Patriots head to New York with tournament bid

A Homewood 12 & Under youth baseball team is getting the opportunity to play in Cooperstown, New York, home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the week of June 4-10. 

The Cooperstown Dreams Park and American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame Invitational Tournament play host to more than 1,350 youth teams each year — more than 100 each week — and Homewood was able to secure a bid this season.

“It’s the coolest thing ever,” said Andy Marsch, coach of the Patriots. “They’re going to get up there and experience the tradition of that place and the atmosphere.”

The team is guaranteed seven games while it is in New York, competing against teams from around the country, and some beyond the continental United States.

“At 12 years old, to be able to do that, to represent Homewood, they’re going to have a lot of pride,” Marsch said.

Marsch said the team has played together for much of their youth, and fully expects the core of the team to stay together through their high school years. 

“We’re a better team than we are any one individual just being fantastic. They all do a good job and they all contribute in a way that it’s a great little group,” he continued.

The team consists of Taylor Patterson, Griffin Fuller, Addison Daugherty, Sam Dunn, Aron Marsch, Ja-Mari Broadnax, James Spencer, Brian Condon, Josh Beasley, Sam Carr and Jack Couch.

While in Cooperstown, the team will get the opportunity to visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame and trade team pins with the different teams they encounter. The team will also be enshrined in the American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame.

Family, friends and fans can follow the team’s journey on Facebook, at Homewood Patriots 12U Baseball.