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College  | Story  | 6/18/2024

City of Palms Championships Wrap Up

Hannah Jo Groves      Madeleine Howe     
Photo: Peyton Douglas (Perfect Game)
O’s Scout Takes Down Red Birds in Defensive Battle

O’s Scout won the 15U City of Palms Championship with the 2-0 victory over the Red Birds.

It was a strictly defensive battle for the first 3 innings with both defenses navigating windy conditions to catch pop-ups and execute force-outs.



“The wind was brutal,” O’s third baseman, Michael Geaglone said. “You had to stay out of the air because everything that’d hit, it would just come back.”

Even with gusts coming in from center field, Geaglone shot a laser into the wind to reach first base, with Cole Rehm driving him in at the next at-bat to get the O’s on the board first. This broke the calm, focused energy in the O’s dugout into shouting and clapping.

“It was kind of a tense game - not a lot of movement,” Rehm, the first baseman said. “I wanted to get something going for us.”

The only other run came in the bottom of the fourth, as centerfielder Brady Zaun crushed one to the gap in left-center field.

What the championship game lacked in offense, it made up for in defense, especially on the O’s side.

Right-hander Jackson Pennella racked up 5 strikeouts through 5 shutout innings. With 77 pitches thrown, Pennella worked in the high-70s with his fastball and the high-60s with his slider. Notably, Pennella slyly communicated with shortstop Jeremy Flores to pick off a runner at second.

“I was trying to let my defense work,” Pennella said, referring to his fielders. “I’ve known them for a while. I know how they play. I can trust them.”

Despite Red Birds’ extra hitter Eddie Kennedy hitting a ground rule double in the top of the seventh, the same trustworthy O’s defense that Pennella worked managed to shut the Red Birds out.

The O’s will be back in Fort Myers July 6-11 for the 15U BCS National Championship.

16U

Florida Burn 2026 South (Holloway) Overheats Jaramillo Baseball Club 2026 to Secure Win

The Florida Burn 2026 left their mark on Jaramillo Baseball Club by winning 9-4 in the championship game.

The Burn’s impact was apparent early on, racking up 9 runs in the first 3 innings.

A single by third baseman Sam Torres started the scoring, driving in shortstop and MVP Michael Maynes.

Florida Burn’s talent continued with 5 different hitters contributing an RBI over the next 2 innings. Centerfielder Roman Howery led the pack scoring 3 runs while designated hitter Luis Flores and shortstop Michael Maynes both knocked 2 runs in. Second baseman Dominic Giglio and third baseman Sam Torres also contributed 1 RBI.

After showcasing their offensive power, the Burn seamlessly transitioned into impenetrable defense for the remainder of the game.

Right-handed pitcher Joaquin Paz delivered an electrifying performance allowing only 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 3 batters over 4 innings, with speeds topping out at 81 mph.

Relief pitcher Heath Derusso also took the mound for the Burn, striking out 1 batter in 3.0 innings with speeds also topping out at 81 mph.

Florida Burn 2026 South (Holloway) is gearing up for an epic showdown in Alabama at the 2024 PG 16U National Elite Championship kicking off June 29.

17U

Florida Burn 2025 Zizzo Squeezes Past Southern Squeeze 2025 to Take Title

Furious winds and the blazing sun couldn’t burn Florida Burn out of their 13-5 championship win over Southern Squeeze.

From the beginning, both team's offenses came out strong leading to a tie at the top of the fourth inning.

However, the game ignited when right fielder Jason Allaire barreled a ground ball, driving in 2 RBI and sparking a 6-run streak.

The excitement didn't stop there as shortstop and MVP Peyton Douglas kept the momentum blazing with a scorching triple, adding another two RBIs to the tally. Douglas would later crack the bat for a double and homerun bringing 3 runs in for 5 total.

“I wanted (the ball) to go to the right side so that's what I did. Just wanted to stay true to my approach and that's the results,” said Douglas describing his mindset at the plate, “It was really just sticking to your game, sticking to our game as a team and playing together as a team.”

Offensively, The Florida Burn were unstoppable as 7 players brought at least one run home.

However, the defense was cohesive, communicative and masterful, shutting down any efforts from Southern Squeeze and only allowing 5 runs. First basemen Michael Peterson attributed the team's success with powerful defense.

“They helped a lot, they gave me good throws…they kept it nice and made it easy on me,” said Peterson.

A single from third baseman Norman Cherrett in the sixth inning brought MVPitcher Dylan Klossner home and secured the win for the Burn in a run-rule.

“It was a great win, we lost last time to the (Southern) Squeeze by a slaughter so luckily we came back and slaughtered them,” Peterson said.

Next week, Florida Burn 2025 travels to Georgia to compete in the 2024 WWBA 17U National Championship starting at 1:40pm on June 22.

FTB Lime 18U Reigns Undefeated in City of Palms Tournament

FTB Lime 18U’s consistent offense came out on top in the 6-3 win over SBO By Sponsor SF Wave.

Neither team managed a run through the first 2 innings, but in the bottom of the third, third baseman Carlos Sanchez lined one to right field for a 2-out RBI.

In the bottom of the fourth, catcher Rafael Sosa knocked a sac fly. Later, the designated hitter and Milwaukee School of Engineering commit, William Fornos, drove one to center to tack on two more.

Additionally, two runners came in at the bottom of the fifth when center fielder and right-handed pitcher Daniel Reyes reached first on error with a grounder to SBO’s shortstop.

Finally, right fielder Jonathan Diamond knocked FTB Lime’s last run in with a single to right.

Despite SBA’s third baseman and Seminole State College commit, Randy Vega, crushing a 3-RBI double to right in an attempt to rally, the FTB Lime defense prevented any additional runs.

Leading that defense was Reyes - who pitched 5 shutout innings with only 59 pitches thrown. The Florida Southwestern State College commit used low-80s fastballs, low-70s curveballs and mid-70s sliders to strike out 4 batters.

Right-hander Alejandro Suarez came in relief, striking out 3 with 36 pitches thrown and working in the low-80s with his fastball and low-70s with his curveball.
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