New Albin wins Stars of Tomorrow 12 and Under Tournament ...

The team from New Albin pictured above won the 12 and Under division of the Stars of Tomorrow Tournament held in La Crosse, WI Friday-Sunday, July 8-10. The tournament consisted of three pools of five teams each, with the top-finishing team and one wild card team from each pool advancing on to a final championship bracket. The New Albin team first went undefeated in four pool play games, defeating East Dubuque, 13-5, and Osage, 5-1, Friday and Holmen, 8-2, and Shelby, 5-2, Saturday to advance to Sunday’s final championship round, along with Shelby as the pool’s wild card team. After defeating that Shelby team once again in its first championship bracket game Sunday, 9-5, New Albin then went on to claim the tournament crown with a 15-5 ten-run rule victory in four innings over Janesville, WI in the championship game. Tyson Cota, Dalton Dibert and Eddie Peters each had two pitching wins in the tournament, with Damon Weber hitting two homeruns and Tyson Cota also hitting one round-tripper.

This year marked the 50th anniversary of the Stars of Tomorrow Tournament and this year was the first time since 1969 that New Albin has won the tournament. New Albin had won the tournament three times under the coaching of the late Shooky Fink, including the very first tournament held in 1966 and back-to-back titles in 1968 and 1969. Pictured above, left to right, are: Front row - Eddie Peters, Kaleb Drape, Landon Reams, Tyson Cota, Dalton Dibert, Jordan Cota, Hunter Peterson. Back row - Coach Jared Donahue, Buddy Hill, Jonah Reinke, Jaylen Drape, Damon Weber, Chance Colsch, Coach Jeff Cota, Coach Hunter Fink. Submitted photo.