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"Everything Else is Unpatriotic"
The Huntington Patriots was the tri-state area’s premier summer traveling baseball team of the 1980’s and 1990’s under the AABC (American Amateur Baseball Congress). Coached first by Pittsburgh Pirates professional scout Tom “T-Bone” Baker and then by Toronto Blue Jays scout Dick Brammer, the Patriots organization gathered the best baseball players from the tri-state area and traveled to other states to showcase the talent of local players to professional scouts and college coaches outside of the tri-state area. In addition to providing an opportunity for its players to obtain the exposure needed to enhance their chances of playing at the next level, the Patriots also provided its players with the opportunity to compete against a higher level of talent than they would have faced locally. The Patriots offered players the chance to improve their game against better competition and to be seen by scouts and coaches who otherwise would not have seen or known about them.
The Huntington Patriots consisted of an 18 and under team and a 16 and under team. The organization ceased to exist after the 1999 season due to unforeseen circumstances. However, during the its years of existence, many Patriots players secured college scholarships and a number of players went on to play professional baseball In addition, under the guidance of manager Dick Brammer, every player from the 1998 and the 1999 18 and under teams who were eligible to play college baseball were offered a baseball scholarship.
Not only was the Patriots successful in securing college scholarships for players, the organization garnered the respect of opposing coaches, professional scouts, and college coaches for being a class organization. The Patriots recruited players who not only had talent with respect to baseball skills but also had good character. An emphasis was placed on players having the “right stuff” in terms of character, attitude, responsibility, and dedication. Players were expected to conduct themselves as gentlemen both on and off the field and the Patriots refused to recruit a number of extremely talented players who did have the “right stuff”. Because Patriot coaches and players displayed these characteristics, the reputation of the Patriots was well known throughout the country. With good reason, any player who was asked to play for the Huntington Patriots considered it an honor.
After eight years of absence, the Patriots have returned. With the blessing of former manager Dick Brammer, the Patriots have been revived under the leadership of Tyler Christian and Tom Smith. Tyler and Tom opened the Tri-State Baseball/Softball Academy in Huntington, WV in October, 2007, offering individual instruction in hitting, fielding and pitching to the youth of the tri-state area. Tyler formerly coached at Cabell Midland High School and played at Marshall University. Tom was the pitching coach at Cabell Midland for the past 8 years and was a coach of the Huntington Patriots in its final two years of existence in 1998 and 1999. In the initial year of its return, the Patriots will field a team of 16 and under players under the USSSA organization.
In the summer of 2008 the Huntington Patriots newly formatted program went on to win their first tournament of the season in Gastonia, NC where they qualified to participate in the 2008 16U USSSA World Series. The following week the Patriots traveled to Marietta, GA where they participated in the East Cobb Wood Bat Tourney. Here the Patriots started off with a big win against East Cobb's very own Patriot team. The EC Patriots travel internationally every summer and currently had beat the Pittsburg Pirates scout team in the Dominican. Although highly rated the EC Patriots were no match for Chris Weed that gave the Patriots of Huntington a 6-5 victory. With this boost the Patriots went on to place second in the tournament. Rounding up the first year the Patriots finished fourth in Rockhill, SC at Winthrop University and third in the Virginia State Tournament. Capping off an amazing year the Patriots bring home the 2008 World Series title that was played at the Houston Astro's Spring Training Complex in Kissimmee, FL.
"We DO What It Takes!"
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