The US Military WarDogs national team recently competed in the annual SummerBall Showdown in Goddard, Kansas. This was the WarDogs second year in the tournament, and the team showed incredible growth and competitiveness against high level collegiate and independent baseball clubs that traveled from around in the US to compete in the tournament.
During the WarDogs first game of the tournament, they were matched against the PSCL Select team out of California. Although a very close and hard fought game, PSCL was able to hold of the WarDogs, winning 8-6 in nine innings.
On the second day of games, the WarDogs played the Dirtbag Baseball team. The Dirtbags, who would go on to with the entire SBS tournament, were victorious in this game as well, by a score of 7-3.
The WarDogs final game of the tournament had them matched against the 316 Baseball Club. Unfortunately, 316 Baseball handled the WarDogs national team, winning by a score of 12-3.
Despite not advancing to the second round of the playoffs, the entire WarDogs team was honored to be able to represent our Military, Veterans, and Fallen on a national stage. The team came away from the tournament more motivated than ever to be back next year.
Ricky Orellanes, one of many new players on the WarDogs national team, had this to say of the SBS: “We’re winning this next year, I’ve got the boys hyped!” Orellanes was honored and humbled to represent US service members on the baseball field, and walked away from the experience ready to come back in 2023.
Of the players representing the WarDogs in the SBS tournament, 19 were Active Military and 5 were Veterans. All branches of the U.S. Military, which include Army, AirForce, SpaceForce, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard, were represented within the ranks of the 2023 national team. Kenny Kirker, an active Navy servicemember, flew all the way from Bahrain to be part of the WarDogs.
Although the WarDogs strive to compete and win, the WarDogs do more than just playing baseball. During the tournament, the WarDogs conducted an on field flag ceremony before one of the games to honor 30 Fallen Heroes. During the flag ceremony, one of the families of a fallen servicemember was presented a folded American flag in honor of their loved one. Beyond the Flag Ceremony, the WarDogs also hosted two youth combine events, allowing local Goddard youth the opportunity to get on the field, and participate in baseball drills with WarDogs players and coaches.
Never Forget our Military. Never Forget our Veterans. Never Forget our Fallen