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Altoona All American Amateur Baseball Association champion Imler's Poultry and runner-up Cumming Motors will take restocked rosters into Monday's pool play of the 81st AAABA National Tournament.
Imler's and Cumming finalized their rosters this week and both added four players to their roster who were previously members of MH Electric Services and Alexander Financial Group, the two other Altoona AAABA teams that did not qualify for nationals.
League champion Imler's selected Matthew Gutshall, Matthew Berkowitz and Jacob Smith from Alexander and Connor Perry from MH Electric.
"I want them to do what they can do and enjoy the moment out there," Imler's Poultry coach Adam Plummer said. "I don't want them to let the moment be too big. Whatever happens will happen, but I feel like we're going to give them everything we've got."
Cumming Motors added Bishop Guilfoyle Academy graduate Cooper Rother, a middle infielder who plays baseball at Mansfield, Mount Aloysius right-handed pitcher Caleb Palmer, Central Mountain pitcher Darius Shade and Isaac Tiracorda, a left-handed outfielder who played at Penn State DuBois last year. Tiracorda, Rother and Palmer played for Alexander, and Shade played for MH Electric.
In years past, Cumming Motors did not add to its roster but opted to take that route this season.
"For the first time in six years, we used the pick-up player rule," Cumming Motors coach Chris Sanders said. "The league this year was so competitive that we felt it was a good plan for us to use this tool. I feel the roster is complete now with the pick-ups. We had a few holes throughout the year and adding these guys will definitely help our team."
In addition to doubleheaders at Sargent's Stadium at the Point each day of pool play, tournament games will be played at Dee Dee Osborne Field at Roxbury Park, Forest Hills High School, Portage Area High School's Pete Haschak Memorial Baseball Field and at the Windber Sports Complex formerly known as the Iron Horse Complex.
The bracket will be set with pool play, and the pools will be selected Sunday in Johnstown.
"I like our chances next week, we have the experience and we know what to expect," Sanders said. "There will be challenges along the way, but I feel this team is coming together at the right time and will showcase a lot of great local talent."
Plummer's team has no experience at nationals but did get a chance to play against Johnstown teams, including defending national champion Mainline Pharmacy and runner-up Martella's Pharmacy, during the regular season.
"We played over there and got that different atmosphere," Plummer said. "Johnstown is coming off a national championship win, so obviously they are going to be one of the better teams in the tournament this year again. Being able to play against them and actually perform well against them gives us confidence going into the tournament."
Plummer is hoping for the best but feels like his team has already exceeded expectations.
"You're in sports to win. You always play the game to win," Plummer said. "But ultimately it's about having fun and making a great atmosphere for these guys to come want to play baseball here, do their thing and try to get better for their next step whether it's another year of high school or another year of college. Really, this is just icing on the cake. I'm proud of them. They worked hard."