Avonworth JV and Varsity Baseball made another fun and successful trip to Myrtle Beach from March 21-26.  The trip allows the teams the chance to play at the Ripken Experience facility in Myrtle Beach, a state-of-the-art complex with multiple baseball fields laid out to match the dimensions and quirks of famous older stadiums, right down to the cavernous centerfield and short left- and right-field poles of the Polo Grounds.  The teams bussed to and from Myrtle, and stayed at the Caribbean resort on the beach.  The long ride and cozy accommodations at the hotel afford the players and coaches a great opportunity to bond and spend some time together off the field, in great weather, as they prepare for the upcoming season.

Of course, nothing bonds a team quite like success on the field, and both the Varsity and the JV teams experienced plenty of that.  Both teams faced tough competition from other states, including teams from Illinois, DC, South Carolina and West Virginia.  The Varsity squad went 4-1 on the trip, defeating Sidwell Friends (DC) 10-9. Stagg (IL) 8-4, Calhoun Academy (SC) 15-0, and Sissonville (WV) 9-3.  Their only loss came to Green County Tech, the state runner-up in Arkansas’ 5A class last summer, in a close 6-5 decision.  The JV Lopes also made their mark; after dropping their first game, they won four straight to match the Varsity’s 4-1 record.  After winning both games on Sunday 21-5 and 4-3, the JVs defeated Friends’ Central (Phoenix) 11-5 and Potomac 9-2, and finished the trip by beating Annapolis Area Christian 19-10.

In addition to a great off-field experience, the on-field experience can’t be duplicated, as both teams get game experience in good weather conditions against teams at least as good as them, often from larger schools, with track records of their own.  The trip allows the Lopes to head north warmed up and loose, battle-tested and ready for section play.  Avonworth Baseball appreciates the fantastic level of community support that makes this trip possible, through fundraising events like Night At the Races and sales and raffles like our fall Soup Sale.  it couldn’t happen without community support.  Now the community can come support the teams on the field, as the Varsity pursues a repeat of their 2024 WPIAL Championship and PIAA playoff run.  Varsity opens up at Steel Valley Monday March 31 at 4PM, and opens the home season vs. Steel Valley at the school field Tuesday April 1 at 4.  The JV opens up at home vs Pine-Richland at 4:30.  Let’s Go Lopes!