January 2, 2008, Our 4 teams returned home from Australia. Each team played 12 games against the best players from Australia and China.
Our travel group was 136 people, including coaches, players and parents from USA, Mexico and China.
This was the largest travel group in the past 24 years of International Baseball Goodwill Series events.
Four Olympic players played on the Beijing State Team and three Australian Olympic players played on the State Teams from South Australia and Western Australia.
On the 26 December, it was 118º in Perth, a record temperature. Our teams, except for the Rookies, ages 13-14 lost more games than they won. The Rookies coached by Carl Nichols are from the MLB Urban Academy.
Two of our coaches; Carl and Gary Wheelock are former ML players. The other coaches are pro scouts from the Reds, Pirates, Devil Rays and Marlins. For 18 days, the scouts made daily evaluations of each player. All players used the SSK wood bat
Several players; RhP Chance Brull from Ft Overland Park,Kansas; 3b Eric Grabe from Ocala, Florida; LHP Trey Ripley from Kingland, Georgia; LHP Roberto Padilla from Union City, California, LHP/OF John Lamb from Laguna Hills, California; RHP/OF Aaron Brooks from San Bernardo, California 3b Jordan Leyland from San Dimas, California;2B Jason Mahood from San Rafael, California; OF Brandon Magee from Corona, California and OF Michael Jordan from Murietta, California each impressed the scouts with their skill and tools.
"this was like playing pro baseball now".
You may view our web site <www.goodwillseries.org> for additional information and photos.
Bob Williams
"founder of the Area Code Games"
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