After only 3 weeks of tues. thurs. practices the wildcats would embark on their first tournament as a team. It would be a road trip to Benica, Ca. A massive 14 team 12-Under played at a beautiful 4 field complex. The weather couldn't have been better and with a 12:30 first game the Wildcats would have a little time to work out the jitters. Going into the tournament short handed would force infield starters to move around to slightly unfamiliar postions and get it done throughout the 3 game Saturday. Much was found out by the Wildcats coaches as the games unfolded. Bats were alive from start to finish. Pitching was crisp and hard. The much improved catchers came to play. The Wildcats would get a taste of victory in Game 2 against the Mark West Wild squeezing out 8 runs and closing it down in the bottom of the fifth. Everyone starred at some point over the weekend. Every Wildcats hitter got in on the act with at least one base hit. Rene had 5 hits, Taylor, Big Mac, and Haley each had 4. Both Rene and Haley battled off hand injuries behind the plate giving Taylor the confidence that they would keep the ball in front of them and keep that third strike in the mit. Taylor would go all 4 games over the weekend in the circle. Fine defensive plays by Hailey at shortstop and Gillian in right field kept the Wildcats in each and every game. With only 6 real practices under theirs belts, the Wildcats were not intimidated one bit by anything in Benicia. They were never outplayed, never out of a game, and never quit. We learned a lot over the weekend as players and as coaches. The most important thing that we were as good or BETTER than any of the teams that we saw. Three more weeks of practice until Novato, July 31- Aug 2. Check out the pictures, courtesy of Tom.