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Tournaments  | Story  | 6/23/2018

Canes continue to impress

Nate Schweers     
Photo: Daniel Corona (Perfect Game)

EMERSON, Ga. – Canes National improved to 2-0 at the 2018 14u WWBA National Championship on Saturday with an 8-0 win over the Home Plate Chili Dogs Foster. The win keeps the Canes at the top of Pool M after two days of play.

The combo of Eli Serrano (2022) and Roman Anthony (2022) combined to no-hit the Chili Dogs on Saturday. The duo threw just 67 pitches on the afternoon, and they were able to keep the momentum in the Canes dugout for all five innings.



In what may seem like an anomaly at the 14u level, this Canes team features two players that have already made their college decision in Daniel Corona and Blaise Grove.

Corona, who is a primary shortstop, is arriving on the campus of Wake Forest in the fall of 2021. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Corona is currently ranked as the 36th-best player nationally, and the third-best in New York for the 2021 class.

“I really love the coaches there [Wake Forest],” said Corona. “Coach Walters really went above and beyond, and the extra effort means a lot. The facilities are great, and I think they can really help me prepare and get better.”

While Corona didn't record an official at-bat after walking three times in Saturday’s game, he features smooth hands up the middle, and has a knack for playing the game the right way. While his quick feet and ability to swing it well from both sides of the plate is nice, Corona also has great potential on the mound. Corona has been up to 86 in events past, and it will be interesting to see him progress at both spots.

Blaise Grove is a member of the 2022 class, and he will be playing his college baseball at South Carolina. Grove is ranked as a top 1000 player in the early class of 2022 rankings, and he is from Summit Point, West Virginia.

Grove is a big 6-foot-5, 225-pound lefthander that has been up to 88 on the mound. Though he hasn't pitched in this week’s tournament yet, he couldn't be more excited to showcase his stuff on the national stage.

“I’ll be excited. This will actually be my first time on the mound this year, so it’s an exciting weekend,” said Grove.

While the spotlight has been on those two since making their college decision, other Canes players had strong performances on Saturday.

One of the standout performers on Saturday was Tate Jacobsen. Jacobsen had a hard-hit single that drove in a pair of runs in the game. Jacobsen, who is a native of Shawnee, Kansas, is a top 1000 player in the class of 2022, and attended the 14u Midwest Showcase this past April.

With players like Corona, Grove and Jacobsen playing at high level, Canes GM and 14u National head coach Dan Gitzen thinks his team has a great shot to win it all.

“Obviously getting two wins early is a big deal. We played a little tight and made some mistakes that 14-year-olds make. These guys are all really good players, and sometimes it is just about having that mental focus at this age group.”

The Canes were certainly focused on Saturday, playing sound defense throughout, and putting together a lot of quality at-bats. The Canes were able to draw 11 walks during Saturday’s game, speaking to their level of discipline at the plate.

Defensively, the Canes made every play that came your way, and having a shortstop with some of the smoothest hands in the 2021 class certainly helps. The middle infield duo of Corona and Carson Hardee were able to turn a pair of beautiful double plays on Saturday afternoon.

“I think we have a great coaching staff; probably one of the best out here,” said Corona. “We have a lot of talent. We’re bonding a lot, were in the same hotel, were spending our time together and eating together, and I think we have a really good chance of winning this.”

Canes National will be back in action on Sunday with a pair of games in Pool M. They will take on the PA Playmakers in the morning, and will head to the East Cobb Complex to take on Bones Baseball in the afternoon. This is just the start of what should be a long and successful week for this talented Canes program.
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