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Junior Braves in 'transition' phase

Youth team getting taste of high-school style baseball from first-year coach

By KEVIN JOHNSON (Contact)

Saturday, May 20, 2006

Infield practice was only a few minutes old Wednesday night before the wayward throws forced Shannon Rhodes to temporarily cease hitting groundballs.

The coach gathered his Braves in the middle of the infield and warned if they play like that in high school, they may not play at all.

"They'll sit you at Estero High," Rhodes cautioned the team, which is comprised of 14 players, all but age 13 or 14.

Rhodes, in his first full season as head coach of the only junior team from Bonita Springs Little League, coached at the high school level for five years. He runs his practices similar to high school workouts, knowing what these middle schoolers need to grasp before moving to the next level.

"I'm a fundamental guy and we work on fundamentals every day," said Rhodes.

It's paid off.

Since losing on opening night by ten runs, Rhodes said the team has been in every game since and has about a .500 record. That first game has been the only time the Braves lost by the ten-run rule.

"They've really come around — not as I expected they would — but they're getting better day by day," said Rhodes.

Though their fielding Wednesday was as choppy as the infield they were practicing on, the Braves' approach to the season has been smooth.

"They have not one time complained about not playing enough games, or anything," said Rhodes. "They've come out to practices and really busted their tails. I can see a difference in everyone of these kids as far as working and getting better."

Photo by KEVIN JOHNSON / Banner

Braves coach Shannon Rhodes addresses his players during infield practice.

Case in point is Russell Tucker, the team's lone 15-year-old. Rhodes said Tucker hadn't played much baseball until this season, but has shown improvement since day one. Last week Tucker nearly hit the ball out of the park during a game in San Carlos.

"He hit the fence," said Rhodes. "He can hit the ball when he wants to. He's hit the ball very well. He's picked it up."

The Braves practice three or four times each week. Rhodes said attendance has been outstanding.

"That shows me that they really want to be here and to get on a high school team next year," he said.

Photo by KEVIN JOHNSON / Banner

Octavio Torres of the Bonita Springs Junior League's Braves eyes a groundball during practice on Wednesday.

Octavio Torres, Blaire Foreman, Travis Rhodes, Kyle Bryerton, Pete Zivitich and Keith Coleman are among key players for the Braves, who play most of their games on the road because lights damaged by Hurricane Wilma last October have yet to be replaced by the city. The temporary lights placed at the junior field are not sufficient enough for games, said Rhodes.

It's usually lights out for opponents when Foreman takes the mound. He's the team's closer.

"It's fun to save the game for the other pitchers," said Foreman.

Torres and Bryerton are the Braves top two starters. Rhodes said both have been consistent throwing strikes.

Because the Braves are the only junior team in Bonita Springs, there won't be too many surprises when the all-star team is revealed on June 15. It's guaranteed to be filled with Braves.

"It's kind of an advantage because we get to play with our all-star team the whole year," said Foreman. "We're close and we can communicate through the whole year. The other leagues have different kids from different teams, so they're not as close as we are."

Which is something Rhodes appreciates about his team.

"Thirteen and 14-year-olds want to go to the beach. They want to go swimming with their buddies, but not these kids," said Rhodes. "Everyone wants to be here."