By NewsLine Staff
mail@floridanewsline.com
The 10U Julington Creek Diamond King Elite baseball team, better known as the Slammers, ended their fairytale season by advancing all the way to the big game on Aug. 13, 2022. The 10U Cal Ripken World Series, held in Vincennes, Indiana this year, proved to be an elite tournament with 20 teams from across the United States. The Slammers played their hearts out against Marlton, NJ in the big game — but in the end, the Slammers lost 4 – 3 and finished as 10u World Series Runner up.
This group of boys has been competing together just since November 2021 and have a record of 87 wins and only 17 losses, competing against teams in tournaments across Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. The team won the USSSA State Championship, Perfect Game North Florida Kick Off and Play Like Rex and Brody. They finished No. 1 in USSSA Florida 10u Power rankings among all travel teams.
Then the summer whirlwind started. In June, the Slammers won their district tournament against local rival, The Villages, 11 – 0. The next day they traveled to Tennessee for a week to compete in the Cal Ripken Experience Eight-State Tournament, where they went 7 – 1 only to lose to a Miami travel team in the championship game, 7 – 2. Next up was the Florida State Championship tournament in July, where they battled it out with all the District winners from North Florida and came out undefeated against Fort Caroline, 3 – 2. Next they were off to the Southeast Regional tournament, hosted by Jax Beach Baseball, where the Slammers were back in the championship game against another local rival and the hosting team, Jax Beach. Both teams fought until the very end, but The Slammers won the Cal Ripken Southeast Regional Tournament by a score of 4 – 2.
“Regardless of the final score in Vincennes, these boys bonded, worked together, overcame obstacles, lifted each other up and made memories that will be sure to last a lifetime — until the 11u World Series in Jensen Beach,” said Chris Thompson, team manager and coach.
Photo courtesy Stephanie Thompson
The Slammers at the 10U Cal Ripken World Series.
