2,086 MLB PLAYERS | 14,476 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Tournaments  | Story  | 7/29/2019

A's defense upsets top seed

Annika Wall     
Photo: Andrew Pokley (Perfect Game)

MARION, Iowa – Watch out.

That’s the message Cole Prout and Andrew Pokley have for NorthStar Baseball Club tomorrow. The South Oakland A’s – Lelli took momentum from Noah Bright’s grand slam in a 10-0 victory in the WWBA 16u Prospect Meadows National Championship’s first playoff round. Then, in quarterfinal action, they faced off against top-seeded Cangelosi Sparks 2021 Black.

The result, you ask? An eight-inning, 2-1 victory filled with hustle, excitement and excellent defense.

“Early in this tournament we booted away a game because of defense,” head coach Keith Lelli said. “After that, we pulled it together as a group and said we needed to take more pride in it. As you can see, a two-run ballgame, it was all diving catches and hustle plays that won this game.”

One of these hustle plays scored the first run of the game. In the second inning, second baseman Preston Leon led off with a six-pitch walk, bringing third baseman Pokley up to the plate. Pokley laid down a sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher and Leon took off for second, then third.

That baserunning forced the Sparks to throw for the out at third, but Leon instead forced an overthrow to make the 1-0 score. Cangelosi tied the game up in a similar fashion, as Illinois commit Jared Comia began with a four-pitch walk in the bottom of the seventh. Michael Maloney advanced him to second with a sacrifice bunt and Louisville commit Landon Looper got him to third with a ground out to shortstop.

Comia scored off a Scott Pitts single to tie the game and Matt Maloney was walked, putting runners at first and second. As a relief pitcher, Pokley threw his most successful pitch of the day: the changeup.

Julian Jimenez’s hit soared into shallow center field for what was sure to be a base hit, but Prout wasn’t going to let the game end that easily. Diving through the air, he came up with the catch to force extra innings and a lot of celebration from his team.

“There’s nothing better,” Prout commented. “The adrenaline is the best feeling in the world. Just being out here is fun.”

Before the start of the eighth, South Oakland loaded the bases with one out and Jackson Borowski up to bat. After letting the first ball pass, he connected with an 82 mph fastball, firing a fly ball to deep right field and scoring the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly. Cangelosi got the final out of the inning on a routine third to first throw, but the pressure was on.

Leon made the first out by snagging a pop up to second and Prout made the final one, camping out under a high fly ball to center field. He had made plenty of exceptional plays during the game, but Prout noted he was still nervous about that final catch.

"Don’t drop it. Focus. Remember everything I’ve been taught and execute,” Prout said, recalling what went through his head.  

Gavin Woodard and Pokley split time on the mound, spreading out seven hits and only allowing one run. While Pokley stepped up at a critical time in the game, he didn’t let the pressure get to him.

“This is what we’ve been working for all season. No one wanted our season to end today,” he explained. “I just wanted to give my team the best opportunity to win. I needed to maintain what the score was and keep getting ground balls so my defense can make the plays for me.”

As the No. 8 seed, the A’s will face off against No. 5 NorthStar Baseball Club 16u in Tuesday's semifinal. On the other side of the bracket, No. 2 Pro Player Canes-Matsie and No. 3 MN Icemen Baseball 16u – Gominsky will go head-to-head for a spot in the championship. 
PG Special Events
Travel, Lodging, Entertainment
PG Partners
Recommended
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2024 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.