2012 14u and 15u WWBA National Championships

Perfect Game’s 14u WWBA National Championship kicked off Monday in Marietta. This tournament is just the beginning of a series of tournaments.

The first 14u WWBA National Championship took place in 2007. Since then 32 alumni of the event have been drafted, including Kaleb Cowart (2010, Angels, First Round) a native of Adel.

The East Cobb Astros 14u have dominated at the championships, winning all but one championship in the history of the event. The Dulin Dodgers are the only team that has been able to wrestle the championship away from the Astros. The Dodgers took the championship in 2009.

“The event has grown from 20-some teams to 80-some teams," Coach Dave Roberts of the East Cobb Astros 14u said. "We’ve been fortunate to win it every year except for one. This is something the kids look forward to every year.”

The Astros will be at the tournament once again this year. This year 83 others teams will be vying to take their spot as 14u WWBA National Champions. There are multiple teams that have talent to go far in the tournament.

Teams to watch this year include San Diego Show 14u, the Colorado Slammers, the Orlando Scorpions Purple, SBA Canes 14u Black, the Houston Banditos, Dulins Dodgers, Team Elite, and Kentucky Baseball Club 14u Blue.

Pool play games will take place the 18th and 19th, with final pool play games taking place on the 20th. Playoff games will begin the evening of the 20th.  Quarterfinal games will take place on the 21st.  Semifinals will occur the morning of the 22nd. The Championship games will begin at 11:30 on the 22nd. The games will take place at the Aviation Sports Complex in Marietta and area high schools.

Perfect Game’s 15u WWBA National Tournament follows the 14u. The 15u tournament begins on the 22nd and lasts though June 29th. This tournament follows a schedule similar to the 14u. The first six days will be dedicated to pool play with playoffs beginning later in the day on June 27th. Rounds of 16 and 8 will take place on the 28th. The tournament will culminate on the 29th with Semifinals and the Championship game.

Drafted alumni of the event number in the hundreds. Jason Heyward of McDonough was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 2007 and made is debut for the Braves in 2010. Heyward played for the East Cobb Aztecs at the 2004 WWBA 15u National Championship.

Unlike the 14u tournament, seven different teams have won the WWBA 15u National Championships in the event’s ten year history. The most recent team to take the title was the East Cobb Astros in 2011.