2,090 MLB PLAYERS | 14,476 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Tournaments  | Story  | 6/10/2018

Sticks studs continue to impress

Nate Schweers     
Photo: Wade Elliott (Perfect Game)

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. – Sticks Baseball Academy remained unbeaten in the WWBA 17u National Championship Qualifier on Sunday with a 3-2 win over the Home Plate Chili Dogs West.

Trailing the Chili Dogs 2-1 heading to the top of the seventh inning, Jesse Pierce (Arkansas) was able to reach on an error, advancing all the way to third to lead off the inning. Wade Elliott drove the next pitch to the gap in left center to knot the game at two. Following a fly out and strikeout, Nolan Wosman (Arkansas) delivered the hit of the game on a single up the middle, putting the Sticks Baseball Academy out in front for good.



Wade Elliott did it all on Sunday, going 2-for-3 with a hard-hit double, scoring the game’s winning run, and picking up the win on the mound. Elliot, who is committed to playing his college baseball at Missouri, has been confident about his team’s chances, but feels the Sticks Baseball Academy bats need to get hot.

“We’re coming in to these next couple games thinking we need to score some runs. We’ve got some good pitchers coming up, and we need to fight for them at the plate to build some momentum heading into bracket play.”

Elliott, a native of Edmond, Oklahoma, is no stranger to Perfect Game events. Ranked as the 96th best player in the 2019 class, Elliott attended the PG Underclass All-American games last August in San Diego. While there, he was able to showcase his ability to put together quality at-bats in bunches, and has one of the more impressive bats in the country.

During the All-American Games, Eliott was already committed to Missouri. He will be joining a Missouri program that continues to make strides in the SEC, and has a top 50 recruiting class in 2019.

“What really drove my decision was playing SEC baseball, just playing the best players and teams in the country. Being under coach Bieser and his staff really drew to Missouri from there,” said Elliott, who is excited to build on the momentum that is being built in Columbia. “It just sets up the stage for us for the guys coming in and hopefully we can just keep rolling.”

Although he is a primary third baseman, Elliott was dominant in his effort on the mound Sunday, striking out five and allowing just one base runner in his three innings of work. With a fastball that sat in the low-80s, Elliott was able to shut the door and keep the Sticks Baseball Academy hopes alive.

Another Sticks Baseball player that has been dominant on the mound is Blake Adams. Adams started Friday’s game against Team GA Prime 17u, tossing 4 1/3 shutout innings in the win. With a fastball up to 91 on the day, Adams, who is Perfect Game’s 46th best prospect in the 2019 class, was able to scatter six Team GA Prime hits while striking out five.

“First inning I was a little off. I didn't have my best stuff and was struggling to find the strike zone; I was a little amped up for the start of the summer I guess,” said Adams. “Second inning I calmed down and started locating my fastball. Then, the curveball came with it, the slider came with it, and the changeup came with it. After I found the location it was go time from there.”

Adams was in fact amped up for summer baseball, and rightfully so. Friday was the first time he had taken the mound since leading his Har-Ber High School Wildcats team to an Arkansas Class 7A state championship last month.

“It [state championship] gives me a lot of momentum going into the summer because it was probably one of my best outings I’ve ever had. I was really feeling it, and going into the summer it just gives me that confidence going into the summer.”

Adams is a native of Springdale, Arkansas, and will be traveling just 20 minutes south in two years to play his college baseball at the University of Arkansas. Adams is one of nine Sticks Baseball Academy players committed to playing their college baseball at Arkansas, and is part of a 2019 recruiting class that ranks as the 15th best in the country.

With Arkansas and Baum Stadium being just down the road, Adams has known he wanted to be a Razorback for a long time. When an offer came, he wasn't going to turn it down.

“It’s [Arkansas] always been my dream school,” said Adams. “I’ve grown up with season tickets going to the Baum, and just seeing the atmosphere and fell in love with it when I was about eight years old. When I got offered I already knew that that was the place for me, and so a week later I committed.”

Arkansas will play South Carolina on Monday afternoon in the third and final game of the Fayetteville Super Regional. While Adams can’t be there to cheer on his Razorbacks, he is excited to watch some of his future teammates play.

“The pitching staff this year is incredible, and then our bats are just unbelievable this year. It seems like every time I turn on the TV someone is hitting a home run.”

Sticks Baseball Academy, which is located in Little Rock, Arkansas, is no stranger to welcoming Razorback hopefuls into the program. There are nine total players on this particular Sticks team who are committed to playing their college ball at the University of Arkansas. In total, the team has 20 players that have committed to Division I schools.

With a roster that features three players in the 2019 Top 100, and a plethora of college talent, Sticks Baseball Academy is a team to look out for as the WWBA National Championship Qualifier moves along.
PG Special Events
Travel, Lodging, Entertainment
PG Partners
Recommended
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2024 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.