Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor

Before everyone turns their attention to fall sports and back-to-school endeavors, there is a group of baseball players in Forest Lake that deserve a little ink. Even though they are only 15-years old and about to enter their sophomore year of high school, they already have a rich tradition that would make many teams jealous.

The 15-And-Under A traveling baseball team recently won the 2006 Gopher State Tournament of Champions. And with enough first and second place finishes over the past six years to fill a trophy case, this can almost be filed under Y, for, Yeah, so what else is new?

In fact, the boys were so successful competing against teams their own age that they decided to move into the Mickey Mantle league ó which is designed for 16 year-olds ó in order to face tougher opponents. Taking on the stronger competition they still managed to keep their record above .500 this summer.

When Forest Lake picked on people their own size during tournament play, they grabbed two firsts and one second.

ìItís been pretty much a team effort for all these kids; they get along really well with one another,î assistant coach Frank Stelter shared. ìItís been a terrific group of kids.î

Going way back to where it all began in 2001, there are still six of the original members playing today - Ty Cremisino, Travis Evgen, Kyle Jensen, Mike Schultz, Kenny Stelter and Ryan Wright.

During that first year the team won state and continued on to place second in the national tournament. The following summer they qualified once more for nationals.

At the age of 12, they capped another great season and made their third straight national tournament. However, they came up one game short and took second place for the second time in three years.

The summer of 2004 found them making the national tournament for the fourth consecutive time, but chose not to play. And it was more of the same in 2005 when they played their way into nationals that were staged just outside of Chicago.

That brings us to the present day, where the team can look back on a summer that had them winning a 24-team tournament which qualified them for state, and then winning state for the second time in six years.

Even Forest Lake High Schoolís varsity head coach Brian Raabe got involved when he managed the team during a 3-game stretch against the older competition while the 15A head coach Brad Kalio attended a wedding.

ìThereís no doubt that thereís a lot of talent on that team,î Raabe said. ìThis 15-year old team definitely should be commended for what theyíve done.î

Next summer could see the boys venturing down different paths, as some might play for the Legion team, while others join the VFW squad, and still another group simply moves into another year at the Mickey Mantle level.

But as Stelter observes, no matter what becomes of the players as 16 year-olds, theyíve all enjoyed an incredible run.

ìThese kids have been great to work with,î he said. ìPretty much a (once-in-a) lifetime experience.î

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