The summer continues to be filled with baseball as many of the traveling teams from the area continue their competitive tournament league play.

The Southeast Missouri Cobras age 16 and Under team traveled this past weekend to Carbondale area the 6th Annual Fun-In-The-Sun 16 & Under Baseball Tournament. The tourney had a 4-game guarantee with two separate divisions for 16U and 18U teams.

The team is comprised of players from 9 different high schools with a roster of 12 athletes. The majority of the Cobras are entering their junior year of high school, therefore the team competes in the 16u age brackets. The team has had the majority of the players playing together since they were 9 years old.

Referred to as the SIU Showcase Tournament, the tournament is an extremely competitive league with teams from throughout the region competing. This three day baseball tournament found five area teams from Champagne, Springfield and three other regional teams squared off against each other.

Games were played in two locations with the Thursday, Friday and Saturday games held at the baseball facilities at John A. Logan College. Saturdays late game and all Sunday games were held at SIU-Carbondale.




The SE Missouri Cobras capped off the weekend by going 3-1 during the tournament. During the tournaments opening game, the SE Cobras defeated the SI Diamond Dogs by a score of 7 to 4.

The Cobras were matched against the Champagne Dream on Friday, winning by a score of 3 to 1. But on Saturday, the Cobras didn't fair as well against the Springfield Mustangs' powerful bats as they were handed a 11 to 1 loss in that contest.

On Sunday, the Cobras defeated the Lids Missouri Bulls 11-0. Brad Potts pitched a 5 inning no-hitter, while striking out 9 in the victory. The SE Cobras' bats turned hot as Calvin Lovig, Caleb Koehler, Travis Phillips, and Potts all had 2 RBI in the victory for the SE Missouri team. The SE Missouri Cobras now stand at 18-7 on the season.

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2011 SE Missouri Cobras Baseball Team Roster

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2011 SE Missouri Cobras Baseball Team Stats

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"We mostly have been playing 18u tournaments, as playing older competition, you only get better by playing better competition," says Anderson, Head Coach of the Cobras.

Only 9 of the Cobra players gained varsity experience in their respective high school programs during the 2011 Spring season. Their work with the Cobras this summer will certainly pay dividends next season for their local high school teams as these young athletes assume leadership and starting roles.

"Keep in mind we have only played 5-6 games against teams our own age," added Coach Brian Anderson. "We are playing mostly 18u or senior level teams."

In early June, the Cobras took the championship at Lake St. Louis in the Midwest Regional Club Championships. This was in fact one of the tournaments where the Cobras played up an age division in the 18 and up catagory.

The team has been led in hitting by Ryan Fortner with a .417 avg ; and Tyler Anderson of Cape Central with a .362 avg.

Pitching Leaders for 2011 has been James Dickerson 5-1 with a 2.27 ERA , Brad Potts 4-1 with a 2.55 ERA, and Trey Tigart with a 4-3 record and 6 saves with a 3.46 ERA. "These statistics are even more impressive when a person considers the age of the competition we are competing against." reminds Coach Brian Anderson. Most of the 2011 scheduled tournaments have been in the category of 18 and Up age groups. The Cobras will continue their play throughout July. With their current record stands at 18-7, the real reward will be delivered for these young men throughout their high school career when they put this experience into action in 2012.

The tournament was sponsored by Diamond Sports Promotions Inc. located in Normal, IL. This group is committed to the support of young people through competitive baseball leagues throughout the Midwest. Interested parties can contact Tim Brownlee at (812)455-2513 or email him at butch.brownlee@comcast.net.