By: Cody Smith
Top Tier Reporter
Week #7 in Top Tier Baseball
Top Tier Tournament Recaps: From 15u-18u
15u Americans, WWBA 15u National Championships
The 15u Americans played some of the toughest 15-year old competition in Atlanta, Georgia this past weekend. Playing in the same tournament the 17u Americans and 16u Americans did these past two weeks, the team was one of 300 teams in the tournament fighting for a spot in bracket play. Unfortunately, after posting a sub-five-hundred record in pool play, the 15u Americans were headed home early.
15u Nationals, WWBA 15u National Championships
Also playing in Atlanta, Georgia last weekend the 15u Nationals got off to a hot start. They striked late and had two comeback victories against North Atlantic (W,8-7) and Rawlings Southeast (W,4-3). Infielder Alec Mallinder had a strong showing in front of scouts at the plate, hitting .353 with three RBI’s and three runs scored through seven games played. Late addition to the team, Ethan Cook also played up to coach De Nicola’s expectations as he hit .571 with two RBI’s and two runs scored. Still, even after starting off on a roll, the 15u Nationals could not finish their second half of games played. The team ended up missing the playoffs after failing to make it out of their pool as they finished 3-3-1.
15u Nationals-Navy, Top Tier North Intrasquads
Due to heavy rainfall this past weekend, only one game of the 15u Top Tier intrasquad games were played. On Thursday, Nate Tirone pitched a gem against the 15u North. He pitched six strong innings giving up just two runs while walking two. The Nationals-Navy went on to win the game, 6-2 over the 15u North. After this game, the rest of the weekend was canceled due to the weather.
15u Nationals-White, Top Tier North Intrasquads
Sadly, the weekend was canceled due to rain.
15u North, Top Tier North Intrasquads
Unfortunately, the weekend was canceled due to the weather.
16u Americans, BJES Tournament
After being in a week-long tournament in Georgia a few weeks ago the 16u Americans looked to pick things back up locally in Joliet, IL. Playing in a small tournament of just sixteen teams, the team looked to battle their way to the championship game while being undermanned. After starting 2-0 on Friday morning, half the team had left to go to Georgia to combine with the Top Tier Roos to compete in an invitational only tournament. Getting off to a hot start is exactly what the team needed as the got ready for an intense game 3 against the Indiana Bulls Black, where the winner was set to move on to bracket play. Things got heated between the coaching staffs and players but fortunately the 16u Americans were able to pull off the victory after a walk-off double by Michael Ellington. Sadly, bringing up some 16u National players to help fill the void wasn’t enough as the team dropped their first playoff game to the Illinois Sparks in the semi final round. Even so, outfielder Jack Lochner had himself a weekend as he got more opportunities at the plate with teammates being gone. He went 5-11 (.455) with a triple and home run including two RBI’s and five runs scored.
16u Nationals, BJES Tournament
Knowing that coach Griffin Phelps and some of the 16u Americans would be missing from this tournament the 16u Nationals also traveled locally to Joliet. Unlike the 16u Americans, the 16u Nationals weren’t able to duplicate their success. After bringing some of their players up to play with the Americans, the 16u Nationals weren’t able to compete with their usual firepower. The team ended up going 1-3 which obviously took them out of contention for the championship. Still, the team was able to finish the weekend on a positive note as they beat Rhino Baseball, 7-6 in their conciliation game. Dominic Czerwinski had a nice outing pitching six innings giving up two earned runs on six hits while striking out two.
16u Nationals-Navy, DSP 16u World Series
The 16u Nationals-Navy traveled down South to Bloomington, IL this past weekend. Playing some of the tougher Midwest travel programs the team wasn’t able to make it out of their pool. Finishing 2-2 in pool play, the 16u Nationals-Navy were two spots away from making it into the playoffs. They had a nice blowout victory against the Warbird Senators thanks to Kra Player of the Week, Brock Bevil’s pitching performance. He threw a seven inning complete game giving up two unearned runs on three hits in a 10-2 victory. Additionally, outfielder Matt Kaleta had a bounce back weekend hitting .538 with a triple and three RBI’s.
17u Americans,St. Louis Gamers Invitational Tournament
Undoubtedly, the 17u Americans had the most impressive weekend in Top Tier Baseball. Finishing 6-1, the team ended up winning the entire tournament for the third-consecutive year. After starting off 3-1 in pool play, the team was set to face off against their own team, the 17u Nationals in the quarter finals. After beating up on their own squad, 8-0, the 17u Americans won a close game against their in-state rival, Illinois Sparks. In their 2-0 victory against the Sparks in the semi finals, pitcher Grant Leader threw a seven inning complete game shutout giving up three hits and one walk while striking out eight. Additionally, their offense got a huge boost this weekend as Cameron Kissel did a great job at seeing the baseball deep at the plate. He went 8-17 (.470) with eight RBI’s on three extra-base hits. Finally, 17u American Eric Lundell shut things down in the championship game against the St. Louis Gamers. He pitched six and a third innings giving up three runs on seven hits and four strikeouts in Top Tier’s 10-3 victory. Coach Plante was very pleased with how the team is finishing their summer season strong.
17u Nationals, St. Louis Gamers Invitational Tournament
If you read how the 17u Americans ended up finishing, then you’d know they were the ones to knock out the 17u Nationals in the quarter finals of bracket play. Although the team was knocked out by their own affiliate, the 17u Nationals still had a quality weekend. They finished 3-1 in pool play with two close wins over the Decatur Commodores (W, 2-1) & St. Louis Prospects (W,4-2). Simon Lane pitched against the Commodores, throwing a complete game allowing one run on two hits while striking out seven. Finishing second in their pool the 17u Nationals earned the No. 4 seed in the playoffs where they fell to the 17u Americans, 8-0. The 17u Americans cut the 17u Nationals weekend short, no doubt, but it didn’t stop Conor Warner from hitting .500 over the weekend with a double and five runs scored and two walks with five steals.
17u Nationals-Navy, DSP World Series
The 17u Nationals-Navy had a quality weekend in Edwardsville, Illinois. They finished 2-1 in pool play which secured them the No. 6 seed where they were matched up with the No. 3 seed, Diamond Dawgs. In a closely contested match up, the 17u Nationals-Navy were able to edge out the Dawgs in a 5-4 victory in the quarter finals. Luke Fisher helped get the bats going on offense as he .455 with two RBI’s for the 17u Nationals-Navy. On the mound, Tyler Preissing was their most consistent ace as he threw two games against Diamond Dawgs & Missouri Stixx. In his quarter finals start against the Dawgs he threw four innings giving up three hits while striking out two. Meanwhile, in his pool play start against the Stixx, Preissing tossed six innings giving up one hit while adding five strikeouts.
18u Americans, Off
