Dubai Little League team's biggest thrill: playing on grass
American and Dubai baseball rules are the same but members of the 12-and-under Dubai Falcons Traveling Team, practicing in Naperville this week, say the game is different without the desert sand blowing in their eyes.
The Falcons have spent all week practicing at the Nike Sports Complex and participated in Saturday's West Chicago Keppler Classic in preparation for the three-day Naperville Firecracker Classic that begins Friday at Frontier Sports Complex near Route 59 and 95th Street.
Falcons coach Greg West said the limited competition available in Dubai sent the team in search of more playing opportunities. And they found Naperville.
“This has been a great experience for us as we head into the weekend tournament,” West said. “The competition is greater here so that forces us to get stronger and strive to play at a higher level than we're used to seeing in Dubai. And we can take all of that back with us as a team.”
Falcons outfielder Matthew Sproule, 12, said despite not faring well (0-3) in the West Chicago tournament he believes he and his teammates have learned some valuable lessons.
“The Americans don't make errors and they've made us pay for ours. So if we make errors, we have to go out and hit twice as hard,” Matthew said. “The kids here, they may be 12 like us, but it seems as if they've been playing for 30 years, so it's been challenging.”
Eleven-year-old Jacob Taormina said the “mild” weather conditions have more than made up for the challenging play.
“It's so different to play baseball and see grass and trees,” he said. “We're all used to playing in the desert and having sand blowing in our eyes and mouths so this has been fun.”
Falcon families, several of whom traveled to Naperville with their children, also have enjoyed the experience.
Nasir Hasan, father of Falcons right-fielder Fuad Hasan, said his son “caught the baseball bug” several years ago during a family trip to California.
“He hasn't put his glove down since, so it's fun to support him during these opportunities,” Nasir Hasan said. “Little League in Dubai is so limited. Fuad has already been asking about coming back in the future and participating in more summer camps here.”
West, a Houston native was also pleased to see the team's schedule allows for everyone to attend Ribfest on Monday.
“I've been seeing all those rib trucks rolling through town so we'll be checking that out for sure,” he said.
The team will be back at Nike Park on July 7 and 8 before heading to Poland to participate in the North Africa/Middle East Little League tournament. Winners of this tournament and other regional tournaments will travel to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., in August.