In 2004, Head Coach Matt Sinnen and assistants Jeff Fox, Ian Morrison, Mark Neumann and Harris Pezzella put together a U-9 Tidewater Drillers team (Brooks Sinnen and James Burok later joined the coaching staff when they finished their playing careers). They began with 12 players. Additions and subtractions over the coming years resulted in a core group of 18 players who spent a large portion of their formative baseball years playing for this team. The team practiced two to three times a week, traveled extensively in the eastern half of the United States and played against the top teams in the country - learning what it takes to compete and win at a high level.
A key point here is that these players were not a typical “showcase” team. By typical I mean a showcase team that brings top players together at around age 15 or later to demonstrate their already developed talent in front of college coaches and professional scouts. Instead, the majority of the players on this Drillers team joined by age 10 (only one was added after the age of 14). It’s not a team made up of the best players across a state or region; in fact, nearly 1/2 of the players go to the same HS in Virginia Beach (and all but one lives within a 20 mile radius of that HS).
They’re currently finishing up their senior year of high school (with the exception of two juniors) and here’s a list of what this group of 18 young men has accomplished in baseball so far this year:
- Two of the players led Atlantic Shores to a Conference and State Championship. Both were selected 1st Team All-Conference and 1st Team All-State in Division 2 VISAA. Both are going to play in college at the Division 1 level (NCAA and NJCAA).
- Two of the players led Cape Henry to a Conference Championship. Both were selected 1st Team All-Conference and 1st Team All-State in Division 1 VISAA. Both are going on to play in college at the Division 1 level.
- Seven of the players led Kellam to the Beach District and Eastern Region Championship (they’re still competing for the State Championship). All seven are continuing on to play in college.
- Six of the players were 1st Team All-Beach and 4 more were 2nd Team All-Beach (Kellam, Ocean Lakes, Landstown, Cox and Kempsville were represented. Private school students were not eligible for consideration).
- 15 of 18 have committed to playing baseball at the next level (two more are underclassmen who will almost certainly continue playing after HS, one has chosen to wrestle). The schools include: ODU, Richmond, University of West Virginia, USC-Sumter, UNC-Chapel Hill, Norfolk State, Point Park University, VMI, Bridgewater, Roanoke and Mary Washington.
I know there are many teams out there with a similar, or better, record regarding players moving to the next level. I don’t believe there are many that can match the success of this team in taking a group of young boys from a small geographic area and turning them into ballplayers. Nice work coaches!
