MELBOURNE, Fla. — Hawks Gold 2028, a travel baseball team in Viera, is coming off a great year! The team of 10-year-olds was put together after summer tryouts and a commitment to the full baseball competition year. They played in challenging divisions and tournaments throughout Florida. All the boys are from the local area, except three who commute for tournaments from Key West and Kissimmee.

Putting together a team of young athletes from all over the county (and state) can be difficult. You never know if personalities and skills will mesh. Fortunately, this team was very committed to multiple practices per week, taking additional lessons, and working on advancing their baseball IQ. Coach Jamie Harper says, “This group of boys also created a bond that extends on and off the field. They accept responsibility to be the best they can —not only for themselves but also for their “brothers.“” This is not behavior seen on every team.

The boys are fortunate to be taught by coaches who model this behavior: Jamie Harper, Joe Conte, and Bill Hudkins, and their hitting/catching coach Leo Rojas.

The boys played well together this year and were bumped into new divisions along the way, going from AA to Majors, because of their success. They love the new challenges it brings, the new teams, and the new players they face in tournament play. It helps them improve their skills and strive for a higher level. Also, they are able to see which skills or areas they need to work on and evaluate their performances as individuals and as a team so they can be successful.

This team doesn’t believe in celebrating individuals, they are a team first. They lift each other up when one of them is struggling at the plate or on the field. They encourage each other and work together to try to end the game with a W at the end.

In May, the team played in the Perfect Game Sanford Invitational Tournament. Twelve teams from all over the state and outside of Florida participated in this tournament. Despite trailing during three games, the boys adjusted and rallied to take commanding victories. The Hawks were 5-0 and outscored their opponents 49-17 in the five games. In the championship game, they played Line Drive Baseball 10U Bilenski from Pooler, GA and earned the win as a team and came home champions.

Coach Harper says, “The boys had confidence in their play and each other. They felt as though they were in a tough spot more than once, but their faith in each other drove them to never give up and come back for the win. Opposing coaches were all surprised by their determination and commented after each game.”

The first weekend in June, the boys took home the inaugural Perfect Game Florida World Series championship. Going 3 – 2 on the weekend really tested their resolve as a team. They were hit with tough losses early on and went into the semi-final not sure how the day would end. Hawks Gold pulled together for wins over two of central Florida’s powerhouse teams, Team Florida Ruff Ryders and Central Florida Bad Boyz, to claim the championship. Once again, their work as a team culminated in victories, which included dynamic play by each team member, who was needed to fill a role.

The boys will continue playing together and have a busy summer ahead. In June, they play a weeklong tournament at the USSSA Sarasota Global World Series against teams from within the state of Florida, as well as Texas. In July, they will be in Viera playing in the DeMarini Elite World Series against teams from all over the United States. It will be a fun summer in baseball, and both tournaments will test their skills!

The team is excited to have secured a working agreement with Marucci Sports for the 2021-2022 season. They will participate in the “Honor the Game” program. This program teaches kids about the sport and gives them the tools to continue to better themselves in the game but also in life. Coach Harper says, “Being part of the Marucci program provides the boys the opportunity to play in some of the best tournaments, have access to the best available equipment and training tools, and be recognized on the Marucci website and social media.”

Lastly, the boys would not have the success they do if it weren’t for the dedication of their parents and families. Harper says, “ They (parents) are all in for any activity, tournament or additional practice the coaches call to work on skill improvement. It is truly a great baseball family.”

The roster includes: Jaxon Carter (#15), Tyrone Cervantes (#7) , Nick Conte (#27), Bryson Elbert (#23), Jeremiah Guerra (#20), Garrett Harper (#34), Bryce Hudkins (#44), Brady Lalonde (#5), Gant Ramsey (#94), Gabriel Talbert (#1), and Leo Thibault (#33)

Good luck Hawks Gold 2028 this summer and continue reaching for your goals!

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