Coming together as a team team

All-Star squad to compete at district tournament today

Erik Gardner of the Del Norte Little League 9- and 10-year-old All-Star baseball team lays down a bunt while catcher O.J. Calleja looks on during practice on Thursday. The squad plays in the District 26 Championships in Humboldt County today. For more photos, go to triplicate.com/photos. The Daily Triplicate/Rick Postal

The Del Norte Little League 9-10-year-old baseball squad has done a good job quickly blending together as a cohesive unit in the first few weeks of practice, head coach Israel Reagan said.

“We’ve got a good little team,” he said.  A strength of the squad is defense, with everything else quite solid, he said.

The team will compete at the District 26 tournament against teams from Humboldt County starting today. 

They will face Southern Humboldt starting at 3 p.m. Saturday in Fortuna. The double elimination tournament concludes next week.

Reagan said that the group has shown great enthusiasm, has been soaking up advice and has shown a lot of excitement in being part of the All-Star team.

“It’s nice that all these kids want to play baseball,” he said. “They know what to do and they are all having fun.”

Jackson Reese said he was quite excited when he was told that he had made the All-Star team.

“I was like ‘Whohoo!’ ” he said, adding he can’t wait to start the tournament.

The coaching staff meets with the team at practice on Thursday at Del Norte High School. The Daily Triplicate/Rick Postal

“We’re picking each other up when we’re down and helping each other,” he said. “We just hope to have as much fun as possible.”

Many of the kids are trying new positions, and Reagan said that they have adapted well.

 During a practice this week at Del Norte High School, Reagan watched as catcher O.J. Calleja make a nice throw at practice. Reagan said the position is one Calleja normally does not play, but he has looked “dynamic” during practices.

 Reagan says it’s nice to have a group of kids that are good athletes and can play a number of different positions.

Reagan said the team  is certainly going down to win games and hopefully earn a district title. But, especially on this level, the vital part is for the squad to have a good experience and to “just  have fun.”

He said that there will be excellent competition at the tournament.

“It’s going to be a battle,” Reagan said. “There all going to be good teams.”