2,076 MLB PLAYERS | 14,476 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Tournaments  | Story  | 5/26/2019

CBT takes MMDC top seed

Annika Wall     
Photo: Max Kalk (Perfect Game)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – It would have typically taken 794 miles for the CBT Wolfpack of Appleton, Wis. to play Sticks Elite, the 34th-ranked team in the nation, based out of Springdale, Ark. Instead, the two teams collided in the 14u Midwest Memorial Day Classic in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with the Wolfpack emerging victorious 10-5 to earn the top seed in the tournament.

“We just wanted to come out trusting in what we do,” Eitan Maoz, CBT Wolfpack head coach, said. “Our boys swung the bats really well. I actually think that we gave them a few runs in the first inning and those little things are things we have to clean up. If that happens and we play our game, we have a chance against anybody.”

After giving up three runs in the first three innings, the Wolfpack wouldn’t score until the bottom of the third. Pitcher Wyatt Brown began the charge with a beautiful bunt down the third base line for a single. Right fielder Mitchell Grishaber followed with a single before shortstop Max Kalk hit a two-run double to left field.

For many of the Wolfpack, it’s their first time experiencing travel baseball. You wouldn’t have been able to tell that, though, when looking at the stats sheet. Brown only gave up three runs on four hits, while Kalk and Grishaber had two hits and three RBIs each. All three of Grishaber’s came off of ground ball triple down the right-field line. Overall, the combination of small-ball prowess and long-ball dominance proved to be too much for Sticks Elite to handle.

“We have some really talented hitters, some big boys in our lineup who know how to swing it,” Maoz said. “We’re pretty fortunate that some of our bigger boys, too, are really fast. We have some pretty above-average team speed that puts pressure on defenses when we put the ball in play, but then we have some guys who can sting it.”

CBT Wolfpack went undefeated in pool play by also defeating Iowa Sticks Blue in a 7-6 nailbiter victory. In the top of the seventh, Logan Van Zummeren reached on a second-baseman error to score Jeremiah Jahnke before going three up, three down in the bottom of the inning to secure the win.

On the other side of the coin, Sticks Elite with a 4-3 loss to Iowa Sticks Red. Sticks Elite scattered seven hits among five innings and started Kaleb Kellar on the mound. Kellar gave up one run off two hits and struck out a pair of batters. Kellar switched to centerfield after two innings of work.

“Pool play is always one of those things that we use as development,” Aaron Adams, Sticks Elite head coach said. “With the pitch counts and everything else, [it’s about] developing the bullpen and getting kids on the mound who aren’t usually on the mound. Then when it comes game day, we put our rotation together and have a lot more confidence that we’re going to take care of business.

CBT Wolfpack earned the top seed in bracket play and will face off against the winner of Iowa Sticks White and Iowa Select in the semifinal round. Both teams went 1-1 in pool play.
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.