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Tournaments  | Story  | 7/9/2018

East Coast Sox back in win column

Nate Schweers     
Photo: Blayze Berry (Perfect Game)

EMERSON, Ga. – The East Coast Sox Select got back to their winning ways on Monday after cruising past Diamond Jacks Super 16 12-0. The Sox now sit just a game out of first place in the extremely competitive Pool U.

The star of Monday morning’s game was starting pitcher Blayze Berry. Berry tossed a complete game (five innings) no-hitter, striking out five and allowing just one walk. Berry, who is a native of Columbus, Mississippi, was able to keep the Jacks hitters off balance with an outstanding three-pitch mix all outing.

“I was able to stay in on hitters’ hands today, and I was really able to make them not get solid contact,” said Berry. “The slider was really working well the whole game, and when you know you have the lead you can just go out there and throw strikes.”

Berry did absolutely that on Monday, retiring 15 of the 16 batters he faced using just 65 pitches. Head Coach Jeff Mauldin was equally as impressed with Berry’s outing, as well as his entire team’s effort.

“Obviously Blayze pitching the way he did and throwing a no-hitter was awesome,” said Mauldin. “I was just proud of our guys. In a tournament like this, losing a game is always disappointing. To show some maturity and bounce the back way we did was awesome, and it gives us a chance to fight back and win the tournament.”

On the offensive side, the momentum of the game took a turn in the top of the second inning. Sox catcher Dalton Cook came to the plate with the bases loaded and delivered a bases-clearing double that would extend the lead to 5-0 early.

“I was really trying not to do too much,” said Cook, who finished 1-for-2 while also drawing a walk. “I was trying to go up there with a line drive approach. Sometimes you go up there with the bases juiced and you want to hit the ball out of the park, but I just had that line drive approach and it worked out.”

Success is no stranger to this East Coast Sox team. Many members of this year’s 16u team were members of the 15u team that won the 15u WWBA National Championship last year. Returning a talented roster that has won the big games in the past can bring a certain competitive advantage in a tournament of this magnitude, and coach Mauldin knows that.

“Since most of these guys were on the 15u National Championship team last year, the play like they've been there and done that. They didn't flinch today. The best team out of seven pool play games is going to advance, and if we keep playing well we feel like we are going to be there.”

It takes mature and talented players to play at such a high level, and the East Coast Sox Select certainly have a few of those. In total, seven players from this Sox team have committed to playing college baseball at the Division I level.

One of the highest ranked players on this roster is 2020 recruit Brooks Rice. Rice is committed to playing his college baseball at Louisiana State, and is ranked as the 97th-best player in the country. Rice attended the Perfect Game Junior National Showcase last month, and he was able to put on a great showing reaching 90 with his fastball on the mound.

Other players on this Sox team that are committed include: TJ McCants (2020, Mississippi), Slade Wilks (2020, Southern Miss), G Allen (2020, TCU), Ben Schorr (2020, Auburn), Mason McCormack (2019, Samford) and Kelly Crumpton (2021, Mississippi).

East Coast Sox is quickly becoming one of the premier baseball organizations in the South and they are doing it while also looking to develop players off the field. According to the East Coast Sox website, their goal is to “provide young men with the opportunity to gain exposure to professional scouts and collegiate programs by attending premiere showcase events, so they can grow and develop: physically, mentally, and spiritually.”

There have also been many notable alumni that have come through the East Coast Sox program. Players like JT Ginn were drafted out of the program just this past year, while players like Jacob Cronenworth and Brent Rooker have been working their way through the minor leagues for a couple years.

With the next in line playing at a high level here at the 16u WWBA National Championship, expect fireworks before all is said and done here in the opening rounds. The East Coast Sox are hungry, and they still have their sights set on repeating as national champions.
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