Ocoee Little League finishes as runner-up in District 14 Tournament of Champions

For many Little Leaguers in West Orange, District 14’s Tournament of Champions is their first “All-Stars” experience.

The tournament for 9-and-under All-Star teams gives the youngsters one of their first tastes of playing against competition from different leagues. Often, those core groups of youngsters will continue on and play together again as 10-, 11- and 12-year-olds.

With that in mind, the current group of 9-year-olds from Ocoee Little League is off to a roaring start. 

Ocoee’s Tournament of Champions team went 4-2 at the event last week, which was hosted by South Lake Little League. Ocoee’s only losses came against Dr. Phillips Little League; once in pool play and again in the championship. Otherwise, the boys from Ocoee outscored teams from Winter Garden, South Lake and Windermere (which fields two All-Stars teams because of the league’s size) by a combined 51 runs.

Still, manager Chris Pedrinan said there was more to the team’s success than swinging a big stick at the plate.

“They also backed it up with defense,” Pedrinan explained. “We ran a lot — we were very aggressive on the bases, for sure.”

After winning three of its first four games in pool play, Ocoee met Winter Garden — which had also started the event with a record of 3-1 — on the final day of pool play. Given the standings, the winner would advance to play Dr. Phillips in the championship game the next day, and Pedrinan says his boys were pumped for the big showdown — a showdown they won, 10-5.

“It was an exciting game; they came out really fired up,” Pedrinan said.

Now, this group of All-Stars will look to build on their success in the years to come, knowing they are off to an impressive start as a group.

“It’s for sure something to build on,”  Pedrinan said. “That core will definitely play together for a while.”

Contact Steven Ryzewski at [email protected].