THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 30, 1996 TAG: 9606280158
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 27 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, CLIPPER SPORTS EDITOR
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 78 lines
Pony and Little League baseball are where major league dreams start for many boys.
Tony Vastardis, assistant coach of the Western Branch Athletic Association's Mustang Braves team, is doing his part to make sure those dreams come true.
Last Saturday, he chartered a bus to Atlanta so his two-time division champion 10-year-old team could see the Atlanta Braves play the San Francisco Giants. The then-inspired Mustang Braves returned to Chesapeake Saturday night and won the overall league title two days later, beating the Astros 12-2.
The Braves finished with a 20-1 record - their only loss was a forfeit in Saturday's game while they traveled to Atlanta - for the title that earned Vastardis and head coach Tony Harrell the right to coach the Mustang all-star ``A'' team when tournament play gets underway in July.
Vastardis, a city inspector in Portsmouth, came up with the idea to take his team to Atlanta after he saw the hard work and dedication the kids brought to Mustang baseball.
``They deserved it,'' Vastardis said. ``They played hard last year and this year.''
This will be the last time the team is together. After two years, players move up in the ranks of Pony baseball. Next year, the kids will move to various teams in the Bronco division.
But for one moment in time, the Braves were united with their major league heroes.
Through the sale of raffle tickets and doughnuts, as well as donations from area businesses, the Western Branch Braves raised $2,600 to charter a bus and purchase tickets for the Atlanta-San Francisco game.
They left Chesapeake Square Mall at 4 a.m. and arrived at Fulton County Stadium at 3:30 p.m. where they were greeted by the Atlanta Braves' chaplain Mike McCoy.
McCoy, a former defensive tackle with the Green Bay Packers and Notre Dame, spoke with the players and took them to the bullpen to meet pitcher Greg McMichael. McMichael autographed balls for the players and even signed Vastardis' baseball card.
``I was down there with the video camera and I was nervous as ever. The camera was going everywhere,'' Vastardis said.
But the Atlanta Braves' staff soon made them feel right at home.
``Everybody was first class,'' Vastardis said. ``They treated us like kings. They showered us with gifts - autographed World Series balls, batting gloves, plastic helmets. It was more than what I expected. They were very down to earth.''
However, the Western Branch players, after watching Atlanta whip San Francisco 6-0, were still floating in the clouds upon their return to Pony Baseball. And after Monday's title victory, chances are, they're still lost in the dreams of the diamond.
``I saw a change in the team when we got back,'' Vastardis said. ``They were so inspired by the Braves that when they came back, they were a different team. It built up their self-esteem. Kids who haven't hit all season were hitting the ball.
``This is something that they'll never forget.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos by L. TODD SPENCER
Mark Russell of the Braves slides safely into home plate as Chris
Mai of the Pirates awaits the ball in the Little League championship
game.
Ryan Pond of the Braves steals second base as Bean Geoffrey of the
Pirates dives for the ball in the Little League playoff game. by CNB