Long time teammates & former FPBL members will continue to defend the middle of the Infield at the University of Florida
Since they were 8 years old they have played on the same team and now will continue their college career together at the University of Florida.
Tyler Palmer and Alex Freedman started playing ball at Pembroke Lakes Optimist Club when they were just 7 years old. In their first season they were on opposing teams, but as soon as the season ended they joined the FPBL with the Broward Canes.
In their travel ball days Alex guarded the hot corner at 3rd base while Tyler played short stop, the two have many memories and accomplishments on and off the field. In the FPBL they were part of the Broward Canes team in '03-'05 which won 5 consecutive FPBL titles. Upon entering High School they went in different directions and for the first time in 7 years, they would not play together. Alex would enroll at Cypress Bay High School and Tyler would go to Flanagan.
As both players enjoyed their first year in High School changes were about to take place in Tyler's & Alex high school days at their present schools. In Tyler's case a big decision by his older brother has Tyler leaving Flanagan High School. Richie Palmer was an Assistant Coach at University High School in Tyler's freshman season, but upon finishing the season a huge decision is made.
A former Flanagan Alumni, Richie Palmer accepts the Head Baseball Coaching position at University High School. This would throw a monkey wrench in the Palmer's home. Now, faced with a decision to have the younger son transfer to University School or keeping him at Flanagan, a well known and respected baseball program. The decision was a lot easier than the parents thought, Tyler when asked by his older brother to come to the school and help him build up the baseball program did NOT hesitate despite knowing that at University School they would be starting from scratch.
As Tyler makes his transition at University School as a sophomore Alex Freedman is the starting second baseman for Cypress Bay and is enjoying his school and friends, but life takes its turns in ways that we cannot explain.
In the summer of '08 news was going around of a new school that was to open in Pembroke Pines and this would affect the boundaries of many student athletes. Alex would be one of those students that would have to transfer to the new school, West Broward High School. Not happy with the decision made by the School Board of Broward County Mr & Mrs Freedman fight to try and keep Alex at Cypress Bay High School. After several calls and scheduled appeal process with the BCSB Mr Freedman plead to have Alex stay at Cypress Bay is denied.
A decision to find Alex a school other than West Broward High School. Not knowing the uncertainties with the new school, Mr Freedman starts to look for an alternative to West Broward High School. They were many schools of Interest that Included Archbishop McCarthy, St Thomas and other private schools including University School.
Mr. Freedman reaches out to Coach Palmer at University School. With a history behind the two in Richard & Alex, this was a perfect situation for Alex. Coach Palmer has seen Alex grow up into not just a terrific ball player but an outstanding young men. Since their days at Pembroke Lakes Optimist Club, Coach Palmer has been there and seen Alex mature, so when reached by Mr. Freedman, Coach Palmer did everything he could to help Alex attend University School.
Alex & Tyler reunited at the U-School. The '08 season for Alex & Tyler was a reunion on the field, but the school was a bit tough to adapt. Playing with a very young class and a tough curriculum Alex & Tyler take the roll of leaders at the U school. The school had graduated 11 seniors and were faced with a class of 4- 8th graders two freshmen and three juniors as the starters for the varsity team. Although the start of the season was a bit frustrating, they finished strong winning 10 games in a row until they would lose in the playoffs.
Alex & Tyler lead their schools in many categories and earned Honarable Mention and 2nd team All County, also receiving the schools Co-MVP awar
The Summer Ball season in '09 is where these two take their game to another level. Before they were to leave to East Cobb, Alex & Tyler take on an 8-day trip touring schools in the northeast. After visiting schools such as Virginia Tech, Duke,Elon, North Carolina, Clemsom, North Carolina State, Appalachian State and many more, the kids shine in their workouts and practice games.
The tour consisted of 22 schools with two workouts & two practice games. The workouts were held at North Carolina and Appalachian State while the practice games were played at Virginia Tech and North Carolina State. The trip was an eye opener for these kids and it gave them a sense of security and belonging. Upon completion of the trip many of the college recruiters on hand were asking about these kids and their summer schedule and future plans. The funny part of this is that as one would get a call from a school, the other would also get the call from the same school, this happened throughout the summer tournaments with many of the schools interested in both players.
The two joined their team the South Florida Elite Squad for the East Cobb tournament. After the tour Tyler & Alex will get ready to what was to change their future plans. As kids and travel ball players with the Broward Canes and huge fans of the University of Miami what is to come is what life throws at you.
The East Cobb Tournament is played in Marietta, Georgia and its organized by Perfect Game, this tournament is the gathering for all of who's who in high school baseball. It is estimated that over 400 college recruiters and professional scouts visit this tournament every year.
The SF Elite Squad makes it to the Final Four. The tournament attracts the best summer teams in the country and in this event there were 192 teams playing. Alex & Tyler explode offensively in this event. In the first game the team shocked the 18 under East Cobb Braves regarded as on of the best teams in the country and had just won the 18u Championship the previous week. The first game sets back Tyler, but Alex takes over at short stop. In the very first game Tyler in an attempt to steal third base pulls up short and has to leave the game with a pulled hamstring. A bit of a set back for Tyler, but Alex & Squad don't miss a beat.
Now, without Tyler on the field Alex takes over at short stop and Tyler is force to just hit as an EH. Having these two kids on the team is like having two doubles in the Infield you just don't miss a bit defensively.
Not been able to play on the field it seemed that Tyler put a bit more emphasis on his hitting and it pays off. While not being able to display his defensive skills on the field had to have been disappointing,but the hitting displayed made up for it. Tyler & Alex went on tear with the bat and helped the Squad get to the Final Four. Both of these kids hit close to .500 for average for the two week long tournament. They both had a major part in the success of their team.
Alex & Tyler shine in Ft Myers Tournament and the University of Florida makes a decision. In playing these tournaments is like playing a week long playoff game where If you lose one game you're pretty much out of the playoffs.
Alex's 3-run blast and Tyler's two run double send the Squad into the playoffs. With the Squad down 8-3 late in the game against the St. Louis Pirates 17u. Tyler's 400 ft shot gets the deficit down to 8-5. The ball hit the bottom of the 405 ft. center with two runners on board. Now after that Inning it was Alex's turn to shine as they have done all week long he would disappoint his teammates. With the Squad on the verge on making a huge comeback win, Alex is faced with the bases loaded two outs and the score tied at 8-8.....a passed ball gives the Squad an 9-8 lead, but a pitching change is made and Alex is force to switch to his left side, where he has displayed a lot more power, the pitching change would suit Alex well. The count goes to 2-2 with two outs and the very next pitch is a fastball that would be hammered to right center field over the .340 ft wall giving the Squad a 12-8 lead and would eventually win the game and move on to the playoffs.
Tyler shows off his arm as he cruises with a 90 MPH fastball. Force to see limited action on the field, Tyler is brought out to pitch in the last Inning with a 6-4 lead in a elimination game. With the determination to get the job done Tyler strikes out the side an on 11 pitches and blows by a 90 MPH fast ball past the last hitter to preserve the win for the Squad as they move on in the playoffs.
South Florida Elite Squad faces the same team that they lost to in the East Cobb Tournament, the East Cobb Astros, but University of Florida Coach O'sullivan is there to see the game.
In a very close game the East Cobb Astros defeated the Elite Squad 6-4 and would go on to win the tournament.
After the game Coach O'Sullivan pulls Tyler & Alex aside and tells them on how Impressed he was by their play on the field. In defeat they shine again. The two players played as they have for the past two weeks or for that matter the entire year....excellent baseball with a sense of I belong here. In this game Alex went 2-4 and Tyler was 1-3 with both players ripping the Astros pitcher 90+MPH fastball for a base hit.
University of Florida makes the call. Not sure what to expect from the conversation that the two kids had with UF Coach O'sullivan we all left Ft Myers extremely happy for the kids and the team, but unsure as to what to expect.
The kids are Invited to the Gators camp. Coach O'Sullivan tells the kids that he would like to see them in their camp this coming week. After coming home on Saturday a decision is made to have the kids go to Orlando so the Gators Coaching staff can evaluate these players.
Coach Palmer gets the news. The same Coach that coached his younger brother at University School and assisted Alex in making the transition to the school a lot easier, gets the call from the University Florida Coach O'Sullivan. Richard Palmer could not have been happier to hear the news that his younger brother and long time teammate Alex Freedman were being asked to commit to the University of Florida to become part of their baseball program in 2011.
On Wednesday night at 10:00 PM Alex & Tyler committed to the University of Florida and as they both commented on their facebook page...........GUNNA BE A GATOR !
"Life takes its twist & turns, but in the end, It usually works out"
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