For the first time, a team of 9-year-old baseball players from the Arlington Babe Ruth League is going to the league’s version of the World Series.
The team, dubbed the Arlington Storm, is headed to Florida’s Treasure Coast today (Wednesday) to compete for the national title. The trip comes after winning the Virginia state championship and the Babe Ruth Southeast Regional Championship last week in Snow Hill, North Carolina.
“We’ve got some really good ball players, [and] they’re becoming really good teammates, most importantly,” said team captain Jeff Groharing, who is an attorney with the Department of Justice by day, and a baseball coach by morning (practice starts at 7:30 a.m. daily).
The boys will face several other teams from across the country in a series of games leading up to the championship on Thursday, Aug. 5.
“I’m burning up all my leave, but there’s no better way to spend it,” said Groharing, who says the kids have been having a whirlwind of a time since they won regionals.
After their victories the team received encouragement from Rep. Don Beyer and even visited the U.S. Capitol and met with Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.
“Getting attention from the Senators is neat for the boys,” Groharing said. “Both Senators Warner and Kaine seemed to enjoy spending time with the boys as well.”
Congratulations to Arlington's @arlstorm @ABRarlingtonBB Babe Ruth League all-stars, who became district champs, state champs, southeast regional champs, and now get to go to the Cal Ripken World Series, the farthest an Arlington team has ever advanced! We're rooting for you! pic.twitter.com/4d0D1jVf6R
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) July 20, 2021
Groharing started coaching the team when his son, who is on the team, was 7. He says parents love sending their kids to practice because they start their days early and learn values, such as teamwork and discipline.
“I don’t think they realize how much of an accomplishment it is for them to get it this far,” he said.
Arlington was well-represented down in Florida last weekend by another youth sports team. The Arlington Soccer Association’s team of 15-year-old boys won the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships on Sunday, and three players received individual awards, we are told.
https://twitter.com/vayouthsoccer/status/1419712632794370057
https://twitter.com/arlingtonsoccer/status/1419711801030332421