Talent and Perseverance
Topher Ellis is the first to admit that he is not an all around stud that will hit several home runs in a game. But as one of the anchors for the First Colonial Patriots baseball team, he has the admirable ability to come through in situations where his team needs him the most. This seventeen-year-old senior takes the field both as a catcher and a pitcher. When he is not at bat for First Colonial, Ellis works out three times a week with his personal trainer, Tiny Reyes, who has also helped condition professional baseball players such as David Wright, Mike Cuddyer and Justin Jones. Not only does Reyes impart valuable knowledge to Ellis, but Reyes’s clientele serve as an inspiration. “I’ve been able to see the professional mindset, and that makes me a better player,” Ellis explains. He has the talent and perseverance to make a name for both himself and the Patriots this season.
Aside from being co-MVP on the squad last year, Ellis was named as first-team catcher in the All-Eastern Region, All-Tidewater and the All-Beach District teams. He hopes this season will prepare him for next year. “I want to play in college,” he says. “Some coaches have already talked to me. A lot of them want to see how I perform this season and then I should be able to take things from there.” Ellis has had his eye on Methodist College in Fayetteville, North Carolina, but, he notes cautiously, all options are still open.
Ellis is encouraged about the prospects for the Patriots this season. First Colonial is a team that meshes well and uses each athlete’s individual talents rather than relying on standouts. “A lot of teams in this district have one or two dominant players. Our team has never been like that,” says Ellis. The media often put the Patriots towards the bottom of rankings. “That makes us want to work harder to prove them wrong,” he says. “We’re always striving to get better.”
Coach Scott Stubbe agrees with Ellis’s view. “The general work ethic that I see from this team on a daily basis is great,” he says. “That attitude helped us have a very good season last year.” The Patriots’ hard work translates to positive plays on the diamond. Stubbe notes that the young men on his team excel in the areas that are critical to being successful. Their pitchers consistently throw strikes, get hits and play good defense. That allowed them to be competitive in the Beach District last year and Stubbe sees that as their recipe for success this season as well.
Stubbe considers himself a lucky coach. Not only does he have a group of young men who are eager to work hard toward victory, but he also has great assistant coaches. This combination of athletes and coaches allows this team to find – and conquer – competitive situations in games. In fact, Stubbe is impressed by the level of competition throughout the entire Beach District. “This is a very tough district to play in,” he says. “A large part of that is the coaching.” Indeed, the level of athleticism in Virginia Beach makes predictions difficult. “At tournament time, you might see, for instance, seventh place beat second. You can never tell,” says Stubbe. First Colonial will encounter some stiff opposition this season. Princess Anne and Kellam are very strong teams, Kempsville, Salem and Ocean Lakes will be ones to watch too.
First Colonial made it to the state semi-finals last season after winning the Eastern Region title and tying Princess Anne for first place in the Beach District. They have the talent to repeat or exceed last year’s performance, but it will not be an easy task. One of Stubbe’s primary tasks this year will directing his team’s focus towards that lofty goal. He explains, “We got to a good point last year. My job is to make them realize that what they accomplished was not easy. They will want to defend their titles, but they can not take anything for granted. If they are doing what they need to be doing, then they will make the right choices on and off the field.”
