Local youth recognized ahead of Dreams Park tournament 

The Wylie Storm, a 12-and-under baseball team formed specifically to compete in the prestigious Cooperstown Dreams Park tournament in Cooperstown, New York, was recognized by Mayor Matthew Porter and councilmembers during the Tuesday, July 8, council meeting.  Courtesy City of Wylie

A local group of young athletes and their coaches received a heartfelt sendoff from the Wylie City Council before heading to New York for the experience of a lifetime.

The Wylie Storm, a 12-and-under baseball team formed specifically to compete in the prestigious Cooperstown Dreams Park tournament in Cooperstown, New York, was recognized by Mayor Matthew Porter and councilmembers during the Tuesday, July 8, council meeting. 

As the boys and their coaches stood in front of the dais and introduced themselves, the mayor offered encouragement for their upcoming trip and the opportunity to play alongside more than 100 teams from across the U.S. and Canada.

“These young men get the opportunity to handle success in going and representing our community,” Porter said. “But they also have the opportunity to learn so many lessons and just have fun without a screen in front of them.”

Mari Gutierrez, mother of team member Zachary Gutierrez and owner of Juzt JAZ Boutique in downtown Wylie, said, “I was so happy and grateful that they were able to do this with the mayor…and he gave them amazing words of encouragement.”

The Wylie Storm roster includes 11 players handpicked by Head Coach Matt Achilles, a former player for the Cubs and Orioles. Achilles, who now coaches youth baseball in the area, formed the team.

Assistant coaches include Mari’s husband and Zachary’s father, Eli Gutierrez, along with Brandon Hern and Nick Newberry. Achilles, Hern and Newberry are also dads of players on the team. 

The players are Zachary Gutierrez, Payton Achilles, Jensen Rabe, Hudson Rhodes, Hunter Heckel, Alex Hern, Myles Clark, Noah Newberry, Carson Brooks, Joel Tarifa and Deegan Shelley.

The team departed Wylie on Thursday, July 10, and checked in at Cooperstown on Saturday. Tournament games began Sunday, July 13 and were scheduled to run through Thursday, July 17, with at least four games scheduled and additional matchups possible depending on team performance.

Gutierrez said the tournament is as much about creating memories as it is about competition. “They will be competing for a championship; however, Cooperstown is more about the experience — friendships, memories and the love of baseball,” she said.

During the tournament, players stay in on-site barracks for the week with their coaches and teammates, giving them a chance to unplug and bond. Screen time is limited to one hour per day, and the coaches plan to strictly enforce that rule.

“All these boys get to meet each other, hang out with each other,” Gutierrez said. “Our coaches want them to make these memories without any of that [technology].”

Pin trading, a longtime Cooperstown tradition, is also part of the experience. Each team designs its own unique pin and players are encouraged to trade with others during the week.

“They’re going to trade with all these other baseball players from different states,” Gutierrez said. “Last week, somebody got to play against Hawaii, which I thought was super cool.”

The Wylie Storm will also tour the Baseball Hall of Fame, another highlight Gutierrez said the boys are especially excited about.

Tournament uniforms are provided by Cooperstown Dreams Park and include a jersey, hat, belt, socks and traditional baseball knickers. The barracks have also been upgraded with air conditioning — a welcome perk for the players staying in them.

The team began preparing in October 2024 and has practiced for weeks to get ready. Though local businesses and families provided some support, Gutierrez said much of the team’s expenses were self-funded.

 “I’ve been promoting the team on social media, but we didn’t get much support,” she said.

Still, she said the experience is something her son and his teammates will never forget.

“It’s time away from the screen, it’s time with their dads and it’s a dream,” she said. “This is what they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.”

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By Sonia Duggan | [email protected]