Recreation Association fields,
gave players the full treatment, complete
with a public-address announcer introducing
batters as they went to plate and
music between the innings.
For many of the young players, the
championship game’s 8 p.m. start time
was their first opportunity to play under
the lights.
“The tournament was first-class,” Por-
ter Ridge head coach Kevin Wilhoit said.
The players were equally impressed.
“It was exciting,” said Michael Psaroudis,
who plays first base. “I had lots and
lots of fun.”
The team featured 10 6-year-olds and
two 5-year-olds from the Porter Ridge Athletic
Association T-ball league. Wilhoit, who
coached a team during the regular season,
was pleased with how well his collection of
all-stars performed in the state tournament
– especially since, on many occasions,
T-ball players often are more impressed
with flowers and butterflies in the outfield
than the action of the game itself.
Instead, the high school graduating
classes of 2021 and 2022 gave Union
There hasn’t been much complaining
about the Charlotte Bobcats’ two selections
during last week’s NBA Draft, and
Seriously
Speaking
by C. Jemal Horton
jemal@unioncountyweekly.com
Page 16 • July 3-9, 2009 • Union County Weekly
The Porter Ridge Athletic
Association’s 6-year-old Babe
Ruth/Cal Ripken League All-Star team won the Western
North Carolina State Tournament this week. Team members include (front row,
from left) Haden Ruby, Mylan Cason, Davis Joye, Camden Gray, Tommy Miller and Blake Harold;
and (middle row) Jacob Bowman, Reagan Smith, Jacob Ledford, Michael Psaroudis, Aaron Hough
and Garrett Snyder; (back row) coaches: David Joye, Kevin Wilhoit and Dino Psaroudis.
County fans a sneak peek at what’s on the
horizon.
“These kids are the best of the best,”
Wilhoit said. “We actually got outs – and
a lot of (them). We had kids who could
catch the ball and knew where to throw
the ball without being told. These kids are
really good kids.”
Third baseman Jacob Bowman joined
Psaroudis on the other corner of the infield,
For Bobcats, lack of draft-night
fanfare is a good thing
there are a couple reasons for that.
For one thing, there still aren’t a lot of
people who care what the franchise does
these days. (I know the guys at Time Warner
Cable Arena cringe when I write such
Photo courtesy of Michelle Ruby
while shortstop Haden Ruby and second
baseman Davis Joye made up the middle
infield. Reagan Smith took the mound,
while Aaron Hough guarded the plate.
Garrett Snyder, Jacob Ledford, Mylan
Cason, Camden Gray, Blake Harold and
Tommy Miller all split time in the outfield.
Wilhoit explained that because the players
are so young, the enormity of the cham-
things, but it’s the inconvenient truth.)
But here’s the biggest reason there
haven’t been any local draft complaints:
The Bobcats actually did a good job with
their picks.
It wasn’t a great draft for Charlotte,
but there’s nothing wrong with that.
You’re not exactly going to light up the
night when you pick 12th and 40th. But
the Bobcats addressed their most important
need: an athletic backup for starting
shooting guard Raja Bell – someone who
can play inspired defense and occasionally
jump over people on his way to the
basket.
Charlotte got that person when it
pionship, even in the minutes before the
first pitch, somewhat escaped his players.
“They’re still kids,” Wilhoit said with a
laugh. “I had one kid before the champi-
onship game say, ‘If we win this game, we
play the championship.’ He didn’t even
realize we were playing in the champi-
onship game.
“But I didn’t tell them any differ-
ent because I didn’t want to get in their
heads.”
The players figured it out eventually,
especially after the game’s final out was
recorded.
“My dad picked me up and he was
very excited, and I was, too,” said Psa-
roudis, whose father, Dino, is an assis-
tant coach.
Ruby, whose favorite player is fel-
low shortstop Derek Jeter of the New
York Yankees, said he and his Porter
Ridge teammates hugged after the
win. Ruby said he was “very, very
excited” and also has big plans for
his new trophy.
“We’re going to put it on the
shelf (in our living room),” he said.
The state-championship win
gave Porter Ridge the opportunity to
play in the Southeast Regional Cal Ripken
Championships in Mobile, Ala., July 9-12.
But because of scheduling conflicts, not
to mention economic concerns, the team
will not make the trip.
The young all-stars decided their state
championship would be the perfect end-
ing to their storybook season.
“It’s tougher for the adults to accept
than anything, because we know how good
we are and the chance we have to succeed
(in Alabama),” said Wilhoit, whose team
outscored opponents 149-100 in their six
round-robin tournament games.
But even with the abrupt end to the
season, the players accomplished the biggest
goal of youth sports.
“We had a great time, we played well and
we saved our best two games for last,” said
Joye, the Porter Ridge second baseman.
“I had a lot of fun playing with the guys
on my team.” q
chose Duke University product Gerald
Henderson at No. 12.
The Bobcats also added much-needed
depth to their front court by taking Xavier
(Ohio) University forward Derrick Brown
with the 40th pick.
Nope, neither pick screams “superstar!”
No need to entertain the idea of
them becoming one-name players – a la
Kobe or LeBron – or catchy nickname
types – a la “D-Wade” or “A.I.” But Henderson
and Brown are solid picks.
Henderson is especially intriguing.
Last week, I said I’d prefer the Bobcats
choose Louisville’s Terrence Williams at
(more on page 17)
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