Dylan and the 8U Gladiators played in the Nations World Series at Ford Park that began on Friday, July 5. At Opening Ceremonies, Dylan was happy to see his Roughrider buddies, Kooper Grant and Logan Corcoran, who were playing in the tournament with the 7U Gators!
I had so much fun trading pins at the event!! I was also excited to have lunch with Dylan, Mom, and Dad at Cracker Barrel before the Gladiators' first game!
The Gladiators played their first game at 2:30 against the Rivals from Forney, TX. The boys played well, but fell short 11-9. Their next matchup against the familiar rival Gulf Coast Surge also ended in a loss, 13-10.
Our buddy Jake came to watch the games! I am not sure who was happier... me or Dylan!!
After Dylan's second game of the day, we walked across the concourse to watch the end of the Gators game! We ran into Brady's little brother Logan and his cousin, our neighbor Beckham Berry!
The Gladiators enjoyed pizza and each others' company as they awaited the skills competition!
Logan Simmons, Cameron Edmonds, Jared Morgan, Carson Rea, Jace, and Dylan.
Dylan and Reeve Barrow
Dylan, along with his teammates Logan Simmons and Cameron Edmonds, competed together in the Accuracy Throw Competition. All three of the boys did great... each earned points for the team score!
Their efforts were a success!! The Gladiators were awarded First Place in the Accuracy Throw Competition!
Dylan had a great day on the field and a great experience in the skills competition!! It was a day filled with good, exhausting fun!!
On Saturday morning, we returned to Ford Park prepared for their final two pool play games, and then onto bracket play!
The team started the day with a win, defeating the Texas Eclipse of Houston 17-10.
Dylan and his teammate Gibson Bitar enjoyed a bit of the Gators game as they awaited their second matchup!
I loved hanging out with Big D between games!
I did a little talking with Coach Jed before the second game and he agreed to let me be the team's bat boy! I had a blast watching Dylan play from my very own seat in the dugout, and I loved sprinting from the dugout to home plate to retrieve bats between hitters!
In the final pool play game, the boys lost to Dierker's Champs Grey Baseball 11-2. It was hard to see our Gladiators lose, but the other team played a good game of baseball!
The team finished the day strong! Winning their first two bracket games, 10-3 against the Northwest Pioneers and 6-1 against Gulf Coast Surge! After a record of 3 and 1 in pool play, we were apprehensive, but the boys put their game faces on and played two great games of baseball!
Two Gladiator wins on Saturday afternoon put the boys in the Winner's Bracket as they began playing on Sunday morning! The team faced the Rivals, and again, the Rivals defeated the Gladiators in a disappointing 6-2 loss. Because this was a double elimination tournament, the Gladiators had one more opportunity to earn their way to the finals. Their opponent in the semifinal game would be none other than the Gulf Coast Surge. We were thrilled as we watched the boys fight to the finish to defeat the Surge 11-10. Go Glads!!
The Gladiators faced the Rivals once more in the Championship game. The boys were certain that they could come out with a victory this time, and they did everything in their power to do just that. Despite their incredible efforts, they suffered a nail-biting 8-7 loss in the final inning. Both teams met on the mound for a prayer... it was a wonderful way to celebrate a great game of baseball between two outstanding teams!
The Gladiators anxiously awaited the award ceremony!
We all felt like champions at the end of the day!!
8U World Series Runner-Up
Gladiator Baseball
The trophy was as tall as the players!
Dylan with Gibson Bitar, Reeve Barrow and the tall trophy!!
Carson Rea, Gibson Bitar, and Dylan
Winner's Circle!!
We were all very proud of Dylan. He played good baseball and he hit the ball like a champion all weekend! He was a little boy with a BIG swing... and after this World Series, he became a little boy with a BIG ring!!
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