By Katrina Grant
This year, the We Drop Bombs Baseball Academy introduced four new teams. It brought on two 10-year old teams and two 12-year-old teams. The teams consist of players from Tabernacle, Shamong, Medford and other surrounding areas.
The spring/summer season ran from April until July, and the Jersey State Bombers team played in 50 games throughout the season.
“We played in about two to three games a week,” Christopher Murray, coach of the Bombers team said. “There were some tournaments where we were playing five games.”
Murray was introduced to We Drop Bombs Baseball Academy a few years ago by its founder Al Roach, who grew up in the Medford area and plays professional baseball.
“Al and I used to play together when we were younger. We’ve probably played together since we were like 8-years-old,” Murray said. “He asked me to coach.”
The team played in an 11-year-old tournament and finished out 4–1. They beat Mt. Laurel in the championship game 13–3. The overall season record was 24–2.
“The season went really well,” Murray said. “The tournament was a really good way to end the season.”
“This was the first full year for all of our teams, so our focus from the start was to teach the kids the game and find the right position for each player,” Al Roach said in a press release. “Our coaching staff, made up of former college and professional players, continually teach the kids what, where, when, and why we do certain things within the course of a game and practices. During the second half of the season, we saw the kids really starting to gel which, in turn, brought many more wins. I am really proud of all our teams, and to win two tournament championships our first year is really special.”
Most of the players are in fifth and sixth grade and also play township baseball. Murray is excited about being able to coach the players in the upcoming fall season.
“The fall season will be starting in September and running through October,” Murray said. “We have four tournaments lined up.”
