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PG Series  | PG Series Classic  | 8/2/2019

Deep South captures Series

Autumn Jones     
Photo: Deep South and Puerto Rico (Perfect Game)

FORT MYERS, Fla. – A gloomy Friday afternoon in Fort Myers unified more than merely individuals contesting collectively, but two talented Freshmen teams that displayed a great deal of sportsmanship. Deep South slid past Puerto Rico in the title game of the Freshman PG Series Classic, 5-1.

Considering their rough start in pool play, going 0-3, Deep South came out relentless in the playoffs defeating opponents in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds and closed the feat with a championship victory against Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico was up first on the board in the bottom of the first scoring their single run in the game that came from Jose Torres Rivera (2022, Puerto Rico). 

Deep South doubled that shortly after in the top of the second with runs scored by Yoel Tejeda Jr (2022, Davie, Fla.) and Xavier Vergne (2022, Miramar, Fla.). Tejeda Jr and Vergne each went 2-for-3 in the game and would add to Deep South’s runs in the fourth, each scoring another run, along with teammate, Jacob Miller-Bopp (2022, Barhamsville, Va.).

And that would be the majority of the action in the game while the remaining three innings stood scoreless. Quite frankly this trio of baserunners are what locked in the game for Deep South. 

Tejeda Jr, who also pitched a solid final inning, is a primary first basemen and righthanded pitcher with a 6-foot-6, 195-pound frame. Tejeda Jr ranks nationally as the No. 2 overall first basemen in his class, and at 16-years old is committed to playing his college ball at Florida State University. Miller-Bopp also came in as a relief pitcher for Deep South allowing just one walk in his single inning as the high follow worked consistently in the 80-81 mph range. Plus, Vergne led the way offensively with a double that drove in Tejeda. 

Brennan Morris (2022, Fleming Island, Fla.) earned the win for Deep South allowing three hits and walks while striking out seven batters in his five innings on the mound. The high follow worked consistently in the 75-80 mph range and complemented his fastball with a 70 mph curveball.

“It was just one of those things where you got to stick with the guys, keep their attitude right and keep their heads up,” said head coach Andrew Lux. “We just had to stick with the approach, and it worked out well. All of the players kept their heads up the whole time and they maintained a good attitude and were able to pull it off.”

Max McClusky (2022, Winter Gardens, Fla.) of Deep South earned MVP honors for the Freshman PG Series for his consistent performances throughout. The primary third basemen and outfielder tallied seven hits, two runs, a double and an RBI in the Series. 

“I’m really proud of our accomplishment,” added McClusky. “Since we started pool play rough, I think we came together as a team throughout the tournament and now we came out 3-0 in playoffs. It felt great.”

“He’s one of the best defensive players I’ve seen at that age before,” added Lux. “He made amazing plays every single game and was consistent with everything he did – great at the plate and I think he’s going to be a great player. I’m really excited to watch him going forward.”

Suitably, McClusky honors Coach Lux for believing in them even when they were foreseen as underdogs. 

“He was a great coach,” added McClusky. “He always told us to keep going. He was a good coach; he knew when to bunt us and he played scrappy baseball with us. He helped us win, he was a big part.”

Besides a set of twins, Jayden and Wyatt Talik of Liburn, Ga., every other player on this talented Deep South roster hadn’t competed with one another. The Series brings together talent in relative regions and aims to build memorable team bonds in as little as a week. Deep South certainly took advantage of the task and believed in the chemistry to pull them through.

The Series event held a Fastest Man and Home Run Derby competition to break the ice; the finalist coming out of the events for Deep South were William Campagna (2022, Mount Pleasant, SC.) for each and Tejada Jr in the Home Run Derby. 

“I knew no one here," added McClusky. "I was familiar with just one kid from playing against him, but that was it. I didn’t know anyone else. It was awesome though, it’s just a bond that won’t be broken. It’s pretty cool.”

“It was just a lot of fun really,” added head coach Andrew Lux. “Excited to have the opportunity and really proud of these guys. We went from going 0-3 to winning the championship so it was really cool to be a part of.

Unlike Deep South, Puerto Rico’s San Juan-based roster was built up of players who have competed together, while they compete with other leagues in Puerto Rico. This talented squad sat second in their pool, tallying just one other loss in pool play to No. 1-ranked Central. The team’s finalist in the Fastest Man challenge were Erick Soto Santiago (2022, Puerto Rico) and Ian M Alicea (2023, Caguas), along with Alejandro Medina Perez 2020, Ponce) and MV-Pitcher Alexis Rodriguez Ruiz (2022, Yauco) who finished as a finalist in the Home Run Derby. 

Rodriguez Ruiz of Puerto Rico earned the honor of MV-Pitcher with his elite performance, a semifinal shutout with 15 strikeouts during the Freshman PG Series Classic. The righthander earned the 4-0 victory to Southeast by allowing only a single hit and no walks while striking out an epic 13 batters in his complete 6 1/3 innings. 

“I felt really happy achieving the award,” the Spanish speaking Rodriguez said, translated by one of his teammates. “I’m proud of my coach too, he’s been working me out and I’m happy he gave me the opportunity to be the best pitcher.”


2019 Freshman PG Series Classic MVP: Max McClusky



2019 Freshman PG Series Classic MV-Pitcher: Alexis Rodriguez Ruiz
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