Roberts Credits Organization, Team Chemistry for Mariners’ Championship Season

CELINA — Grand Lake Mariners head coach Mike Roberts says strong organizational support, team chemistry and a commitment to improvement helped carry the club to its first Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League championship in 20 years.

The Mariners defeated the Lima Locos twice Sunday at Montgomery Field, winning 13-8 to force a deciding game before earning a 9-6 victory to secure the championship. It was Grand Lake’s fourth league title and its first since defeating Lima for the championship in 2006.

Roberts said the foundation for the successful season was established by the people working behind the scenes. He praised the organization for creating what felt like a professional atmosphere for the players.

“The people there in the organization did a wonderful job of setting up the opportunity to have success,” Roberts said. “The stadium is so nice. Everything about it, the players like—the locker room, the uniforms are beautiful.”

The Mariners also received a team bus for summer travel for the first time in the organization’s history. Roberts said postgame meals and other accommodations made the players feel appreciated throughout the season.

Roberts believes the greatest factor, however, was a roster of more than 30 players who put the team ahead of themselves.

“They were there for each other. They liked each other. They cared about each other. They spent time with each other,” Roberts said. “That’s really important, that teammates genuinely care about each other.”

Roberts described the team as having “one heartbeat,” with players sharing similar values and enjoying their time together both on and away from the field.

The Mariners also embraced practice. Roberts said the team frequently completed its fundamental work during the morning or early afternoon, allowing players to relax before games and play what the coaching staff called “backyard baseball.”

“They liked to practice. This team loved to practice,” Roberts said. “Then they could relax, and they took it to the ballgame, which was a lot of fun.”

Roberts also credited his assistant coaches with building relationships and helping the players develop. He said the improvement became especially noticeable during the postseason, when the Mariners overcame a Game 1 loss in the championship series and twice fought through adversity Sunday to claim the title.

Roberts’ next coaching opportunity will take him overseas. He plans to leave November 1 to manage the Sydney Blue Sox during the Australian summer and said one member of the championship Mariners team is expected to join him.