Two from Buena Park Fly the Coop to Cooperstown

Teammates Pack Their Bags and Head to East Coast

By Annie Rivera

Two players from Buena Park American Little League, Christopher Rivera and Ryan Morgan will join their travel ball teammates from the Placentia Mustangs, in a trip cross-country to Cooperstown, NY home of the Baseball Hall of Fame to face some of the best teams in the nation.

Rivera and Morgan made a valiant attempt in keeping their All-Star team in contention for a shot at the Little League World Series during their road to Williamsport, PA. Losing to Tustin Western at the Section 5 Finals in La Mirada halted their big league dreams as they settled for Second Place, the farthest any All-Star team has accomplished in the history of BPALL.

Now their sites are set at competing in the National American Tournament of Champions (NATC) at Cooperstown Dream Park. Cooperstown will host 96 teams from around the United States in a World Series of its own. Teams will be able to compete in the Skills Competition in several categories such as King of Swat, Around the Horn Plus, Golden Arm and Road Runner.

Led by Coach Steve Rivera, long-time BPALL coach and dad, teammates Rivera and Morgan have undergone rigorous and structured practices sometimes in 80-90 degree weather while preparing for their trip.

A native New Yorker from the Bronx, Coach Steve is excited about taking his son to see his birth place and attend their first Yankees game together.

“It’s going to be great,” Coach Steve said. “This is the best part of being on a travel ball team. You face higher level competition and what better place to be at than Cooperstown?”

“I can’t wait for it to come,” Morgan said. “Hopefully we do good enough to be known as one of the best teams in the world.”

“I’m excited about going to Cooperstown and see other teams,” Christopher said.

The Mustangs belong to the California Competitive Youth Baseball (CCYB) organization under the direction of Todd Rogers, Director of Baseball Operations at California State University of Fullerton. The team participates at a high level of competition and participates in tournaments hosted by United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA). Tournaments are held in several locations throughout the Orange, Los Angeles and Riverside Counties such as Champions Sports Complex in Placentia, Big League Dreams Field at Chino Hills and Riverside.

In 2005 the Mustangs qualified through a USSSA tournament earning a berth in the World Series at Steamboat Springs, CO where they placed 4^th in the nation.

Buena Park’s own Rivera and Morgan along with the Mustangs will be in Cooperstown from August 25 through 31. Live Webcam and Gamecam will be available on a daily basis. Please visit http://www.cooperstowndreamspark.com/ for more information. Click on 2007, Week #12 NATC August 25, 2007 for results.