10 year olds deep in pitching

Ask any baseball coach, at any level of the game, what the key ingredient is to a winning ball club.

The answer will likely not change -- pitching. It is the first line of defense in baseball. If a pitcher can fan a batter, well, the job is done. The defense can just sit back and enjoy the ride.

A good staff can carry a team a long way. Byron Dozier will look for that when his Abbeville 10’s play host to the Cal Ripken World Series on Aug. 8 at Ralph Sellers Field at A.A. Comeaux Park.

What makes Abbeville’s staff so effective?

“Being able to hit spots where I call a pitch (inside or outside),” said Dozier, “while keeping it low in the strike zone and being able to keep hitters off balance by pitching fastballs and change ups.”

Dilan Comeaux, Layne Faulk, Nick Fletcher, Jacob Sagrera, Bryson Suire, Cade Sonnier, and Emile Trahan form a deep well from where Dozier can draw. Depth is important at any level, but it takes on more meaning with this age group, one where each player is on a 50-pitch count.

“First these pitchers are only 10 years old,” said Dozier. “They have not fully developed growth-wise. In tournament play, you need depth because not many 10-year-olds can throw a full six-inning ball game.

“The depth will help to keep a low pitch count and still have these pitchers able to pitch again the next day if needed.”

Pitching could indeed go a long way to determine how far the 10’s travel in the World Series bracket. Pitching means something else to each of the Abbeville pitchers. It is the same reason a large number of kids gravitate towards the mound.

“Kids want to pitch,” said Dozier, “because it’s fun.”