Alabama’s fun, flash, flair brand sees dominant start to World Series

After a highly-successful run at the 2022 Babe Ruth League World Series, the Alabama Rawdogs arrived in Cape Girardeau with a similar goal in mind – title defense.

In 2022, Alabama used an average margin of victory of 10 runs per game to destroy its competition, going a perfect 6-0 to claim the Babe Ruth League World Series championship.

Through three games of pool play, Alabama remains undefeated having outscored its competition by an 18-3 margin including a 7-3 victory against last year’s runner-up Southeast Tropics.

While maintaining a strong pitching staff and a lineup that has had its way with every team the Rawdogs have faced so far, the likelihood of Alabama’s title defense grows seemingly higher by the day. The Rawdogs know this, but they’ve kept locked in as the playoff approaches.

“We’re all a little nervous because you never know who is going to show up,” Rawdogs manager Tony Hendrix said. “We’ve got to make sure the ball bounces our way and just keep playing the way we have. Stay loose, play loose. Our kids keep throwing strikes and our keep hitters hitting it timely, we’ll be okay.”

Alabama's Jake Devalk smiles after getting hit by a pitch during an August 16, 2023 matchup between the Alabama Rawdogs and Highland of Indiana. The Rawdogs defeated Highland, 5-0, to advance to 3-0 in pool play.Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com

The 11-time champions in Alabama have long established their foothold in the world of Babe Ruth baseball, and with another strong showing in pool play for 2023, the foothold just grows stronger.

One of the things that’s kept the team pushing year after year? The culture.

Nobody has more fun than the Rawdogs, or so one would believe after watching the team’s loud, rowdy antics in the dugout. No matter the score, there are players smiling, chatting and shouting during the games, keeping the morale high and putting a chip on Alabama’s shoulder.

“That's been our motto for years,” Hendrix said. “If we're playing the game like we’re supposed and having fun doing it, it's better. We like that attitude, versus, why not look like we’re having any fun? When we’re playing loose, having fun, it’s just baseball. Next man up, next play.”

Alabama's Bryce Fick (center) smiles as he talks with his teammates during an August 16, 2023 matchup between the Alabama Rawdogs and Highland of Indiana. The Rawdogs defeated Highland, 5-0, to advance to 3-0 in pool play.Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com

When center fielder Bryce Fick came in, extended the arm and sacrificed his body for the third out on a diving grab in center field on Wednesday, the full Rawdog dugout ran to first base to greet him.

Pair this with bench players playing the air guitar just moments before Connor English returned to the mound to complete his complete-game shutout, and you’ve got a dugout that can both talk the talk and walk the walk.

It’s easy for the Rawdogs to act like they’ve been there before because they have.

When combining historical success with a group of kids who can both continue the strong culture and play an elite brand of baseball on the field, Alabama’s created a powerhouse that looks to contend for the 2023 Babe Ruth League World Series title this weekend.

“This is my 40th summer,” Hendrix said. “People don't remember how bad we were the first 20 years, but everybody remembers the last 20. It takes time, repetitions and knowing everybody in our program.

“We're not a make-money program. We don't charge a lot of money. We're not here for the money. We're here to have fun and play baseball, and kids flock to that.”