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All-Stars Bounce Back Before Loss In Finals

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By DAREK SHARP

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 12, 2008

PLANT CITY - When the Plant City American All-Stars lost their first game 10-0, it didn't look like their stay in the District 4 tournament for 9- and 10-year-olds would be a long one.

But they managed to stay to the very end.

Plant City American made the finals in Lakeland, losing to Haines City 10-1. To get there, the team ran through the losers' bracket with four straight victories.

"It was a long week, but not for the kids," Coach Armand Cotnoir said. "They were so resilient. I'm not saying they liked losing the first game, but it meant they had to play a bunch of games in a row, and these kids just want to play ball, so they were happy."

It showed on the scoreboard.

After opening with the mercy-rule loss to Haines City, the Plant City American team went up against its friends from Plant City National. No longer having to face standout Haines City pitcher Juan Hillman, the Plant City American team roared to a 17-3 lead before winning that game 24-13.

"The National kids really battled back. It was a good game," Cotnoir said.

The June 29 defeat eliminated Plant City National.

Playing on each of the following three nights, Plant City American defeated Lakeland City Orange 19-7, North Lakeland National 11-7, and Auburndale 9-6. After getting the Fourth of July off, Plant City went up against Haines City, and again got shut down by Hillman.

"He is probably the best 10-year-old in the state," Cotnoir said. "But our team was amazing. I've never had this much talent, where I had so many pitchers to pick from ... everyone hit, some homered, and those who didn't all came close."

Jarrett Joyner hit a grand slam in one tournament game, and hitting his first-ever homer was the 50-pound dynamo Colin Allman.

One of Cotnoir's assistants was Rod Mason, whose team beat Cotnoir's in the final of the District 4 Tournament of Champions.

The rest of the Plant City American roster included Josh Gude, Chelsea Baker-Mason, Spencer Nelson, Brendan Schultz, Cory Smith, Wesley Tanner, Ryan Van Valkenberg, Bailey Youngblood and Kenzie Wheeler.

Haines City, which Cotnoir said has a good chance at winning the state title, advanced to the Section 4 tourney.

Reporter Darek Sharp can be reached at dsharp@tampa

trib.com.

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