2016 11u Super 25 National Championship Preview
14 of the top 11u teams from across the country will come to Ft Myers, FL to compete for this year’s Super 25 National Championship. In this article, we will take a look at the pools and schedule, our favorites to win, and some of the players to watch throughout the week.
11u Super 25 Event Page
Full Schedule
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Pool A
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Florida Bats
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Indiana Nitro
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Powder Springs Storm 11U
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PrimeTime Baseball Black
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Team Rawlings Black
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The Hitting Zone 11U Creek
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Tri State Arsenal 11u Prime
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Pool B
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Banditos Black
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D-BAT 11U
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Ironmen
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Olney Pirates
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Pro Player Hurricanes - Cohn
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Top Tier Knights
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Pool A
Projected Winner: Tri-State Arsenal 11u Prime
This Tri-State Arsenal squad is no stranger to winning championships. They have proven to be battle tested against some of the best competition in the nation. The Arsenal will be looking to improve from their 3rd place finish in last year’s 10u National Championship after going undefeated during pool play. Players like AJ Gracia and Jeremy Cheesman will look to lead this group to another strong showing by bringing their all around talent to the batter’s box and the mound. Pablo Santos will provide the thump in the middle of the order for Arsenal. For a team that can count their total losses on one hand, they expect to be competing for a championship every tournament that they enter.
Top Finishers: Team Rawlings Black and Indiana Nitro
Team Rawlings will bring their Houston area roster down to Ft Myers and should be considered a top competitor. Looking to improve on their 30-10 season record, players such as Sam Myers will lead their offensive attack, while Alex Petrovic can be the ace needed to win a tournament of this caliber. The Indiana Nitro come in fresh off of their Midwest Qualifier Championship, and as a team used to winning a handful of games in a long tournament, they have to be viewed as a contender.
Dark Horse: Powder Spring Storm
A newly formed team this year, the Powder Spring, GA located team have grown together as a team this year and have been gaining confidence as the season rolls on. Led by Devin Haywood and Thomas Norris, the Storm could be a new name on the PG scene and turn some heads this week.
Pool B
Projected Winner: Banditos Black
The Banditos Black team considers themselves a team that can flat out hit. Ryan Rusk leads the team in homeruns this year, with Sebastian Sanchez and Zach Fields following close behind. Rusk will also be counted on to pitch in their biggest games and be the work horse when needed. One of the more versatile players in the tournament, Caleb Castle, will be the Banditos' spark plug and use his athleticism and five-tool talent to provide production at the plate, on the mound, and at shortstop. Coming in with a 29-9 record on the year, this team has to be considered a serious playoff contender.
Top Finishers: D-Bat and Ironmen
Dallas based D-Bat and Louisville centered Ironmen are both teams riding momentum into this National Championship. D-Bat was absolutely dominant during their Super Qualifier championship run, winning every game by a considerable margin. The Ironmen were the top finishers in the Ohio Valley Regional coming back from an early loss in pool play to win the rest of their games and the title.
Dark Horse: Pro Player Hurricanes – Cohn
Coming all the way from McHenry, IL, the Hurricanes are looking forward to the test that this National Championship should provide. Carrying a season record of 34-8 into this week, the Pro Player Hurricanes greatest strength is their versatility. With all 11 players able to throw quality innings, and 8 players able to gear up and catch, this team has the depth that is needed to make a deep run. Leading this group is Connor Rodgers whose stats are off the charts for both hitting and pitching. Other players such as JR Nelson and Cooper Cohn will be pivotal for the Canes in all aspects throughout the week as well.