Northeast Pride claims 14u title

EMERSON, Ga. – Northeast Pride, based out of Honesdale, Pa., scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning to capture a come-from-behind victory over the Jackson 96ers on Saturday morning to claim the second annual 14u PG/EvoShield Classic championship, 7-3.

All of the Pride's scoring came with two outs, with the game-tying run coming on a bases loaded hit by pitch. The first two go ahead runs came on an error, and T.J. Curd drove home the fourth and fifth runs of the frame with a big two-run double.

The Jackson 96ers (Brandon, Miss.) held the Northeast Pride to only three hits on the day, but the Pride made the most of those three hits in addition to five walks, two hit by pitches and three errors in scoring their seven runs in the game.

Daniel Howell, who was the batter hit by a pitch in the seventh that brought home the game-tying run, was named the event's Most Valuable Player. Howell hit .500 (4-for-8) in four games, hitting a double and a triple with four RBI and five runs scored. Both of his extra-base hits and two RBI came in his 2-for-3 performance in Northeast Pride's 5-2 win over Top Tier Baseball in the semifinals.

Lefthanded pitcher Austin Fugler, who appeared in three different games for the 96ers, didn't allow a run in 9 1/3 innings, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out 11. That includes his 1 2/3 shutout frames in the championship game in which he fanned five Pride batters. He added another 4 2/3 scoreless innings in the 96ers 9-1 semifinal win over CSB Jaxx to advance to the championship game.


2015 14u PG/EvoShield Classic runner-up: Jackson 96ers



2015 14u PG/EvoShield Classic MVP: Daniel Howell



2015 14u PG/EvoShield Classic MV-Pitcher: Austin Fugler





US Elite named 13u champs

US Elite 13u of the Bronx, N.Y., pounded out 10 base hits and drew six walks en route to a 10-5 win over the Pennyslvania-based Bucks County Generals on Saturday to win the 2015 13u PG/EvoShield Classic. The Elite bats came alive early, scoring three runs in the first two innings, and then three more in the third and four more in the fourth to give them a commanding lead.

The Bucks County Generals did rally late, adding two runs in the fifth and one more in the sixth to pull within five.

US Elite's Nos. 2, 3 and 4 hitters – Ben Greenspon, Nicholas Yannuzzelli and Brock Piper – each had a pair of base hits, with Brock Piper providing the most production thanks to his four runs batted in. He hit a sarifice fly in the first, a run-scoring double in the third and a two-run single in the fourth.

Jack Borneman went the distance in the win, scattering four base hit and three walks while giving up five runs (four earned) with three strikeouts.

US Elite pitching-mate Logan Hile provided 8 1/3 innings over two appearances to be named the event's Most Valuable Pitcher. He allowed three earned runs and four base hits but also struck out 15 batters, including seven strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings during US Elite's 9-7 semifinal win over GameOn Bombsquad.

Bucks County Generals' Bryce Dickey, who went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored in the championship game, was named the event's Most Valuable Player. He hit an astonishing .818 (9-for-11)in five games, driving in nine while scoring four times. He also made two pitching appearances, providing five total scoreless innings.


2015 13u PG/EvoShield Classic champions: US Elite 13u



2015 13u PG/EvoShield Classic runner-up: Bucks County Generals



2015 13u PG/EvoShield Classic MVP: Bryce Dickey



2015 13u PG/EvoShield Classic MV-Pitcher: Logan Hile