THE LAKE ELSINORE STORM were the champions of the Minor League division of Wakefield Little League Baseball. Front row (left to right) Sam Jurczak, Hudson Little, Nicolo Labieniec, and Jake Conners. Middle row (left to right) Nick Walczewski, Matt Reed, Collin Morris, and Brendan Lynch. Third row (Left to right) Cole Tucker, Nate Hollinden, Ian Christie, William Stanley and Jack Millward. Back row (left to right) manager Michael Labieniec, assistant coach Chris Christie, assistant coach Jeremy Little, assistant coach John Jurczak, and assistant coach Dawn Millward.
Published in the June 26, 2017 edition.
WAKEFIELD — The coaching staff of the 2016 Minor League Champion Carolina Mudcats successfully recaptured the 2017 Minor League Championship in 2017 with the Lake Elsinore Storm. The Storm defeated the Batavia Muckdogs in the final game with a score of 14-0.
The Storm completed both the regular season and postseason undefeated with a perfect record of 17-0. The Storm finished the season with 182 runs scored and only 25 runs scored against.
“A tenacious and cohesive group of kids led by a squad of coaches with perfect chemistry fused the perfect season,” said manager Michael Labieniec. “Each and every player contributed his or her best to the team this season with great pitching, solid defense and consistent, timely hitting.”
In the end the team’s success was attributed to resiliency and execution of the fundamentals and mechanics that the coaches emphasized all season.
On behalf of his coaching staff, Labieniec would like to thank Wakefield Little League, Minor League Baseball directors Reeves/Leone and President Andy Jameson, the parents, and all the kids for the opportunity provided this season. Go STORMCATS!
