Bulldogs rip through rivals

Baseball team has success even when facing older players

The Southern Nevada Bulldogs baseball club's 11-and-under team has qualified for three World Series this summer, so far.

The Bulldogs, who rolled to the title of the Rocky Mountain School of Baseball's President's Day Tournament despite competing against older teams, in the 12-and-under division, will compete in the RMSB Tournament of Champions in July in Utah.

The reigning USSSA Nevada state champions also went 4-0 to win the recent USSSA March Madness championship in Riverside, Calif., and qualified for the USSSA World Series -- to take place in July at the Big League Dreams baseball complex in Chino Hills and Riverside, Calif. -- by capturing the crown of the Cranberry Classic.

The Bulldogs, made up of 11 players from across the valley, also plan to compete in the Triple Crown World Series in July in Steamboat Springs, Colo.

"We want to get the best competition we can for the kids," assistant coach Mike DiDonato said. "This team is really, really solid for a bunch of 11-year-old kids."

At the RMSB event in St. George, Utah, which featured 26 teams, the Bulldogs outscored their opponents 73-17 en route to a 7-0 mark, and eight of 11 players homered as the team set a new tourney record with 19 home runs.

Joey Gallo and Bryce Harper each went 16-for-21 with four homers apiece. Gallo, just 10 years old, starts at shortstop and also pitches. Harper plays catcher and is also one of the team's top pitchers, hurling 10 scoreless innings in the event.

"We carry 11 kids, so each kid is capable of playing three positions," DiDonato said. "We move kids around a lot. We're pretty well-balanced. Most of the teams we played against would be accusing us of sandbagging or wondering if the kids were 12, but they would be embarrassed when they found out the kids were 11."

Jake DiDonato pitched nine scoreless frames at the tournament and outfielders Tanner Chauncey and Jake Chiancone each made a couple of diving catches in crucial situations.

Morgan Stotts and Eric Holdren also pitch for the Bulldogs, who also feature Tyler Baker, Chris Velgos, Bruce Lewallen and Dugan Hicks.

Scott Baker, who played 13 years in the Oakland A's organization, is the head coach and Ron Harper and Tony Gallo are assistant coaches.

The Bulldogs have won 12 games in a row in 2004, after going 3-2 in their first five contests, and are scheduled to compete locally and in Arizona, California, Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska and Utah in the coming months.

"If we've got a weakness, it's defense, but they're all fundamentally strong," DiDonato said. "Our hitting and pitching have been coming around and we're getting better and better."

The Bulldogs, a nonprofit organization that relies on fund-raising and sponsors, one of which is Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, practices four days a week and will compete for its second straight USSSA state title in May.

The Bulldogs are currently ranked No. 1 in the state, among USSSA 11-and-under teams, and are ranked fifth in national power ratings.


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