In 15 seasons of Major League Baseball, lifelong Chesapeake resident Michael Cuddyer established himself as much more than a reliable and versatile player and solid teammate. After gaining the national spotlight as the 1997 Virginia High School Player of the Year and Gatorade National Player of the Year while playing for Great Bridge High School, Cuddyer was the No. 9 overall selection in the 1997 MLB Draft by the Twins. Cuddyer would play 11-seasons for the Twins, two for the Colorado Rockies, and his final season with the New York Mets, appearing in the 2015 World Series. The man teammates called “Cuddy” won the National League batting title in 2013, batting .331 for Colorado and winning the National League’s Silver Slugger Award for first basemen. Cuddyer is the only Virginia Sports Hall of Fame inductee with a Major League batting crown. He played seven of nine positions in the Majors, mostly in right field, for the Twins, Rockies and Mets. He was a two-time All-Star, a career .277 hitter, with 197 homers, 794 RBI’s and 1,522 hits over 15-seasons. In the postseason, Cuddyer batted .306 for seven divisional championship teams. He spent 14-years total in the Minnesota organization, and last season the Twins inducted Cuddyer into its Hall of Fame.

Larry Rubama was born in Syracuse, N. Y. and raised in the Washington, D.C. area. He received a track scholarship to Ohio University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism. He began his journalism career at WOLF-AM radio station in Syracuse, N.Y. where he covered Syracuse University basketball and football. In 1992, he became a sportswriter for The Journal-Gazette newspaper in Fort Wayne, Ind. where he covered Purdue University basketball and football, minor league baseball and high school sports. He came to The Virginian-Pilot in 1999 where he’s covered high school, colleges and professional sports in the Hampton Roads area. He became a sports reporter so he could tell other athletes’ stories.

Steve Suttmiller is the Senior Coordinator of Athletics for the Norfolk Public Schools. He has over 33 years of experience in the field of athletics. He has developed opportunities for youth and high School athletes during his time a Senior Coordinator. Having the opportunity to assist in the development of the All-Tidewater Classic again provides opportunity for the past player to be recognized once again. It provides a celebration for the current players to show case their talents at high level event. It allows our future generation to strive to carry on the game of baseball. Steve will assist in all levels of this event to show case the rich talent that baseball provides in Hampton Roads.

Coach Wright is entering his 19th season at the helm of the Bruins baseball program. During his 19 season he has compiled a record of 275-110. The Bruins have won (2) 6A state titles, appeared in (3) 6A state finals, (5) 6A state final fours, (3) 6A regional titles, (7) southeastern district titles, and (3) southeastern district tournament titles. In Coach Wright's 19 seasons, the Bruins have put 49 players playing baseball at the collegiate level. There have also been 6 players drafted by MLB teams during this tenure. Coach Wright is a 1988 graduate of Great Bridge High School, and a 1992 graduate of Bridgewater College. Coach Wright is married to Sarah Wright- Western Branch High School softball head coach. They have three sons: Jacob (16), Joshua (16), Nathan (14); and an adoptive daughter: Elizabeth (25).

Taylor Grissom is a local business leader and President of Prempay Development, LLC. Since his playing days at Great Bridge High School and Virginia Wesleyan College, Taylor was an Assistant Coach under Head Coaches Greg Jennings and Wiley Lee at his alma mater from 1997-2011, where the Wildcats won 12 Southeastern District Titles, 5 Eastern Regional Titles, and 2 AAA Virginia State Championships in 2003 and 2011. Taylor was responsible for teaching/coaching outfield and hitting. Taylor also was a AAU Coach for the Virginia Storm and Virginia Blasters and helped develop many south side players. Taylor supports the Board's vision on Honoring the past, celebrating the present, and envisioning the future.

Dante Alvarado played his high school ball in Hampton, VA as a Bethel Bruin. Dante caught his Junior and Senior year and was the last group coached by coach Skip Bouchard. Dante went down to Methodist University and played two seasons before locking in on education and earning a double major in Marketing and Sports Management. Like most Sports management and Marketing majors, he went into sales and has had a successful career. Dante never stopped his love for the game and was an assistant coach for the Hampton Crabbers in the 2021 and 2022 season reconnecting with long time friend and high school rival HC, Justin Vias. Dante enjoys watching his two boys, Elliot and Dansby, fall in love with the game and spends most nights at the little league park. He resides in Carrollton, VA and has so much passion for baseball in the 757. Dante is happy to be a part of such a wonderful cause honoring the best in the 757. Dante’s dreams of the playing in the big leagues didn’t happen for him but helping give kids the stage to follow their dream has become his enjoyment. His words to current ball players is “play every play like it’s your last inning because one day it will be and you won’t even realize it was.”

Matt is the Director of Marketing for Chesapeake Bank and is responsible for integrating the company’s brand and culture while overseeing the marketing strategy’s development and delivery. Chesapeake Bank was founded in 1900 and a subsidiary of Chesapeake Financial Shares (CFS: CPKF), headquartered in the Northern Neck, also serving Richmond, Williamsburg, the Middle Peninsula, and Chesterfield regions. The company also offers credit processing and ABL financing and named by American Banker as one of the Top 200 Community Banks and a Best Bank to Work For (www.chesbank.com).

A native of Chesapeake, VA (and proud Great Bridge baseball alum), Matt earned his Bachelor’s degree from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, and also attended graduate school in Norfolk, VA at Old Dominion University where he earned his MBA. Upon completing his education, Matt started his professional career in Washington, DC working for Major League Baseball’s Washington Nationals and their ballpark enterprises department. After getting a taste of the professional sports industry, Matt transitioned to the CPG industry working in field marketing for the independently-owned coconut water juggernaut, Vita Coco, and brand management for the world’s largest pork processor and America’s largest hog producer, Smithfield Foods, where he helped manage product portfolios, and brand and marketing strategies for their three vertical brands – Smithfield, Farmland, and Farmer John. Experiential and traditional advertising agency experiences are also part of Matthew’s marketing background, with his longest tenure coming from Old Town Alexandria’s 28+ year old independent brand engagement agency, RedPeg Marketing, where he oversaw brand strategies, partnerships, and activations for brands like GEICO, Capital One, Texas Tourism, NBA Nation, Volkswagen, and Virginia Lottery.

Matt currently resides in the Tidewater area with his wife, Ashleigh, and two daughters – Anna Mae (6) and Sadie (2).

Mike is a Co-Founder and VP of Engineering for a cyber security startup Cyborg Security. Raised in Chesapeake, Mike is a baseball alum of Great Bridge High School and was recruited to play for the University of Virginia’s baseball team. After receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Mike was drafted in the 25th round to the Colorado Rockies and play Minor League Baseball for the next 6 years reaching AA and slated to go to AAA before being released. During his last year in professional baseball, Mike earned a Graduate degree in Cyber Security, which allowed him to immediately pursue his new career. Having worked for two cyber security startups, Mike was given an opportunity to found a company with some previous co-workers and is now leading the industry in their specific field.