Illinois Stars 18U Head Coach Tony Pusateri was thinking that his team could enjoy a beautiful evening together in sunny Southern California prior to the start of bracket play at PGF Nationals.

The plan was to relax on Sunday and not have to do the mandatory bat checks until early Monday morning before the start of bracket play, but that plan was gently derailed by the event leaders who insisted the team get their bats checked by the end of the weekend.

There was one small problem, however.

Coach Tony had set up a special team dinner at one of the top restaurants on the West Coast: Duke’s in Huntington Beach. After eating, the players would pose for beautiful sunset photos dressed up in formal attire.

What to do, what to do?

With no time to do bat checks and official team pics in uniforms at the Huntington Beach Sports Complex then go back to the hotel to get in dressed prior to heading to Duke’s, Pusateri came up with a solution.

The players, he decided, would dress up, then do the Sports Complex stuff before heading to dinner and the beach.

Here’s what Coach Tony said while the players were in the bat check line:

So, as luck would have it, the Illinois Stars were the very last team of PGF 18U and 16U nationals to pass through the bat checks and they would also be the very best dressed.

After the team photo op, the Midwest squad set off for the restaurant less than four miles away.

The beach and background, as this photo shows, were beautiful.

And, ultimately, the much-anticipated dinner at Duke’s became a reality and a memory the Illinois Stars players, coaches and families will always remember.

— Brentt Eads/Line Drive Softball