2006 Westside Bandits Cooperstown Dreams Park team - Pictured: front row (l to r): Zach Stahl, Austin McEntee, Nick Burns, Greg VanDongen, Noah Cole, Sterling Abasciano; back row (l to r): Jeff Bell, Jesse Steeves, Hank Wedow, Zach Cole, Steven Schworm, Marlin Myers, Andrew Eaton. Submitted photo.

Westside Bandits compete at Cooperstown Dreams Park

The Westside Bandits, comprised of 11 and 12-year-olds from Western Monroe County, participated in the North American Tournament of Champions at Cooperstown Dreams Park. They finished 10th out of 95 teams in the Around the Horn team competition, and also had players place in the Golden Arm, Road Runner and King of Swat challenges. Despite very rainy conditions that cancelled three games, the team played against some of the strongest teams in the nation and won a game, 17-11, against a team from Long Island.

Led by Manager Chuck Cole, the team prepared for the tournament by playing in the North Coast Baseball League and also tournaments in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Western New York. Members of the team include Noah and Zach Cole of Hilton; Hank Wedow, Austin McEntee, Jesse Steeves, Andrew Eaton, Jeff Bell, Nick Burns, Sterling Abasciano, Jake O'Connell, Tyler Broderick and Aaron Wolk of Spencerport; Greg VanDongen of Churchville; Steven Schworm of Ogden and Marlin Myers and Zach Stahl of Brockport. Assistant coaches were Dennis McEntee, Ed Wedow, John Devine and Roger Schworm.

Submitted material

September 17, 2006