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Tournaments  | Story  | 6/16/2018

Summer Showdown Champions

Nate Schweers     
Photo: Dulins Dodgers (Perfect Game)

Five Star Rolls to Championship

EMERSON, Ga. – Five Star National 13u Florida had the bats on display Saturday, beating the Georgia Bombers 13u by a score of 15-7 to claim the 13u Perfect Game Summer Showdown championship.

Five Star, who scored 83 runs in just seven tournament games, started early and often Saturday, plating six runs in the bottom of the first inning. Robert Lane went 2-for-3 with two doubles on Saturday, one of them plating the first run of the game. After Lane’s double, Landon O’Donnell was able to plate two more after roping a single into left field.

Throughout the game, any Georgia Bombers rally was immediately answered back. Five Star scored in every trip to the plate that followed a Bombers score, and head coach Heath Busa couldn't be more proud of his team’s resiliency.

“These boys battled and dominated at times. They came to play every day, and I think we finished 7-0 and they made a statement this week. I couldn’t be more proud of them, and what a week it was.”

With the bats hot throughout, it was up to the Five Star pitching staff to shut the door. Four Five Star pitchers combined to allow just eight hits in Saturday’s win, and that would be enough to walk away as champions.

“We needed this one,” added Busa. “This is just going to catapult us throughout the summer, and like I said I couldn't be more proud of everyone on this team. Heck of a win and a heck of a tournament.”

A big factor in those 83 runs scored was tournament MVP Alex Lopez. Lopez went 10-for-17 this week, crushing two home runs and two triples on his way to 10 RBI. Lopez was all smiles after his team’s victory, and said his confidence in the approach at the plate is what leads him to success.

“I go up there with a mental approach and a plan to hit the ball,” said Lopez. “My plan is to hit the fastball below my belt, and the first fastball I get is going to be hit hard. We just really worked as a team, and every time we had someone on base we worked hard to get them in.”

The MV-Pitcher of this year’s 13u PG Summer Showdown was Evan O’Neil. O’Neil tossed seven strong innings this week, allowing no earned runs and striking out three in the process.


2018 PG 13u Summer Showdown champions: Five Star National 13u Florida



2018 PG 13u Summer Showdown runner-up: Georgia Bombers 13u



2018 PG 13u Summer Showdown MVP: Alex Lopez



2018 PG 13u Summer Showdown MV-Pitcher: Evan O'Neil

 



Dodgers Win in Comeback Fashion

EMERSON, Ga. – Dulins Dodgers 14u White used a big sixth inning to come back and beat Titans Baseball 14’s Blue 6-5 in the championship of the 14u Perfect Game Summer Showdown on Saturday.

With excellent starting pitching and timely hitting, Titans Baseball staked themselves out to 5-1 lead through the first four innings of play. The dominant start was highlighted by what might be the most exciting play in baseball, a straight steal of home by Titans leadoff man Will Fincher.

Dulin’s Dodgers were able to regroup at the start of the fifth inning, and the comeback was on. In the bottom of the fifth, Cooper Clapp was able to line a single into left field, cutting the lead to just three.

After a scoreless sixth inning from reliever from Christian Pritchett, the Dodgers were able to scratch across a run to cut the lead to two, then, Jonah Sutton came to the plate looking to deliver the big hit the Dodgers so desperately needed.

“At first when I hit it I thought it was going to hang up there too long and get caught,” said Sutton. “Once I saw that the outfield was playing shallow I realized it had a shot to get down. Once I saw it get down, it was off the races.”

Sutton had just delivered a game-tying triple to the gap in right center, and came flying into third with a dugout of teammates cheering and clapping for him. One pitch later, Sutton would climb sliding home to take the lead on a passed ball, greeted by teammates who couldn’t believe what they had just seen.

“None of that was possible without my teammates. I went up there and I was a little nervous, but my teammates are always so encouraging, and there is always so much positive energy in that dugout, and I wouldn't trade anything for them.”

Lost in the excitement of a huge comeback victory was three straight shutout innings from reliever Christian Pritchett. Pritchett, who came in with the Dodgers down 5-1, delivered quality pitch after quality pitch to keep his team in the game.

“My fastball wasn't as fast as it normally was, but my changeup and curveball were picking up the slack for me,” said Pritchett, who shut the door in the top of the seventh inning after to complete the comeback. “It [Four Run Sixth Inning] was huge. It gave me momentum on the mound and definitely gave the rest of the team momentum.”

Dodgers’ coach Jeff Wright believed in his guys the whole week, and a comeback win in the championship is one of the most satisfying moments for a coach.

“Our guys have been together for a while. They’re tough kids, they’re resilient, and they just play free and easy. They play for each other,” said Wright. “They’ve done it for a long time. They play in a lot of 16u tournaments and have been in that situation before. They come to the park, they play to win, and they never get down. Every man on the roster contributed to this win today.”

The tournament’s MV-Pitcher also came from this Dulin’s Dodgers team in Tanner Jones. Jones threw six solid innings in the tournament this week, striking out five batters without allowing an earned run.

The tournament MVP came from Titans Baseball. Trent Reddick had a phenomenal week at the plate, batting 11-for-20 with 10 RBI. Reddick was 3-for-4 in Saturday’s game, capping an unbelievable tournament. 


2018 PG 14u Summer Showdown champions: Dulins Dodgers 14u White



2018 PG 14u Summer Showdown runner-up: Titans Baseball 14's Blue



2018 PG 14u Summer Showdown MVP: Trent Reddick



2018 PG 14u Summer Showdown MV-Pitcher: Tanner Jones

 
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