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West Michigan coaching staff leads Vietnamese boys to Colt World Series

Posted at 9:34 PM, Aug 01, 2015
and last updated 2015-08-01 22:25:02-04

HUDSONVILLE, Mich.,-- It was a ball game like any other, with bleachers, bases and bats.

But this game was unique, because one of the teams traveled nearly 8,000 miles to play ball.

Saturday afternoon, the Hanoi Capitols baseball team played against the Clarence Red Devils in the game they love all thanks to Grand Haven native, Tom Treutler.

Six years ago, Treutler founded The Hanoi Capitols baseball team in Hanoi, Vietnam to give kids the opportunity to play ball.

"There's really no chance for kids to play baseball in Vietnam," said Treutler.

Several of the players came to America to study abroad and have since played in baseball tournaments all over the world.

"For Tom to provide this opportunity for these boys it gives me the chills thinking and talking about it. It's really a special thing," said Hanoi Capitol's coach, Adam Poel.

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Some of these boys have trained since they were 9 years old, next week, they'll head to the 16-U Colt World Series.

"I know we're going to represent Asia Pacific well. The kids are going to play hard we just have to get their confidence up a little bit and work on some little things that I've noticed we have to work on from the past two tournaments," said Poel.

The Hanoi Capitols will head to Lafayette Indiana  to represent the Asia Pacific Zone at the 16-U Colt World Series Monday.

Their first game is scheduled Friday, the 7th at 1 p.m.

If you want to get involved with the Hanoi Capitol's baseball team, click here.