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 History |
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Trailblazers' History
The history of the Huguenot Trailblazers is the story of the bare roots beginnings for our thirteen great kids. Most of the boys met in Huguenot Little League's tee ball division at age 5, and they have been playing with and against each other ever since.
The talent they show today is the product of the patience, devotion of time, and love of the game infused by the numerous coaches and league officials who have guided their development over their first five years in organized baseball. Space here does not permit naming all the individuals who share the credit, but the Trailblazers' players, parents, and coaching staff want to extend a tremendous thank you to those volunteers involved in our players' lives, as well as to the 1,200+ players who annually comprise the rosters at Huguenot Little League.
In the summer of 1998, 12 hand-picked prospects entered the Highland Springs Invitational Tournament as the "Huguenot 8's". That squad went undefeated, winning all 5 of its games by comfortable margins to bring home the trophies for the 8 & under division of the tournament. This experience was the impetus for the formation a few months later of the Trailblazers as a standing, premier team. Most of the original Huguenot 8's still play together today on the Virginia Cardinals. The Trailblazer name lives on in a new group of young men. This group of new talent assures that the Trailblazers remain truly representative of the best Huguenot Little League has to offer.
The "Huguenot Trailblazers" name was drawn from our home area. The Huguenots were French refugees who first settled in the region in the 18th century. Their name has been borrowed by a number of area landmarks and organizations, not the least of which is our local Little League. "The Huguenot Trail", one of Virginia's most scenic drives, begins a few miles west of our home fields complex and follows what was first an Indian footpath and later a route for settlers heading west. The "Huguenot Trailblazers" name was intended to capture the pioneering spirit of our area's history, as we sought to establish a new breed among youth baseball programs. As an AAU registered, tournament-caliber team, we provide a higher level of competition for those who seek it. Yet we remain dedicated to the local Little League experience, where the boys play with and against their neighbors and schoolmates. Participation in the Huguenot Little League program remains a requirement for all members of the Trailblazers, even as they meet and compete with other tournament caliber teams from throughout Virginia.
It is our hope that, over the coming years, volunteers from other Little Leagues in the Richmond area and throughout Virginia will develop premier teams of their own. We look forward to meeting those teams on the field, as we challenge our boys to develop to their full potential while enjoying the fun of baseball at its best!
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