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NORWALK, Conn. The magic of playing baseball just a few hundred yards from the sport's greatest shrine never wears off for the Cranbury All-Stars. The Norwalk-based P.O.N.Y League has been invited back to the Beaver Valley Classic this weekend in Cooperstown, N.Y., for the third year in a row.
The three-day tournament features teams from all over the country--and players get to know one another staying in bunkhouses together. The kids also get tickets to the Baseball Hall of Fame a short drive away.
For the first time, the oldest division in the Cranbury League, the 11- and 12-year-old Broncos, will be making the trip. Some players, like Zachary White, went there with the 10- and 11-year-old Mustangs last year. He said the experience never gets old.
"I'm still excited. My favorite part is seeing the rings in the Hall of Fame," White, age 12, said. "It's pretty cool seeing all the teams from all over and playing against them."
Adding to the unique nature of the tournament is the emphasis on using wood bats. This year, Tucci's Lumber in Norwalk crafted specially designed bats for the Cranbury team to take to Cooperstown.
"I've cracked four bats just in practice so far. It's so different the way the ball comes off the bat," Max Berman, age 12, said. "I'm looking forward to going to Cooperstown with my teammates and getting to know them better."
Coach Kraig Socci said the wood bats offer the kids a chance to compete on a more even playing field.
"A lot of hits you would normally get with an aluminum bat just fall flat," Socci said. "It makes the games more competitive. It's a huge difference, but it's a nice challenge for them."
Check back next week to find out how the Cranbury Bronco All-Stars did in Cooperstown!
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