The Bombers Athletic Club boys’ baseball team, with just one season under their belt, swung on to the competitive scene in a big way during a March 28/29 tournament in Pueblo, Colo. The team, made up of boys 9 years and under, was formed in August 2009 by current coach Brandon Stegman. Helping Stegman are assistant coaches John Kessler and Carlos Wright.Although Stegman said most of the boys on the team are 8 years old, they’ve been competing with 10 year olds. “Ten U (10 and under) teams are likely to be 2 years older, which makes an enormous difference,” Stegman said.However, age didn’t hold them back in the March tournament, where they were challenged by all 10-and-under teams. They lost their first game against the Pueblo Falcons, also the American League champions, but they still had a chance to go to the finals if they could muster up five wins.Not only did they win those five games, but they also “run-ruled” their game against the Pueblo Scorpions. They scored at least 10 runs more than the Scorpions by the end of the third inning, so the referees stopped the game and announced the Bombers as the winners.Those wins “instilled in them that they can do it,” Kessler said. “The fall was a slap in the face. Getting beat day after day can really wear on you. But then they say, ‘Hey, you know what, we can win.’ It does a lot for them in their mindsets.”The Bombers once again had to face the Falcons in the finals, but they were ready for a fight. The Bombers held their own and managed to come in second to the Falcons, losing by only one run, with a score of 8-7.Describing the team’s success, Stegman said, “My philosophy with 9-year-old boys (is that) I tell them execute, execute, execute. Get an out whenever you can. We tend to give up less runs than our competition because we take an out whenever we can get it. We practice so many things.”The Bombers Athletic Club, a 501(c)(3) organization, also practices character building among the teams included in the club. Russ and Trish McKeehan initiated the club in August 2008. The McKeehans established the club to help children in the community develop athletic abilities and positive competitive traits. “The No. 1 thing is the fact that we’re out to build character in children, despite winning or losing,” Trish McKeehan said.The Bomber club is comprised of five teams, including fourth and fifth grade girls’ basketball teams, a 12-years-old-and-under and 14-and-under girls’ softball team – and the 9-years-and-under baseball team. The 12-and-under girls’ softball team was the “Bunny Bracket” champions of the Jelly Bean Tournament, held on Easter this year.Because the Bomber’s Athletic Club teams are solely competitive, some kids don’t make the team. But those who do are preparing for their future under the guiding hand of their coaches. “Our ultimate goal is to start the kids young, feed them into our middle schools and high schools and build them up to be state champions as well,” Trish McKeehan said.”We actually play real baseball at that young (age). We do everything the pros do,” Stegman said. “The boys take signs every time they go to the batter’s box. It’s a complex game for these kids to learn.”More than 70 games are lined up for the current season. For more information about the club, e-mail bombersathleticclub@gmail.com.
