Sarasota baseball tournament is truly a Classic

Is there anything better than a good high school baseball tournament?

OK, maybe a few things, but they’re pretty great for everyone involved. The Sarasota Baseball Classic is one of the best in the country, going on 32 years and counting. You don’t have to take my word for it: Baseball America once recognized it as such.

Clyde Metcalf, the longtime coach of Sarasota High’s baseball team, is one of the creators of the tournament, and I asked him about its origins.

“We used to have a tournament here, it was an eight-team local tournament that was sponsored by the Sarasota Sports Committee,” Metcalf said. “Larry Altier, who was the coach at Riverview at the time, and myself got together and said, 'Hey, we want to try to play people out of the area, bring in better competition, make it a 16-team tournament.' That kind of came from discussions between Larry and myself to try and get it expanded.”

To make their idea happen, Metcalf and Altier went out and drummed up community support. They wanted the tournament to be not-for-profit, so they also rounded up people to serve on the tournament board and organizing committee.

They succeeded, and it’s not just players and coaches who are happy they did. Over the years, the tournament has given proceeds to the Wounded Warrior Project, the Special Olympics, the Miracle League and other organizations. This year’s beneficiaries will be announced after the conclusion of the tournament.

Because of weekly newspaper deadlines, I cannot tell you in print which team took home the trophy (UPDATE: Tate High, out of Cantonment, won the championship game 3-2 over Trinity Christian, out of Jacksonville). I can tell you that the tournament once again brought great talent from out of the area to serve as a measuring stick for local teams. George Jenkins High, out of Lakeland, came into the tournament ranked 19th in Florida by MaxPreps. Tate High was 23rd. Venice High sits at 37th in the entire country. They’ve also attracted a team from out of the state entirely. It’s a testament to Metcalf and the rest of the organizing committee that they keep getting these high-level teams year after year.

It makes for great baseball to watch, no matter your rooting interest.

On March 20, Sarasota High shut out George Jenkins 1-0 behind the arm of senior Brooks Larson, who allowed four baserunners the entire game. The same night, Cardinal Mooney defeated Braden River 7-6 on a walk-off, hit-by-pitch, not something you see every day (or week, or year). Another game between two out-of-area teams was decided by a sacrifice bunt in the final inning.

I don’t care if it’s high school baseball, that is exciting stuff. None of it would be possible if two coaches hadn’t put in the work to make it possible 32 years ago.

Metcalf said he still gets a thrill out of the tournament, and that was evident watching him work, dapping up his players at third base and badgering his pitchers to throw strikes with a late lead. The players love it, too, he said. It’s the largest collection of talent they’ll go up against outside of travel-ball season, and every player wants to prove themselves against the best.

It’s a fantastic event all around, and if you’ve never attended, I urge you to attend a game or two next year and let the sharp ping of metal bat on ball ring through your eardrums. Helping to raise money for fantastic charities is a swell bonus.

It’s also a great excuse to have some peanuts and Cracker Jack, and goodness knows we could all use a few of those.