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Tournaments  | Story  | 6/13/2018

Qualifiers claimed for 16u-17u

Nate Schweers     
Photo: Team Elite Nation (Perfect Game)

Team Elite Nation holds on to 16u title

EMERSON, Ga. – Team Elite Nation held off a comeback in the championship game of the 16u WWBA National Championship Qualifier on Wednesday. Team Elite was given an excellent outing from starter Jaden Woods, and the bats were timely in a 4-3 win over ATEC 16U Zilleox.

Jaden Woods was dominant on the mound Wednesday, tossing four shutout innings. Woods, who featured a fastball up to 84, was able to strand two ATEC hits while striking out five. The rise in velocity for Woods has happened just over the last year. Since topping out at 70 during the Southeast Underclass Showcase last August, Woods has found another gear on the mound.

“My velocity is something that has started to develop really late,” said Woods. “In August I wasn't throwing very hard, but now it’s starting to pay off.”

With quality pitching leading the way, it was up to the Team Elite Nation bats to find a way to give their guys enough runs to walk out as champions. The bats would rise to the challenge scoring two in the first and another pair in the second, and that was all they would need.

After a two-out double from Carter Sanford, Wesley Hancock got Team Elite on the board first with a laced double into left field. After a Hunter Marsh walk, Hancock would come in to score on a passed ball, giving Team Elite a 2-0 lead.

Team Elite Nation went right back to work in the bottom of the second, highlighted by a pair of run scoring singles from Ben McDaniel and Dominic Arienzo. The pair of line drives into center field would put Team Elite Nation up 4-0 early.

With the score the same, trouble struck in the fifth for Team Elite as ATEC was able to plate three runs with two outs, cutting the lead to just one. AJ Fiechter got ATEC on the board with a double to left, and after a run scoring single from Jay Thomason, left handed stick Will Sanders shot a ball into the right field corner, and the momentum was back in the ATEC dugout.

After allowing the three runs in the top of the fifth, Team Elite reliever Ben Wilcoxon was lights out the rest of the way. Wilcoxon didn't allow a hit over the last two innings, propelling his team to victory. Team Elite Nation head coach Landon Anderson was proud of his pitchers all week.

“We talked about it early in the week and said that if we set ourselves up well as far as pitching wise, and you know handle our business we need to handle these seven games, we’ll have a shot to make a run,” said Anderson. “They did it, came through, and we grinded out wins.”

It is not an easy road to get through a WWBA qualifier, as the seven pool play games mean that one false move can send you home without a shot at winning. With an automatic berth to next month’s WWBA 16U National Championship at stake, coach Anderson’s bunch brought the energy all week.

“This group is the most scrappiest group of go getters I’ve ever been a part of. Their mentality is that they can’t lose. When they step in between the lines they know they’re going to go in and compete and give themselves a chance to win.”

Someone who had a quiet day, but was the MVP of the tournament was Team Elite Nation’s Jarrett Jenkins.  Jenkins had a single in Wednesday’s championship game, but totaled ten big runs batted in for his team over the course of the tournament.

The MV-Pitcher of the tournament was ATEC pitcher Alex Armstrong. Armstrong went 2-0 this week, allowing just one earned run in 12 2/3 innings of work. Striking out nine and walking just one, Armstrong enjoyed a WHIP of 1.03 on his way to MV-Pitcher honors.


2018 WWBA 16u National Championship Qualifier champions: Team Elite Nation 16u



2018 WWBA 16u National Championship Qualifier runner-up: Astros Team East Cobb 16u Zilleox



2018 WWBA 16u National Championship Qualifier MVP: Jarrett Jenkins



2018 WWBA 16u National Championship Qualifier MV-Pitcher: Alex Armstrong

 



17u Qualifier finishes under odd circumstances

EMERSON, Ga. – After a thrilling victory over DRB Elite 17u in Wednesday’s semifinal round, the 643 DP Cougars 17u were crowned champions of the 17u WWBA National Championship Qualifier by forfeit.

Team GA, who was impressive all week long, had players that needed to find their way down to St. Petersburg, Florida for the Perfect Game National Showcase during the remainder of the week. Names including Logan Tanner, Jerrion Ealy and Farmer Abendroth were not able to play in Wednesday’s championship, leaving Team GA with not enough players to field a team.

The 643 DP Cougars will now receive an automatic bid into next month’s WWBA National Championship.

The MVP of the 17u tournament was 643’s John Tighe. Tighe batted .444 during the event, totaling 10 runs batted in in the process.

The MV-Pitcher was Team GA’s Davis Rokose. Rokose did not allow an earned run over seven strong innings of work, and struck out 14 batters during the tournament. Rokose, who is a Mississippi State commit, will also be participating in the National Showcase this week.


2018 WWBA 17u National Championship Qualifier champions: 643 DP 17u Cougars



2018 WWBA 17u National Championship Qualifier runner-up: Team GA/MBA 17u Gold



2018 WWBA 17u National Championship Qualifier MVP: John Tighe



2018 WWBA 17u National Championship Qualifier MV-Pitcher: Davis Rokose
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