WESTWOOD SUMMER BASEBALL – GENERAL INFORMATION
Westwood Summer Baseball has a goal of around 30 games after rainouts over 7 to 8 weeks from June to mid-July. Incoming freshmen have tryouts in the latter part of April while current players form summer JV and Varsity teams at the beginning of May. Practices typically start in late May. The fee normally remains below $500 but may be increased as we encounter higher umpire and coaching costs. The fee includes games, practices, two uniform shirts and excellent coaching. Coaches are paid professionals as well as former Westwood players who know the system and typically continue their baseball careers beyond high school. The fee also includes field costs, baseballs, umpires, and insurance. This is still considered a great deal given the number of games and practices where outside select programs could cost several times more. In addition to Westwood hosting its own tournaments, the summer teams have mixed in a few select tournaments with sponsors such as Perfect Game, USSSA, and Super Series.
Coach Bratcher encourages players to maintain their baseball skills over the summer; but it is each player’s choice whether to play Westwood Summer Baseball, or whether to play with a select team. There are no consequences or benefits for either decision.
Westwood Summer Baseball works with the families and players schedules and is flexible with conflicts. The summer season is short though so players are encouraged to minimize the amount of time that are away. Summer players will need to provide the dates they are away to the summer coordinator a.s.a.p. so that the summer schedule can be worked out to make sure enough players are available for games and tournaments.
WESTWOOD SUMMER BASEBALL 2008 REPORT
FRESHMAN TEAM
Our Westwood incoming-freshman team played a grueling schedule of 37 games over seven weeks during June and July, finishing with an overall record of 12-24-1. The weather cooperated and all scheduled games were played with the exception of one tournament game due to dangerous weather.
In addition to hosting one tournament, the freshmen competed in numerous other events including two early season Perfect Game tournaments against very stout competition. Facing area-wide select teams from Houston, San Antonio, and Austin, these PG tournaments were a rude introduction to high school ball for our freshman. Many of these select teams were comprised of mainly incoming juniors. And, of course, these were among the best juniors in their respective metropolitan areas.
The team fared much better against similarly matched opponents with a record of 7-6 against other freshman high school summer teams during weekday play. The team finished strong by winning five of the last six weekday games! They also won their final tournament at Stoney Point with a 3-0 record . . . the only undefeated team in the tourney.
Coaches Eric Richardson and Andrew Chappell worked hard to prepare this team for high school ball. There were lessons learned by surviving the early adversity. The team became tougher and by the end of the season it could not be intimidated. Coach Matt Hagg assisted the team late in the season when the wins finally rolled in.
We expect good things from this class as they continue their quest to be Westwood Warriors!
Players:
Travis Brumley, Colton Conrad, JT Dettman, Paul Dickensheets, Jeffrey Falwell, Damon Fisher, Brad Florence, Will Kirkgard, Everett Melchior, Frank Mora, Sid Razdan, Forrest Six, and Garrett Weir.
We want to thank all the families who helped make this summer program a success. Wayne Conrad kept the field in top shape despite heavy play and hot, dry conditions. Mark Melchior scheduled the games and updated the website. Keith Kirkgard, Greg Dettman, and Greg Weir manned the booth. Debbie Conrad and Patty Melchior managed a very successful concession operation. And, every parent pulled their duty (with a smile) in the concession stand.
A special thanks to Mike Boerner who graciously handed over the rains of the summer program to Wayne and Mark. Mike's assistance during the season was critical to the successful transition. And, of course, this program would not exist without the energetic support of Westwood High School’s baseball coaches: Bart Bratcher and his varsity assistant coach, Tom Robbins.
WESTWOOD SUMMER
BASEBALL 2008 REPORT
VARSITY TEAM
The Westwood summer varsity team played a schedule of 30 games over seven weeks during June and July finishing with an overall record of 17 wins, 12 losses, and one tie. The varsity hit their objective of 30 games despite the cancellation of two tournaments and two weekday games.
The five varsity tournaments played included a Perfect Game select tournament and a Prater select tournament. Teams from around the state participated in these select tournaments where varsity won 2 of 4 games in the Prater tournament. In addition to select tournaments the varsity arranged and hosted two area tournaments. The varsity demonstrated continued improvement throughout the summer season where they won 4 of their last 5 weekday games and swept all four games at their season ending Summer Wrap-Up tournament. In this tournament the season ending game was the championship victory over a very good Pflugerville team.
Coaches Keith Schmidt and Jon Masch worked hard to improve player skills and teamwork in preparation for the upcoming baseball season. Their efforts showed as the team continued to improve throughout the summer with steady play and few mistakes which contributed to the sterling finish.
Players:
Jake Balog, Chris Boerner, Cody Brasher, Josh Caldwell, Vincent Cipriano, Ryan Dandignac, Steven Kanik, Matthew Litz, Andrew Manawa, Stanford Martinez, Urbane Martinez, Wes Miller, Matthew Molina, Stephen Pauda, and Cullen Stephens.
We want to thank Coach Bratcher and Coach Tom Robbins for all their efforts to support the summer baseball program. We echo the thanks to the freshman families and to Wayne Conrad for all of his efforts to keep the field playable during the hot and dry 2008 summer season. Big thanks go out to Mark Melchior and Wayne Conrad who did a great job as the new summer overall coordinators in taking over this role from Mike Boerner. Mark and Wayne now have the opportunity to do a repeat performance in upcoming summers to continue Westwood’s leadership role in baseball.
We also thank the varsity team families who made the varsity summer effort a success. This was a team effort which included Mary Kay Schwartz (concession stand coordinator), Tim Dandignac (scoreboard coordinator, field), Kirk Caldwell (umpire coordinator, field), Bill Kanik (Mr. Everything – backup varsity coordinator, field work, propane, scorebook, etc), Kristin Stephens (scoreboard & concession & music), Jennifer Boerner (concession & concession stand runs), Sheryl Manawa (score board & concession runs), the Cipriano’s (scoreboard), the Balogs (concession), Gloria Brasher (concession), Michelle Litz (concession), Martinez’s (concession & summer shade), Molinas (concession), and Susan Perez (concession). This was only a portion of the families’ contributions where the biggest thanks go out to efforts by the players and the overall summer spirit and memories they generated.