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Tournaments  | Story  | 7/1/2016

Roadrunners race to 14u title

Vincent Cervino     
Photo: Perfect Game


EMERSON, Ga. – The Roadrunners defeated Banditos Elite 4-2 in a tightly contested championship game. Both teams came into this game hot after semifinal victories prior to the championship game. Dalton Pearson had no words to describe the way he felt after Roadrunners Baseball captured the 14u WWBA National Championship.

“I’m just happy to be on the Roadrunners,” said Pearson.

Kyle Hilton started on the mound for the Roadrunners and he was a calm and focused presence the entire game. Hilton worked at his own pace, pounded the strike zone and forced opposing hitters to swing at bad pitches. His final line for the day was a seven inning complete game and only allowed two runs to score along with four strikeouts.

Aaron Nixon started on the mound for the Banditos and he had his fastball working early in the game. Nixon sat 84-86 mph with his fastball and mixed in a curveball to keep hitters off balance. Nixon was able to keep the Roadrunner offense at bay early on but they struck first in the bottom of the second inning.

With two outs and runners on first and second, the Roadrunners pushed their first run across after a throwing error by the shortstop. Evan Hurst came up next and brought in another run with an RBI single. The Roadrunners held the 2-0 advantage heading into the middle innings.

Dalton Pearson led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a triple over the head of the center fielder. He came into score after an RBI groundout to bring the lead to three. The Roadrunners were able to add their fourth run later in the inning thanks to a wild pitch. After four innings, the Roadrunners were in a good position with a 4-0 lead.

The Banditos would spark a rally in the top of the fifth. After loading the bases with only one out, Zane Keener brought home two runs with a single through the right side of the infield. A strong throw by the catcher was able to get Keener out trying to advance to second for the big second out of the inning. Hilton was able to induce a groundout to keep the lead at 4-2.

The score would remain the same as the top of the seventh approached and a championship was on the line. The Banditos had their leadoff man reach after a single but that was quickly erased as the Roadrunners turned a double play on a strike-him-out-throw-him-out at second base. Hilton induced a fly out to left and the celebration was on.

This win was very special for manager Todd Howard as this was the Roadrunners’ first WWBA National Championship as a program. An emotional Howard discussed his emotions during the final inning.

“I told the team that I’ve been a Roadrunner since 1979 and this is probably my favorite moment ever,” said Howard. “Garrett Hodges, one of our older players who’s going to Kennesaw State, found out we were playing and came in the dugout. He told the team before they went out for the seventh, ‘Remember what that Roadrunner name means.’ He also talked to the team after the game and it shows that we’re a big family. All the guys in college summer leagues texted me today and they’ll be fired up to learn that we did it.”

The Roadrunners were involved in many close ballgames during this tournament but they persevered and finished with an undefeated 11-0 record. Howard credits his team’s ability to their heart and their mentality of never giving up.

“They didn’t give up,” said Howard. “Yesterday we were down two runs and a lot of fourteen year olds would’ve given up but we scored three runs to win. Earlier today we were tied 2-2 and Dalton (Pearson) came up with a big two-out hit and threw a runner out at the plate, definitely MVP. Our pitchers came in and did an incredible job.”

Going forward, this is a landmark championship for the Roadrunners program. Their creation of a family atmosphere and track record of success shows that they are an elite program that can compete with anyone.

“When people come to visit and come to the Roadrunner House we’ll be able to show them that first place trophy, which is nice because Perfect Game is huge,” said Howard. “It helps with our recruiting because it shows that when you play for the Roadrunners a player very rarely leaves and the college kids come down and stay with us. It’s a family.”

The MVP of the tournament was Dalton Pearson of the Roadrunners. Pearson finished the tournament with a .581 batting average and 18 hits in only 11 games. He also had 10 RBI and 10 runs scored. The MV-Pitcher of the tournament also went to the Roadrunners and Patrick Holloman. He finished the tournament with a 1-0 record and a team-high 12 innings pitched while striking out 14 and only allowing one run to score.

The Banditos advanced after knocking out the defending champion East Coast Sox Elite 8-3 in the semifinals. The Banditos pushed four runs across in the first inning to give them some momentum heading into the rest of the game. After adding two more in the third inning it looked as if the rout was on. The Sox mounted a comeback, scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to only three. But after putting three runs up in response, the game was decided and the Banditos headed to the championship game.

The Roadrunners defeated the 643 DP Cougars 3-2 in an exciting finish to clinch their spot in the championship game. A one-run game for the majority of the afternoon, the score was tied at two heading to the bottom of the seventh inning. With two outs and nobody on, it looked as if the game was heading to extra innings. Three batters later, two singles and an error, the bases were loaded and tournament MVP Dalton Pearson hit a walk-off single to secure the Roadrunners spot in the championship game.


2016 14u WWBA National Championship runner-up: Banditos Elite



2016 14u WWBA National Championship MVP: Dalton Pearson



2016 14u WWBA National Championship MV-Pitcher: Patrick Hollomon
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