The Red Bay High School varsity baseball team traveled to Gulf Shores over the spring break holidays to participate in the Gulf Shores Classic II tournament.

By Brandi Miller

For the FCT

What’s better than playing baseball over spring break? Being able to play baseball over spring break at the beach.

The Red Bay High School varsity baseball team traveled to Gulf Shores over the spring break holidays to participate in the Gulf Shores Classic II tournament. This was the first time for the Tigers to play in this tournament and travel together as a team to such a far away destination to play.

“The experience the kids had, I believe they will be talking about for years to come,” said head baseball coach Richard Maggerise. “The first night we all got together and played wiffle ball as a team on the beach and then grilled out. One night the players went to the Hangout together and had a blast.”

About 20 players made the trip, mostly 9^th-12th graders. Maggerise said doing something special for the players was the main motivation behind taking this trip. He wanted them to bond as a team, become better players and be able to get away and experience things some of the players might not have ever been able to do on their own.

The Tigers played teams in a much higher classification, and that provided some valuable experience for the team. They played against a 5A school out of Montgomery, a 7A school out of Brentwood, Tenn., and a 7A school out of Arkansas – the third largest school in Arkansas. Being able to play the larger schools helped the Tigers as they prepare for the second half of their season.

“We played some really good teams, which I think in the long run will pay off for us as a program,” said Maggerise. “This trip allowed everyone to step away from Red Bay and relax. I know I demand a lot from the players and parents as far as practicing and playing, so it was a great way to let everyone step back and play without all the distractions of playing at home.”

Maggerise said he’s already in the planning stages for next year’s trip. “I think it made us closer as a team. The guys were able to go out together, whether on the beach or at the Hangout, and just enjoy being together and playing baseball.”