Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007 • Local players compete in U-15 Baseball World Series

Publisher’s note: This story originally appeared in the Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007 edition of the Lassen County Times.

Two of Lassen County’s baseball players competed in the 15-and-under Continental Amateur Baseball Association World Series in Chicago, Illinois for 10 days in late July and early August.

Austin Brown and Loren Rainey, both Lassen High School baseball players, competed for the Washington Brewers out of Seattle Washington. A third player, Richard Murphy was asked to participate as well, but was unable to play due to football requirements.

Jermaine Smiley, a former player for Lassen College baseball coach Steve Avila, when he was at the Olympia Baseball Academy in Washington, contacted Avila about players for the Brewers.

“He asked me if I had any quality kids who can play at that elite level. It was a great opportunity for kids from Susanville to get exposed to that level of baseball. They are both great kids and played well in Chicago and represented Susanville baseball well.” Avila said.

Both of the boys played for 10 days, Friday, July 27 through Tuesday, Aug. 7, competing against more than 55 teams from all over the United States, Japan, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Brown and Rainey both competed in the 15-and-under division at the World Series, with Brown playing third base and pitching and Rainey playing first base and pitching.

The boys also snuck in a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, July 31 against the Philadelphia Phillies.

“It was an experience that I will never forget,” Brown said. “I was able to play with a lot of different teams, and I was able to see where my ability is compared to players from all over the United States. I also was able to make some really good friends from other states. I am glad I was able to go to and be a part of a World Series.”

With the help of Rainey and Brown, the Washington Brewers went 7-3 in the series, playing teams from Michigan, Kansas, Texas and Illinois, advancing to the Gold Medal Round. Brown got the game-winning hit to put the Brewers into the Gold Medal Round.

“It was a great learning experience. I was able to pitch to players of all levels from all over the United States and seeing that I could compete with them was great. It will be a trip I will remember for a long time. It was an experience that I never thought I would be part of.” Rainey said.

Both of the boys said they want to thank the coaches that made it possible for them to even be given the chance to participate in the World Series. Both also said they would like to thank Coach Scott Dwyer from LHS for giving them the chance to play at a higher level of play with the varsity team.

They also want to thank Coach Mike Warmbrodt of Lassen High School for the hours of pitching practice and for the hours of taking grounders down at the field and Avila who offered the boys the opportunity.

Rainey and Brown were both taken back to Chicago by Brown’s grandfather Bruce Farris. The boy’s said they would like to thank Farris for taking care of all of their needs while they were in Chicago, from washing uniforms, to getting them to and from games and the most important of all, feeding them.