Disco Turkeys on a roll heading to historic tournament

The Carolina Disco Turkeys won 7-3 on Friday night in their final home game of the season at Truist Stadium over a semi-pro opponent, the Greensboro Yard Goats. They finished 2-0 on their last home stand, which also included a win over the High Point-Thomasville Locos on Thursday night.

The Disco Turkeys (11-24), in their inaugural season, have now won 5 out of their last 7 games after a slow start to the season. The team hopes they've peaked at the right time as they now head to the historic AAABA (All American Amateur Baseball Association) Tournament in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

With the last home stand over, the team will be doing something unconventional for modern summer collegiate teams in the area—they’ll trim their roster down to a maximum of 20 players and hit the road.

Held since 1945, the AAABA Tournament has already sold roughly 4,000 tickets to its Opening Night game at The Point in Johnstown. Some games at the tournament will sometimes sell up to around 8,000 tickets when local teams reach the late rounds. This year's tournament will be held from Aug. 2 - 8. The Disco Turkeys will take on a field that includes 15 other elite wood bat teams from across the US. They learn where they land in the bracket on Sunday night.

This year’s teams will include two representatives from the host city Johnstown, Paul Carpenter and Martella’s. Altoona (Pennsylvania) and Brooklyn each will have two teams in this year’s tournament, as well.

The field also will include 2019 champion New Orleans, the winner of the 75th AAABA Tournament. COVID-19 wiped out the 2020 tournament, which means the Boosters are still defending champions. Also in the field with the Disco Turkeys are: Buffalo, Cleveland, Columbus, Maryland State, New Brunswick, Philadelphia, Youngstown and Zanesville.

The Opening Night festivities will include the return of a popular parade. Miss Pennsylvania, Meghan Sinisi of Altoona, will throw one of the ceremonial pitches before the Opening Night game.

“This is an opportunity for our players to participate in something a little bit different and represent the Disco Turkeys and North Carolina on a brand new stage,” said Disco Turkeys president and co-owner Greg Sullivan. “Our players have been excited about the trip and it’s often been some of our best players and leaders who have been the most excited. We can’t wait to go up to Johnstown and compete and have a blast and hopefully win some games against good teams.”

The team leaves Winston-Salem on Sunday and will partake in a tournament banquet that night. Tournament play opens on Monday with pool play running through Wednesday to trim the 16-team field down to 8. The championship is scheduled to take place on Saturday, Aug. 7.

2021 AAABA Tournament teams (franchise in parenthesis):

- Cummings Motors (Altoona)

- Johnston Realty (Altoona)

- Cougars (Brooklyn)

- SAYO Grays (Brooklyn)

- All In Sports (Buffalo)

- B2Bulls (Cleveland)

- TNT Knights (Columbus)

- Paul Carpenter Capital Advisors (Johnstown)

- Martella's Pharmacy (Johnstown)

- Crabfest (Maryland State)

- Matrix (New Brunswick)

- Boosters (New Orleans)

- Carolina Disco Turkeys (North Carolina)

- Bandits (Philadelphia)

- Creekside Crocodiles (Youngstown)

- Zanesville Junior Pioneers (Zanesville)