Playing travel baseball is an odyssey

Posted

The South Riverdale Animals, a 14-and-under travel baseball team that is now in its sixth year, recently began its summer season. Here is an in-depth look at how the team started and how the coaches and players view their amazing journey so far.

Creating a travel team 

One of the team’s co-founders, coach Mike Faber, said “We were having so much fun in rec ball one year, we decided to keep on playing into the summer.”  

Manager Tommy Gonzalez joined the team after doing a few clinics and developing a great rapport with the players. 

Said Manager Gonzalez: “I had never coached kids that age before. It was something new and fun.” 

He had played Division I college baseball before coaching at Fordham Prep High School and Concordia College. Along the way, he mentored some future Major League Baseball players, including Mike Aviles of the Cleveland Indians.

Coach Ken Katzman had another South Riverdale travel team, and a 2011 merger with Farber’s team resulted in the current incarnation of the Animals.

Why play travel ball?

“Rec ball is not as serious and fun,” said player Lucas Ludgate. “I wanted more competition.”

Many players like the challenge of upping their game and learning to perform in situations with more pressure. Brian Alberts said he has “learned to gather my thoughts and come through in a tough situation.” 

When Alberts’ teammates were asked about their favorite Animals memories, almost all of them mentioned his two-out, three-run, walk-off home run to win the 2012 Fall championship.    

Danny Moynihan started playing on the team at age 8.

“I was nervous because I was used to rec ball,” he said.  

As time passed, he grew more confident. At 11 years old, he had one of his travel ball highlights. 

“I hit a walk-off, three-run homer. It was a 2-2 count and I got a change-up letter high that I crushed,” he said.

Over the years Danny has matured as a player and a person, and was named one of the current team’s co-captains with Zack Farber. Danny likes the “sense of responsibility I have as a captain.”

travel baseball, Animals, Ken Katzman
Page 1 / 3

Comments