Local U11 baseball travel team on a roll

The core group of players for the 11U Orlando Scorpions, a travel ball team featuring youths from Windermere, has been together for four years under a couple of different names.

At first, things weren’t so great. Coach Rob Mitchem acknowledges there was a period where it was tough for the boys to win games.

But there is something to be said for continuity and chemistry, and as the seasons have passed, the familiarity among the youngsters from Windermere has grown to the point that the Scorpions are on a 14-game winning streak, with the most recent tournament victory being a 5-0 run through the STB Tampa Champions Cup (placing first in a field of 15 teams).

“The coaches all know the kids; we know these personalities,” Rob Mitchem said. “Ten out of the 12 (players on the roster) have been together for four years, and they know how they all react on the field, their tendencies. … The same group has stayed together and worked hard, and it’s paying off thanks to the synergy.”

In addition to the continuity that has benefited the boys, so too has a more rigorous training regimen. The Scorpions have been focusing on conditioning and strength starting in January, with pushups, planks and cardio playing an increased role in practice. 

The results speak for themselves. On the mound, the team has received quality outings from Will Ross, who usually gets the ball for the Scorpions on Sundays and is a good bet to give the ballclub six innings of work utilizing his fastball and changeup.

Offensively, Mitchem’s son, Tracy Mitchem, has four home runs over the course of the past two tournaments and is hitting .750.

“For an 11-year-old team, we’ve got some sluggers and we’re really hitting the ball hard,” Rob Mitchem said.

Next up for the team is a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where they will compete in the weeklong Baseball Youth Majors starting June 7. The boys from Windermere hope to show off their skills against upward of 30 teams from around the nation.

Following that event, the boys will have the rest of the summer off from action with the Scorpions. Most of the boys also play for Windermere Little League and will play on that All-Star team, as well.

Contact Steven Ryzewski at [email protected].