Vienna Babe Ruth All-Stars Prepare for World Series

While most area kids get ready to head back to school, one group of Vienna teens is preparing to compete for a national championship.

The Vienna under-15 Babe Ruth All-Stars, fresh off a state championship, are headed to Purcellville, Va., to represent Virginia in the 2013 Babe Ruth World Series beginning Aug. 17.

The team, comprised of 14 of Vienna's best 15-year-old baseball players, has only been playing together since the end of June, according to coach Steve Briglia, but will now compete for a national title against some of the country's toughest teams.

There is no regular season at the all-star level of Babe Ruth- tournaments begin almost immediately after the end of the house league season- so the team had to find its rhythm quickly in order to keep advancing.

"We have very little time between the end of the house league season and the start of all-stars," Briglia said. "The program starts very late into the season."

Vienna began its all-star play in the district tournament, where the team lost in the finals to defending state champion Arlington by just one run. But because Vienna had advanced so far through the tournament, it earned a berth in the state tournament that followed, where it avenged its loss to Arlington with a win in the state semi-finals.

Following its win over Arlington, Vienna completed its state championship run with a 4-2 victory over host team Summit Point in the finals.

"Summit Point was a very tough team, they had a pitcher that really gave us fits," Briglia said. "But we had a great states. We had a good district tournament, would have liked to have done better, but we arrived at states knowing we had to stay focused and we did."

The team now prepares for the Babe Ruth World Series, a 10-team tournament featuring the United States's eight regional champions, the team from Vienna and host team from Loudon County.

Vienna would have had to compete in the Southeast regional tournament before advancing to the World Series, but as the state champions of the host state they automatically qualified, allowing them extra time to rest and prepare before departing for Purcellville.

"It's so exciting to be able to represent Virginia as the host state of the World Series," Briglia said. "It's just a great opportunity."

Loudon County also automatically qualified for the World Series as the all-star team from the host city.

Once the World Series begins, Vienna will be guaranteed at least four games in double-elimination pool play, and if the team is able to avoid two losses in those four games it will advance to the single-elimination bracket to decide a champion.

Briglia was adamant that the key to his team's success this year is that the kids have fun playing the game and enjoy playing with one another. He discussed at length the camaraderie amongst the players and the well-rounded kids they are off the field.

"It is amazing how much the kids love to travel and stay in the hotel," Briglia said, referencing impromptu Monopoly tournaments and games the kids will play on the road. "They just get along really well, they're all really great kids."

Briglia said he has told his team that no matter the result the key is to uphold Vienna's rich baseball tradition and enjoy the experience. The tournament begins at Fireman's Field in Purcellville on Saturday, Aug. 17 and concludes one week later with the championship game on Saturday, Aug. 24. 

Just a 40 minute drive from Vienna, he encouraged fans to make the trip and share in the experience with the kids.

"I would encourage everyone to go out to Purcellville," Briglia said. "It's real baseball. When you think that these kids are 15-year-olds, a lot of them are big and strong, pitchers are throwing hard. It's real, quality baseball, and it's fun."