In 1986, seeing a need for more opportunities for high school baseball players – and other young players – to have a chance to learn the game, to develop into the type of player who understands the game and possibly can move on to play at a higher level, Ben Stevens took time away from his position at Southern Bell phone company to start the Jacksonville Warriors.

Ben was never interested in making money in baseball. He didn't have a son on the team. He just thought there was a need – an opportunity to help young people.

At the time, there was an opening in the American Legion district in Northeast Florida. The Warriors affiliated with Post 283 in Jacksonville and assumed players from Englewood and Wolfson High Schools. They played for the first time that year, an expansion team in a league of heavyweights. Ben and a few volunteer assistant coaches hit fungoes, coached the bases and taught baseball to players who never before had the chance to play American Legion.

Stevens funded the team out of his pocket, buying one set of gray uniform pants with garnet and black trim and two jerseys – one garnet with black and gray letters, numerals and trim; the other gray with garnet and gray lettering and trim. All with screened on printing.

From those humble beginnings, the Warriors evolved into an American Legion power, often competing with powerful Jacksonville Post 88 and heritaged power Post 6 of Deland for the loaded district's title.

But that was just the beginning. By the mid-90s, the Jacksonville Warriors had advanced out of the world of American Legion baseball, on to Connie Mack tournaments and into an open, elite travelling team with among the best players in Jacksonville. The Warriors travelled to tournaments as far west as Louisiana, as far south at Miami and as far north as the prestigious World Baseball Classic in Binghamton, New York.

Over the years, the Warriors joined other powers such as Guayanabo, Puerto Rico; Gonzalez, Louisiana; New London, Connecticut; Vancouver, Washington and others as regulars in the World Classic. These represented among the best amateur baseball teams in the Western Hemisphere. The Warriors went on to join the other elite teams by becoming champions of the World Baseball Classic.

Throughout the years, the Warriors found and developed players that would find their way into professional baseball and some of the more prestigious college programs in the country. From those early years, the Warriors have advanced to participate in the top tournaments of today, including The Perfect Game series, numerous wood bat championships and showcase tournaments around the Southeast and the nation.

Twenty years later, the uniforms aren't as simple – they are real, with custom tackle twill sewn on lettering and numbers on sets of whites, grays, garnet and black game jerseys, garnet and black batting practice jerseys, with the number of combinations equal to that of most major college teams. The Warriors have grown up.

In 2007, Stevens contracted bone cancer and his involvement would have to be limited. Yet, despite chemotherapy and other grueling treatments in his fight for life, Ben Stevens never lost sight of the importance of the Warriors' program. He continued to preach his philosophy of discipline, ethics and class on the baseball field, his belief that all players who want to move on should be given the opportunity.

So, in 2008, this man who had never made a dime coaching baseball over a truly successful 22-year run, began putting together a team of professionals to carry on the dream of baseball played the right way. A board of directors of former Warriors players and coaches was formed. The pursuit of the best baseball teachers and experts ensued.

Former Major League first round draft choice Jon Farrell was hired as head coach and vice president of baseball operations; Josh Baker of sporting goods giant Baker Sports also was added to the mix. Radio and television broadcaster Frank Frangie, a former assistant coach to Stevens in the Warriors' early years, was brought in to head the board and the operation, under Stevens' guidance.

Frangie has become President of the Warriors; Baker the Vice-President.

Although not as active as before, Ben Stevens attends as many games as possible, still oversees the operation. His dream, his vision from so many years ago, still as poignant and present in the Jacksonville Warriors as the day he hit that first fungo.

These are The Jacksonville Warriors.

The Jacksonville Warriors have participated in the most prominent
18-and-under baseball tournaments in the country. Among the results:

World Youth Classic (Binghamton, N.Y.)
-- Champion -- 2004
-- Runner up – 1991
-- Top five – 1992, 1993, 2002, 2003

Tournament MVP
-- Jay Veniard – 1993
-- Steven Barnes – 2004

Coaches Award
-- Ben Stevens – 1993, 2004, 2005

Osceola County Invitational (Kissimmee, Fl.)
-- Champion – 2006

Tournament MVP
-- Josh Adams – 2006

Jacksonville Invitational (Jacksonville, Fl.)
-- Champion – 2006

Perfect Game World Wood Bat Championship (Atlanta, Ga.)
-- Finished in Top 10 out of 135 Teams – 2006

Poker Baseball Invitational (Boca Raton, Fl.)
-- Runner Up – 2001, 2002

Stetson Invitational (Deland, Fl.)
-- Runner up – 2007

American Legion North Florida District
-- Champion – 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994