The Cooperstown Kids

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2002 | 8:36 a.m.

It was supposed to be a quick stop.

One last look at hallowed Doubleday Field to bid farewell to baseball's birthplace.

It turned out to be a chance meeting with history in the making.

A day after the Las Vegas Heat 13-under baseball team clubbed the Maryland Angels 10-4 to win the Cooperstown Baseball World Tournament in Oneonta, N.Y., the team met shortstop Ozzie Smith at the field, two days before he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame July 28.

"That was real cool getting his autograph on the ball," Heat center fielder Casey Matthews said. "I got it in a big glass case in the living room with my other trophies."

Smith apparently arrived early to fulfill interview obligations. When the team stopped at Doubleday Field on its way to the airport, one of the players noticed him immediately.

"It was like, 'Oh my God, that's Ozzie Smith!' " manager Darren Baca said. "The kids didn't have any baseballs because they weren't expecting to see him, so the kids ran and bought balls to get his autograph.

"We were the only ones there at first and it looked like no one else knew he was already in town. Then suddenly, everyone showed up."

After finishing 3-2 in the seeding bracket, the Heat stunned several East Coast teams en route to winning the 15-team tournament in four straight games.

Matthews had a tournament-leading 22 hits while pitcher/outfielder Justin Baca had 21.

In the championship game, Baca had eight strikeouts and John Hughes smacked two bases-loaded triples.

"It was just like in the beginning. We lost a couple games and everyone thought we weren't going to win, but I kept telling everyone that we were going to win it," Matthews said. "It was heart-pumping. I was real excited.

"It was the funnest thing I've ever done."

The team toured Cooperstown and the Hall of Fame, where they spent part of the time trading baseball pins with other teams.

Baca guided the Heat to the inaugural 13-and-under championship in 2000. He said spending the week surrounded by baseball history is an invaluable experience for the players.

"I think they learn a respect for baseball," Baca said. "If you love the game, you have to go see (the Hall)."

After all, you never know who you might run into.