ORWALL Big League All Stars start SW Regional play Friday with trip to World Series on the line

Blake Stoehr

Doug Sarant is the head Coach of the ORWALL-District 28 Big League All Stars. His incredibly talented and successful team is comprised of 16 to 18 year olds, in the division of Little League International.

Last Weekend, the Big League All Stars won the Texas East State Championship by beating Lavernia, then Crockett (twice), 6-5, 12-2 and 15-0, respectively.

Coach Sarant remarked, "We played against a team from Lavernia who gave us all we could handle. They were a scrappy bunch, who were well coached and they almost knocked us off. We might have lost if not for a walk-off RBI by our shortstop, Landon Merka. Shortly after that, we woke up and started playing up to our potential to win the championship.”

Winning the Texas East State Championship has taken Coach Sarant’s squad to Ruston, La., for the South West Regional at Louisiana Tech University starting this Friday. The team will play Louisiana in its first game. On the other side of the four-team bracket is Texas West and Louisiana 05.

“If we win the South West Regionals," said Coach Sarant, "we are on to the Big League World Series, July 27 to Aug. 4, in Easley, S.C.

“The big obstacle in Ruston is the host Louisianna 05 team that always has some current Tech college players and several commits. They are very talented and they have been to the World Series for the last seven years.

“Last year, we lost to them in the third round and were relegated to the losers’ bracket. We then proceeded to win the losers bracket for the right to play LA-05 for the championship. We had to beat them twice. We won game one 6-1 on an excellent pitching performance by Josh Smith, but lost the next game, 8-6.”

The players on the ORWALL Big League All Stars come from the three area 5A high schools and know each other quite well.

“They want to win desperately against each other during the high school season," described Coach Sarant, "but all pettiness is put away for Big League play and we are gelling big time.

“They like playing ball together. I'd say our identity is our all-around play. We have several All-District, All-State and All-Region players. You don't make all-anything unless you are a well-rounded ball player. Speed, athleticism and all-out hustle works well for us."

Coach Sarant took over the manager's position from Eric Broussard this season. Broussard coached the team the two previous years as his son, Kyle, was on the team.  

“This is my first year managing this team. One of the prerequisites of the gig is running the Big League regular season. Being the coordinator of the league, I took responsibility for finding players and all that goes on during the season. All games were on Sunday this year so we decided to have a BBQ every week. We'd have a tip jar that would fill up enough to do the next week's BBQ. We also had benefits for area charities. Mark and I have coached the Oak Ridge High School summer league and off-season teams for five years. Before that, we had little league and select teams. I love baseball and just like to be around the game. I also coach lacrosse goalies who come in from all around the Houston area.”

Being so close to making it to the Big League World Series last year definitely gave this team some valuable experience and perhaps more importantly, added motivation.

“We know what's in front of us and what it will take to break through. Last year's team did not have as many decorated players as we do this year. However, that team gelled and played up to their full potential and more.

“Although this 2011 team seems to have more talent, it would be inaccurate to suggest that they are better than the 2010 team," Coach Sarant explained.

“A team with less talent that plays team baseball will always beat a team with more talent and zero team chemistry. That being said, if this team continues to gel, the sky is the limit, or in this case, Easley, South Carolina."

Like most Head Coaches at this level, Coach Sarant does not single out players in a preview  article, especially when so many players on his team have been so important to this season full of success.

He was kind enough, however, to break down some of his pitchers for us.

“Andrew Godail was undefeated in the High School season for The Woodlands. He has thrown up to 91 mph, but averages 87 mph. He has great command and excellent presence on the hill.

“Josh Smith, Oak Ridge's High School ace, made second team All-District with just one district win this season. Why? Because although the team did not hit when he was on the bump, he still managed an ERA below two, and that is obviously awesome. He's got four pitches in his repertoire.

“Blake Stoehr didn't get much mound time at Oak Ridge High School due to a lack of depth at middle infield. However, even with limited game action, he can spot his pitches and can pick off base runners better than most."
 
When any team has success in any sport, there are always assistant coaches behind the scenes that do a lot of the dirty work that leads to the success.

“Eric Broussard has some excellent experience at this level and is invaluable to have on the bench. Also, Little League International has more obscure rules than Jai Alai and to have a rules “geek” like Eric as a go-to guy is huge. The other assistant coach, Mark Stoehr knows the mechanics of hitting better than most. Where Eric is a rules guy, Mark is a mechanics guru and his advice to the players is taken quite seriously,” stated Coach Sarant.

Pitcher Blake Stoehr expounded on his teams’ chemistry and keys to success: “This team consists of players from three different high schools. That being said, we all know each other well from either playing on the same teams in ORWALL and or Select baseball or against each other. There are some I was not too familiar with but we have respect for each other because we know we can play this game and want to play well together."

The Oak Ridge pitcher went on to say, “What is special about this team is that we are good from top to bottom. Someone is going to get the job done and pick others up. The same guy doesn't have to be the hero all the time. There is less pressure when you are surrounded by guys who play the game well. I don't see any ego maniacs either. That means we have no cancers on the team."

Like Yogi Berra said, “It’s déjà vu all over again.” And up to this point, the ORWALL-District 28 Big League All Stars are in the same place again. But this year they are looking for a different outcome, a World Series title, and they have a great chance to being that title back to Houston.

One area Coach, who did not want his name mentioned, said this about Coach Sarant’s All Stars: “His team is amazingly talented and a great story. Some of the players on the ORWALL-District 28 Big League All Stars didn’t even make their varsity high school teams, some others did make varsity, but don’t play much, and they are out there potentially playing against college players if they make it far enough in the regionals. It is a testament to just how much talent is in the Woodland’s area and how well Doug and his staff coach these guys up.”

It is very taxing on the coaches and they do a lot of things that come out of their own pockets, so whether these boys bring home the title or not, it is the support of the great fans in the ORWALL region that can, and do, help these guys out. They can buy burgers for the team after the game and they do, and that is what a great sports community is all about.

Keep it locked right here on ultimatewoodlands.com, as we bring you scores, recaps and previews on the road through the South West Regionals and to the World Series in Easley.