The only thing that was a constant for the Wildwood Dodgers this summer was change.

"We really changed a lot of things around," said Coach Gus Lombardo. "It really was (fluid) but we grinded it out. All we did all year is grind it out."

When the smoke cleared, the Dodgers were on top of the heap. They swept the defending St. Louis Metro Collegiate Baseball League champion Alton Indians in a best three-out-of-five series recently to win the post-season tournament championship after finishing second in the regular season to the Ballwin Bandits.

"All year we basically had great defense, good pitching and timely hitting," said Lombardo of the Dodgers who beat Alton 7-0, 5-4 and 11-9.

Although the first game of the series against Alton was one-sided, the last two games were very competitive. The final game was a classic after the Dodgers took a quick 5-0 lead.

"I thought they would fold but they didn't," said Lombardo of the Indians. "They put the chinstraps down and came out fighting."

Alton took a 7-6 lead at one point. But the Dodgers got the lead back with a big outburst in the eighth inning and would never trail again.

Lombardo said the team's defense was the backbone of the squad. Key defenders included infielders Kory Wisdom, Stephen Kohler and Ryan Hall, all Eureka grads.

"They were important to the team all year long," said Lombardo of Wisdom and Kohler, who both played at John Wood Community College in Quincy, Ill., this past spring. "They were very special. (Hall) was probably the best third baseman in the league defensively."

Dylan Mooney, a Francis Howell Central grad and the MVP of the Southern Indiana University team that won a Division II championship last year, was also a key cog for the Dodgers as a designated hitter.

"He was the best clutch hitter I've had in a long time," said Lombardo of Mooney.

Paul Richmond, a Lindbergh grad and UMSL player who had a big bases loaded triple in the final game of the series against Alton, also stood out for Wildwood as did outfielder No. 5 hitter Taylor Holman (Fort Zumwalt West, UMSL), first baseman Spencer Ammons (UMSL) and catchers Ian Foege (Eureka, Metro Community College) and Taylor Howe (Parkway South, Wheaton College).

"They both did a good job behind the plate," said Lombardo of Foege and Howe. "They threw out a lot of runners. Other teams didn't steal a lot against us because of those two guys."

Ryan Clubb (Eureka, Mizzou) was the staff ace. Other pitchers who made their presence felt included Zach Gronek (Francis Howell, Missouri Science & Technology), Drew Boyer (Northwest, UMSL), Phillip Bodenschatz (Eureka, Drury University), Patrick Jacobs (DeSmet, Maryville), Will Schierholz (MICDS, Butler) and Brandon Sarkissian (Rockwood Summit, Maryville University).

"He was very good all year long," said Lombardo of Sarkissian, who recorded saves in the final two games against Alton. "He started out as a starter and we put him in the bullpen. He turned out doing really well as a closer."

Thanks to the tournament win, the Dodgers advance to play in the NABF World Series in Toledo Ohio this week. In keeping with the change theme, Wildwood will be without Wisdon and Kohler, who had other commitments.

"That kind of hurts us," said Lombardo. "I don't know how we'll do up there but I think we'll be alright."

He said he has added a few Alton players to fill out his roster including Indians standout pitcher Joe Scanio (Northwestern State, Hazelwood West). Alton coach Scott Turmail, a Hazelwood Central grad, will assist Lombardo in Toledo, too.