Chesterfield, Virginia will be the host team in the 2019 Bronco-11 World Series (B11WS). Chesterfield Baseball Clubs (CBC) has gained an automatic entry into the B11WS since CBC began hosting the event in 2009.
The Chesterfield team is comprised of 15 players, all of which are CBC players. In order to make the team, players must go through rigorous training and evaluation sessions. Overall, CBC’s Bronco age division, which consists of 11- and 12-year olds, contains 16 teams. From those 16 teams, 25 players are picked to try out for the B11WS team. After six evaluations, a team of 15 players is chosen to represent Chesterfield. After the players are picked, they practice approximately three times per week for two hours each time. During practice, the team works on hitting, defense, positional play, and game scenarios.
One advantage that the Chesterfield team has is experience. Jack Horner is the manager of the 2019 squad, and this is his fifth time in that role. Also, Horner has three players, Carmine Rosso, Nate Reed, and Wyatt Capps, who represented CBC last year in PONY’s Mustang East Zone Championships. These three players comprise most of Horner’s infield, and he hopes to draw on their experience for the 2019 B11WS.
Due to his level of experience, Horner has high expectations for Chesterfield in the 2019 B11WS. Chesterfield won the B11WS in 2013 and 2014, and, last year, under Horner’s coaching, Chesterfield lost in the semi-final to the eventual champion Chicago, Illinois. Horner’s strategy is to “take things one game at a time and hopefully win our bracket to secure a spot in the championship game.”
Despite having a high focus on winning the B11WS, Horner also recognizes the importance of the other events that the tournament also encompasses. Last year, Horner organized an indoor wiffle ball game with the Chesterfield team and Beijing, China. Horner loves to see his players interact with the other teams, especially the international ones. Despite the barriers of different languages and cultures, Horner truly believes that “these players bond through the game of baseball throughout the tournament.” Additionally, Horner stated that CBC is excited to host the inaugural B11WS reunion for all former Chesterfield players and coaches in the B11WS. Participants in the reunion will be recognized on at 4:30 p.m. ET/US on Friday, July 26 at Harry G. Daniel Park at Iron Bridge as part of the opening ceremonies prior to the start of the first game. More information about the reunion and other events can be found at bronco11worldseries.org.
Chesterfield will take on the champion of PONY’s South Zone in its first game at the 2019 B11WS at 8:00 p.m. ET/US on Friday, July 26 at Harry G. Daniel Park at Iron Bridge. Horner and the rest of the Chesterfield team look to build on last year’s semi-final appearance and win Chesterfield’s third overall B11WS title.