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Mustang (ages 9-10)
 2010 MUSTANG NEWS
10 YEAR OLD ALL STARS
I'd like to congratulate the 2010 year old All Stars on a great All Star season. While being knocked out of the Lockport Tournament by St. Joe's, Lockport was the only team in the entire tournament to keep the St. Joe's team in check. Playing St. Joe twice in two days Lockport hung tough with their tournament nemesis falling short on Saturday 6-5 in extra innings and after pushing St. Joe to the brink again on Sunday again falling short 12-10. No other team in this years Lockport Tournament has come this close to the St. Joe powerhouse. St. Joe became accustom to showing off their might and beating the other teams by 10 to 15 runs. Lockport's never say die attitude proved once again that this years 10 year old team may arguably have been one of Lockport's finest All Star teams. Not only did the 10 year old boys take it to one of the elite teams in the area, but their record alone stands as a tribute to their players and coaches. The 10 Year Old All Stars compiled a record of 6-3 scoring 88 runs while only allowing 39.
This years team was put together by Coach Don Salvino and Coach Bill Ligacki. Both men have dedicated themselves to Lockport Baseball for over six years. With their knowledge and passion for baseball and helping kids develop at the game, this All Star team would not have been possible. In a matter of two weeks Coach Don and Coach Bill took twelve players that hadn't played together as a team this year and turned them into an undersized, underestimated, and under appreciated juggernaut. Coaches Don and Bill always preached team first and baseball is played between the ears. They always said that it didn't matter how pretty your uniform is, it's the player inside of it. Don and Bill never let the boys get down on themselves when the games started getting tough, they always found a way to pump them up and show them what they needed to do next. To Don and Bill baseball is a game of strategy and performance, these are other ideas pumped into their players. Don and Bill would take each of their players and evaluate what they had to offer and use each player to his strengths at certain points in the game by strategically moving the boys around as the game moved on. This proved to be very vital as the 10 year old Lockport players looked like one of the best defensive units around. At 10 years old most kids don't know the exact place to be at their position so obviously they need help from their coaches. Coaches Don and Bill were not alone in coaching this years team. They had the help of Bench Coach Tony Fidanzo and myself at 1st base. But Coach Tony and myself would be nowhere without the knowledge and insight instilled upon us by Don and Bill. If it wasn't for their master plan none of this would be possible.
I would like to personally thank Coaches Don and Bill for their love of the game, the passion and most of all the fun that they have given us as a baseball family. I have never seen a tighter group of kids and parents on a baseball team as I have this year. Don and Bill let us know what they expected of everyone and everyone followed the program making for an awesome experience. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Don Salvino and Bill Ligacki are possibly two of the best teaching and motivating coaches in all of Lockport Baseball. I only wish that more people in the LBB community were able to benefit from them.
From myself, the 10 year old players and parents we thank you. You are both great coaches and should never feel anything but that. You will always be appreciated by those that you have inspired.
Jim Koch
Mustang Director
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