08/11/2026
Now that the 2025-26 has wrapped up, I wanted to take a moment to reflect back on the season and share some highlights and give some thanks.
From the outset, the boys played their hearts out. They left it all out on the field, especially come tourney time. After winning their first Fall tournament, they carried that momentum into Spring. During Spring, the boys won another tournament, were on their way to winning another tournament before rain got in the way and finished 2nd twice, including our first travel tournament in Indiana.
Speaking of Indiana, countless memories were made as the boys spent hours swimming, playing whiffleball, floor hockey, eating pizza the size of their heads and played a little baseball.
Playing in the 11u North division, the boys played some of the best teams in the area on a weekly basis and emerged with a 9-5-1 record. Even though we didn't win our division, we would have our revenge in the SWIBL playoffs.
The culmination of the season came in the first week of July as the boys battled the best the league had to offer. After easily dispatching of their opponents in pool play, the boys faced the top seed in the bracket. Never ones to back down, the boys emerged victorious and advanced to the championship. Having finished 1-0-1 during the regular season against their championship opponents, the boys were ready for a throwdown. Carrying the momentum from their semi-final win, the boys won the SWIBL 11u Championship!
Throughout the season, there was so much growth, these boys never ceased to amaze the coaches. From the outstanding pitching performances, clutch hitting and out of the park home runs and amazing defense, there are simply too many moments to list individually!
None of this would not have been possible without the support of so many people. First, thank you to the coaches (and fill-in coaches). The countless volunteer hours dedicated to the boys, helping foster their growth and love of the game, taking time away from your families to ensure the boys were ready for the season.
Thank you to the parents and grandparents for your support of the boys, getting them to practice or training, playing catch in the back yard and making sure they were always game-ready. Also, thank you to those parents that helped throughout the season, running GameChanger, playing walk-up songs, bringing snacks or drinks during the tournaments and taking pictures!
Thank you to our sponsor, Jack Schmitt Ford of Collinsville. We were able to secure additonal practice space and participate in additional tournaments because of.your support. This support helped make a great season even better.
Lastly, thank you to Coach Brett Swip and the Extreme Organization for giving these boys a great place to practice, train and grow in their love of the game. I always enjoyed walking into the facility and see so many kids putting in the work and dedication to hone their craft.