Fourth of July Tournament Champions

With no World Tournament this year due to the pandemic, we're taking a team to Crystal Lake, Illinois in late July for two back-to-back tournaments, July 23-27 and July 29-August 1.  We are guaranteed at least 5 games in each tournament.  This is the same tournament we went to in 2010 after the U.S. government advised citizens to avoid going to Mexico, where the World Tournament was going to be held. 

Malachi Francois recevied the Dontrelle Willis Most Valuable Player Award.  Owen Firestone received the Katlyn Gillman Most Inspirational Player Award. 

At April 28 Bash

With three runs in the bottom of the 7th inning, Alameda defeated Korea 7-6 to make it into the championship game in Nettuno, Italy.  This was the first time in the 38 year history of the tournament that Alameda has advanced beyond 4th place.  Alameda ended up in 2nd place as they lost to Japan 7-1 in the championship game, but it was a tremendous achievement for our city to have such success. 

Bill Dalporto, Rich Krinks, Julian Pelzner, Matt Esparza, Carlos Macedo, Joe Sherratt

The 2013 Alameda World Baseball Team Award winners were announced:


Dontrelle Willis Award:     Matt Esparza

Katlyn Gillman Award:       Julian Pelzner


​Congratulations to these fine young men for their great contributions to the team this season.
 

Buster Posey, of the San Francisco Giants, was in Alameda at the Little League fields on Tuesday doing a baseball clinic.  The visiting baseball team from Fukuoka, Japan was able to visit with Buster before their doubleheader with Alameda.

Fukuoka, Japan and Fresno - Alameda

The combined Fresno - Alameda team battled a team from Fukuoka, Japan on Sunday, July 22nd at the College of Alameda.  The game went 7 innings and ended in a 7 - 7 tie.

The Fresno - Alameda Team heads to Australia on Monday, July 30th for the 31st Annual Boys World Baseball Tournament.

Sean Cunningham and the Coaches

The Alameda World Team selected Sean Cunningham as this year's Katlyn Gillman Award winner.

Katlyn Gillman was a Board Member for many years and had 3 sons go through the program.  Katlyn lost a second fight with cancer a few years ago.

Sean Cunningham was awarded this inspirational award even though he was hurt and could not play.  He attended all practices, cheered the team on and charted the pitchers for each game.  Thanks for your dedication Sean and congratulations!

Erik VanWinkle, Joyce Harris and the Coaches

Erik VanWinkle is the 2011 Dontrelle Willis Award winner for the Alameda World Team.  As a leadoff hitter, infielder, and pitcher, Erik was all class on the field and off and was a great leader.

Dontrelle Willis, in his day, was a great player for the World Team and was a leader on and off the field too.

Joyce Harris, Dontrelle's mom, was at the season ending party and presented the award to Erik.

Congratulations to Erik for this very prestigious award!

In the last game of the 30th Annual World Tournament the Alameda World Team lost to Korea 6 - 5.  Alameda scored 5 runs in the first two innings to lead 5 - 2.  But in the 6th inning Korea was able to score 4 runs to take the game.  Unfortunately the game only went 6 innings due to the 2 hour time limit.

Alameda ended the tournament with a 2 - 3 record and finished in 6th place.

However, Alameda won 5 and lost 4 in Japan over the two weeks it was there.

In the finals, the Japan National Team, beat Japan Kyushu in extra innings to bring the trophy back to Japan.

Great day today as we pummeled Fresno 14 – 2.  We were the home team and spotted Fresno 2 runs in the first, but then scored 14 straight to win in 4 innings.  Kaleo Johnson was great on the mound and at the plate.  Christian Leung smashed a 2 run homer and sent the game out of reach.
 
After the game we all went to a Mizuno store and the boys had a great time picking out baseball gear.
 
Tonight the team and everyone else went to a Pro Baseball Game courtesy of our host the Japan Boys Baseball League.  It was a great time and unique experience.
 
Tomorrow we play Korea for 5^th place in the tournament.  Then we have the closing ceremonies.
 
At the Leaders Meeting it was decided that the 2012 World Tournament will be held in Australia about 80 miles north of Sydney. 

Bill DalPorto Welcome Party Speech

The Alameda World Team faced off with Japan’s National Team today and didn’t fare well losing 14 – 2.  Japan took control of the game early scoring 2 in the first with 2 outs and then 8 in the second inning.
 
Alamedahad lunch and got ready for their second game of the day against China.  Alameda dominated China 7 – 0 with great pitching, defense and timely hitting.
 
We ended up 3^rd in our pool and will play Fresno at 9:00 am tomorrow.
 
Tonight was the Welcome Party with every team, coaches and parents and travelers in attendance.  There were a lot of speeches (including a nice speech in Japanese by our own Bill DalPorto), dinner and a Japanese drum exhibition. 

Bill DalPorto Throws Out the First Pitch!

We participated in the Opening Ceremonies and Bill DalPorto was honored with throwing out the first pitch of the Tournament.  We watched Japan crush China in 4 innings, had a lunch at the stadium provided by the Japan Boys Baseball League and then got ready for our game against Mexico Rojo.
 
Alamedawas the home team and we held Rojo scoreless for a few innings and we kept threatening but couldn’t get the big hit.  Rojo broke through for 4 runs in the fourth with hits all over the stadium and deep to the fences.
 
Rojo had a solo home run in the 6 to make it 5 – 0.  In the bottom of the 7^th Alameda struck for 3 runs, but it was too little too late and we started the Tournament with a loss.
 
On Tuesday we play a doubleheader against Japan and China.  Everyone is in good spirits and we will play hard tomorrow.
  

Kocura and Alameda Players

The Alameda World Baseball team won both ends of a double header today.  The first team was made up of mostly all the home-stay players and we won 3 - 0.  They had a very crafty curve ball pitcher and it took until the 6th inning before we scored.  Mostly due to not having touched a baseball since last Sunday.

The host families supplied the players and families with a wonderful bento box lunch between games.  We were told that the 2nd team would be much more difficult to beat.  We scored 3 in the first and never looked back winning 8 - 0.  It was a warm day, but the boys held up well and are enjoying their home-stay experience.

We will play another doubleheader tomorrow.

Alumni and 2011 Alameda World Team

The Alumni Game was an amazing mix of old and new talent with plenty of big hits, great pitching and dazzling fielding plays.  The Alumni came from behind to win the game 11 - 10 in 7 innings.  Everyone had a great time and the BBQ after the game was fun also.  Thanks to everyone that put the day together.  A special thanks to Bill DalPorto and Ron Matthews for donating their time as umpires. 

We hope to have even more players next year and do the golf tournament the day before the game.

The Fresno World Baseball Team will travel to Alameda to play the Alameda World Baseball Team for a weekend series.  Fresno will play two 7 inning games against Alameda on Saturday, July 9th starting at 11 am.

Saturday night the Fresno players will be home-stayed by the Alameda World Team families.

Sunday, July 10th the two world teams will play a 9 inning game starting at 10 am followed by a BBQ. 

All of the games will be played at Lincoln Park on Fernside Avenue in Alameda.

Fresno will host Alameda for a similar weekend July 23 and 24.

Byron Buckley and The Coaching Staff and GM

On Monday, August 16th the Alameda World Tournament Baseball Board of Directors held the 2010 Alameda World Team Reunion Party and also presented two special awards. The Manager, GM, and Coaches select the player for the 2010 team that made the most impact on the team. That player is awarded the Dontrelle Willis Award.  Dontrelle played on the World Team previously and now plays in the SF Giants organization.  This year's winner is Byron Buckley!  The Katlyn Gillman Award (Katlyn is a former Board member that died too young) is given to the most inspirational player on the team and this year the award goes to Connor Finn!

Congratulations to these deserving, young men. 

Andrew Pavao, catcher for the Alameda World Tournament Team was named to the Crystal Lake Tournament, All Tournament Team.

2009 World Team and Alumni

The 2009 Alumni Game was held on Sunday, July 26th at the College of Alameda.  The Alumni showed no mercy as they beat the World Team soundly.  Next year we will have to devise a fairer system as the Alumni pitching and hitting was no match for this year's World Team.  Thanks to all the Alumni that came out and played.  Here is a list of players and the year(s) they played.

Adam Boyd 2008
Chris Lancaster 2008
Richard Roque 2007, 2008
Enrique Padilla 2007
Scott Rees 2007
Zack Boyd 2004, 2005
Michael Gillman 2000, 2001
Mark Gillman 1999, 2000
Jeff Soskin 1999, 2000
Nick Meyer 1999
Dave Ballerini 1998, 1999
Connor Patterson 1998
Alex Rosko 1998
Erik Schuller 1992

Coach: Mike Ballerini
Coach: Carlos Macedo
Coach: Chuck Moseley

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!!!!!!!

Dontrelle Willis Award Winner, Daniel Skinner

On Sunday, September 21st the Alameda World Tournament Baseball Board of Directors held the 2008 Alameda World Team Reunion BBQ and also presented two special awards. The Manager, GM, and Coaches select the player for the 2008 team that made the most impact on the team. That player is awarded the Dontrelle Willis Award.  Dontrelle Willis played on the World Team previously and now plays for the Detroit Tigers.  This year's winner is Daniel Skinner!  The Katlyn Gillman Award (Katlyn is a former Board member that died too young) is given to the most inspirational player on the team and this year the award goes to Casey Jennings!

Congratulations to these deserving, young men. 

Each team Manager, Coach and Leader chose a player from their own team that showed the best sportsmanship during the tournament.  These players aren't necessarily MVP's, but great sports and very important to the comaraderie of the team.  Congratulations to all winners!

Alameda played Mexico Verde into extra innings and fell in the bottom of the ninth.  They played very well in the tournament and ended in 4th Place.

The Torch is Passed to Italy

On Thursday evening, 8/14/08, at the Leader's Meeting, the World Boy's Baseball Tournament sites were voted on for the years 2009 and 2010.  Nettuno, Italy will be the site in 2009, hosted by Alfonso Gualtieri.  Nettuno is considered the the baseball capital of Italy.  It is located 30 miles South of Rome. 

Mazatlan, Mexico will be the site of the tournament in 2010 hosted by Mexico Verde.

2008 Alameda World Team