Mickey Mantle World Series

bump - the volunteers at this event work their tails off and should be applauded for the well run tournament that it has been and continues to be.

Teams as of Saturday evening:

California Rockies (Randy Kapano)
Brea, CA

Midland Braves
Cincinatti, OH

Florida Bombers

Dallas Tigers

Puerto Rico

Frozen Ropes Titans (Danny Florence)
McKinney

North Atlantic and North Central regions still playing.


www.themmws.com

Does that mean/show that the Mavs are not the host anymore?

Here's an article from the local mckinneysports.net web site;

By Rodney Williams
E-Mail Author | Read Blog
McKinneyNews.net Staff Writer

The winds of change have blown through the AABC Mickey Mantle World Series of Baseball in McKinney.

The McKinney Mavericks will not serve as host team for the 2007 World Series after a decade of service. Instead, the Frozen Ropes Titans will become the first team in 11 years other than the Mavericks to represent McKinney against the best 15-16-year-old competition in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

The Titans will comprise two groups - one major core of 15-year-olds from Danny Florence's Titans team and another group of 16-year-olds from Chris Anderson's Titans team.

"That's what we felt like would be the strongest team this year to host the World Series," said Mavericks head coach and Mickey Mantle Baseball Tournament board member B.J. Dixon.

While Dixon's Mavericks team was the highest-qualifying team meeting the 80-percent rule - meaning at least 80 percent of the players on the team reside in McKinney - it was also the youngest. The executive board of the tournament voted to waive the 80-percent rule to allow the Titans to host.

"With the type of competition that comes into that World Series, as the host team we've got to try to put what we think is the best team in McKinney on the field," Dixon said. "[The Titans] have got some good hitters, they've got good speed up and down the lineup and they've got some good pitchers. They've probably got a little more quality pitching depth than I've had in the past with my Maverick teams.

"And when I'm talking about quality pitching depth I'm not talking about two or three pitchers, I'm talking about five or six," he added. "That makes a difference if you're going to go very deep in that tournament. The level of competition there is just unreal."

Dixon will still coach in the series, however, as he will assist in the Titans dugout.

"It's just part of baseball," said Dixon of the change. "It's kind of immaterial whether its Mavericks or Titans or who. They're local kids and good friends, and when it's their turn, you do everything you can to help them out. They helped us in the past, and it's kind of one big family."

For Florence, who co-owns Frozen Ropes with Anderson, the Series represents something more than just a good opportunity.

"It's a huge challenge, no doubt, with the core group being a year younger," Florence said. "[But] it's good for the kids, and we're happy to be the host team."

The Titans got there in part by winning the North Texas Mickey Mantle League, topping the Mavericks along the way. The core of Florence's team has some national chops, as well. The Titans finished third in the nation in the Super Series nationals and USSSA national championships this season and third in Super Series nationals the year before.

The McKinney Independent School District will be well represented by the Titans. A.J. Florence, Kindle Ladd and Ty Crump are from McKinney North, Daryn Alves, Connor Frazier, Marcus Holt and Will Fletcher are from McKinney Boyd, while Ryan Levins, Tanner Newton and Jake Smith are from McKinney High. Twelve of the team's 21 players reside in McKinney.

Being a host team at the World Series can be both a blessing and a curse. The blessing comes in the form of getting local kids national exposure and the honor of representing their community. The curse comes in the form of the competition the locals have to face. The teams coming in from California, Florida, Puerto Rico, et al, aren't necessarily bound by geographical restrictions. These are all-star teams in the truest sense, comprising players from all over the state, or in Puerto Rico's case, the island.

"When we started this 12 years ago, I said 'It's going to be hard to win against teams like that, where they can recruit anybody,'" Dixon said, "but we'll represent McKinney well."

"And that's what we've done here," he added of the Titans. " It was the best team that we could assemble to be the host, there's no question in my mind.

"I think they will represent McKinney well."

The Mavs are not the host THIS year.

All teams are in............

North Atlantic Region - South Troy Dodgers

North Central Region - Concealed Security Dodgers

East Central Region - Midland Braves

Southeast Region - Florida Bombers

West Region - California Rockies

Puerto Rico

South Plains Region - Dallas Tigers

Host - Frozen Ropes Titans

Trying to make my flight plans today. My son is with the South Troy Dodgers who qualified yesterday. They're leaving Tuesday morning. The boys are really excited about the opportunity. My older son went to New Mexico for the Connie Mack WS so the younger guy was hoping they made McKinney. Mission accomplished.

Congrats Coach Merc!

You guys will love the hospitatilty of the McKinney folks and the tournament should be outstanding.

I'll miss attending the MMWS for the first time since we won it in 2002.......but not too much since I'll be in Farmington. Best of luck!

Since I have no games to go to or close enough, I am available to work.

I have volunteered at the Joe Day BBQ booth, but my offer of help was declined...........

Let me know.

I'll be around for once.

Just spoke with MMWS and the two games for earlier today got rained out. As it sounds right now, the Tigers/Bombers game will start at 6:00 and the Titans/Dodgers will start at 9:00 or as soon as possible. They got flooded at the "Big Al" this morning. The first two games are to be made up tomorrow. Not sure of times.

Nice skills competition last night. This looks like a "premier" event this year.

Seriously though, it appears that there is some great talent out there. Saw where Ruben Sierra's son is playing for the Puerto Rico team.

Last nights skills competition was a pretty good time.. I thought the little lefty from California Rockies had a great stick.. The kid from the Florida Bombers that won it was a stud as well as Drew Harrison from the Dallas Tigers..

Congrats out to our Frozen Ropes guy's who took second in the base running relay to Puerto Rico.. Lost by 16 100th's of a second to them. Not bad for a bunch of 15 yr olds... Great job Guy's.

GO TITANS!!

Good Luck to Danny and the Titans.

Enough Said

Yours look smaller for some reason.

SERIOUS rain coming down now. Not looking very promising here.

I knew I should have waited on the $22 car wash.

Ah-hmmm...
Getting this thread back on track(tee-hee), is the 6 o'clock game getting played?

That's a nice looking key chain....

Looks like the 8PM game has been moved to 9PM

Barring any further weather related events........

Round 1 Thursday All games at Alford Field

11:00 a.m. California Rockies v. South Troy Dodgers

2:00 p.m. Midland Braves v. Puerto Rico

5:00 p.m. Dallas Tigers v. Florida Bombers

8:00 p.m. F.R. Titans v. Concealed Security Dodgers

Round 2 Friday

Same times as Thursday.

Rounds 3 & 4 on Saturday.

Championship on Sunday.

Let's see.........the last time we had weather related problems was in 2005. The only time we had problems that year was when the Tigers were playing. Coincidence??????????

Y'all come out and see us. Time for bed.......

Any ideas on how to watch the games online.
My son is playing and I couln't find an affordable flight

http://themmws.com/

Check on the website above. It is up to date for now. Not sure how often it is updated.

Did it rain again? The 11am and 2pm games should be completed. I couldn't figure out who won on the MMWS website. I'm probably having another blonde moment...

Rain washed out all the 1st days games. The first 2 today both went extra innings. Some very good baseball.

Coach -- would it have killed ya to mention the results???

Here's what I know at this point.

California Rockies beat the S/Troy Dodgers 4-3 in 11 innings

Midland Braves beat Puerto Rico 9-6 in 8 innings

I had to pull daddy duty but managed to get out and see the Tigers ahead through 5 innings 7-2 over the Florida Bombers. I don't know how it ended. Games were about 1 1/2 hours behind.

Lance,

I saw your dad today at the field. He looked good. It was great to see him there.

Dallas Tigers over the Florida Bombers, 9-2 (or something like that)

Host team Frozen Ropes Titans over Concealed Security Dodgers (Michigan), 12 - 3 (I think)

Dallas plays at 5:00 today. Host team plays at 8:00.

It was 12-2 over Florida Bombers, thank you to our regular guys coming through and our pick up players, including Ronnie Morrison who hit a 3 run homer to run-rule the Bombers.

Richard Morrison

You can call him "R" or you can call him "Rich" or you can call him "Richard".....but ya doesn't have to call him "Ronnie". Sorry, couldn't resist.

YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

California Rockies 17
Dallas Tigers ..... 0

South Troy Dodgers 8 Florida Bombers 5.
Have to brag, my son Mike hit a 3 run homer to win the game for the Dodgers. We get the loser in tonights Frozen Ropes vs Midland TX.

Coach Merc,
Wow! That's an awesome hit for young Coach Merc. Congratulations!!! Genuine, doting parents are welcome on the Texas boards.

Also, welcome to Texas, and I hope you have a great experience!

quote:

Originally posted by L.A.:
YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

California Rockies 17
Dallas Tigers ..... 0

DOUBLE YIKES!!!!!!

That California team must be stacked with talent!

Sorry Richard, I knew that. Just got excited about the win. Too bad we got killllllled today. We were as bad today as we were good yesterday. 7 errors!!!Got so bad Tommy started pitching nonpitchers and put pitcher only kids in the field. Haven't lost this bad since we were 9. Oh well, that's baseball. Puerto Rico tomorrow.

Tough day for Texas teams. I left top of 5 and Midland was up 14-0.

Long day.

Sorry about the website. Not enough hands on deck.

Saturday

10:00 a.m. Frozen Ropes v. South Troy Dodgers

12:30 p.m. Puerto Rico v. Dallas Tigers

3:00 p.m. California Rockies v. Midland Braves

1st....Determine pairings.

2nd....Determine which pair plays which time slot.

5:30 p.m. (I wish)

8:00 p.m. (I wish again)

Have to get up at 3:30 a.m. to get the Michigan team to the airport. Anyone want to volunteer to get them there?

Whew. I stink. Shower and a 3 hour nap, then start over.

Coach Merc,

AWESOME!!!!!!