Two teams claims titles in Texas

Jerry Miller Andrew Jenkins

Photo: Derrick Mitchell (Perfect Game)

Trouble viewing this page?

USA Prime North cruises to 14u championship

TOMALL, Texas – One of baseball’s most revered tried-and-true formulas – solid pitching, sound defense and timely hitting – was key to the USA Prime North club’s run to the 2019 14u PG South Championship on Memorial Day weekend. The gifted group from the navy blue and white-clad Prime club were almost flawless throughout the four-day event in posting a perfect 6-0 record while securing a 9-1 victory in the title game.

Prime’s prowess truly shown through during their championship game victory against a scrappy, fundamentally sound and very talented SA Angels 14U Blue-L club. USA Prime North scored early and often, using the long ball to get on the board first. Tournament MVP, and Prime North leadoff hitter Steven Milam hit the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the first inning deep over the right field fence to give Prime an early 1-0 lead. Two hitters later, Derrick Mitchell, Prime’s gifted, switch-hitting center fielder, drove home Tyrus Williams, who had walked following Milam’s dinger, with a no-doubt blast well over the right-center field fence.

The Prime’s three-spot in the bottom half of the first was all their starter, and winning pitcher, Brennan Greer would need as the big righty settled in and dominated a solid hitting Angels club for the duration of the contest.

Prime North put the game away with a six-run third inning that was highlighted by two big knocks by the club’s four- and five-hole hitters. Cleanup hitter Michael Cook doubled with the bases loaded, knocking in two. Following Cook in the order, Dayne Reif, whose two-run homer in the quarterfinals provided the margin of victory for Prime North over Twelve Silver, hit a loud line drive single into right field plating two more.

The never-say-die Angels fought back in the sixth inning behind their uber-talented leadoff hitter Luis Kanchef who went 2-for-3 on the day and drove in the San Antonio club’s lone run. Kanchef, who led the tournament with eight total hits, was the tough luck losing pitcher for the Angels in the championship game, as the San Antonio coaching staff turned to the heart of the team to try and will them through.

In the end, the overwhelming offense of the USA Prime Club, coupled with their air-tight defense and the strong pitching effort from Greer, who scattered six hits, while striking out four and walking none, was just too much for the Angels to overcome.

Hustle Premier battles back, wins 13u title in walkoff fashion

TOMBALL, Texas – Facing off in the 2019 PG 13u South Championship were the two talented teams of Spitfire Elite – Pizarro and Hustle 13u Premier. While Spitfire Elite jumped out to an early lead it was Hustle 13u Premier that walked off with the 7-6 victory.

Both teams went into extra innings in their semifinal games, leaving them completely depleted of pitching. Not surprisingly the run scoring got started with the crack of the bat as In the top of the first inning, with two outs, Spitfire Elite – Pizarro plated four runs. A triple to the right-center gap by Gabriel Saldivar started it followed by an RBI double to left from Elbert Craig, a two-RBI double to left-center by Andrew Daniels and an RBI single from Christian Alcala.

In the top of the fourth inning, Spitfire Elite – Pizarro added two runs from an inside-the-park home run by Alcala, scoring Daniels, who singled before the home run.

The offense for Hustle 13u Premier stranded six runners on base and collected one hit in the first three innings. However, they slowly but surely chipped away at the lead starting in the fourth inning. Charles Broussard walked, stole second then scored off an RBI double by Ryan Everitt. Everitt scored on a David Fuentes single up the middle, Funetes reached third via a stolen base and a wild pitch and then scored on a great safety squeeze by Jayden Martinez, making the score 6-3.

In the fifth inning Payton Young came into relief for Hustle 13u Premier, shutting down the bats of Spitfire Elite – Pizarro, going three up, three down.

In the bottom of the fifth, Hustle 13u Premier continued to chip away at the lead. Alec Reyes led of with a double, Payton Young followed with an RBI triple and then scored on a throwing error. Broussard singled and Everitt walked, with both advancing on a balk by Litarris Murray. Elbert Craig was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Jesse Gomez fly out to center, which plated Martinez. He was hit by a pitch, tying the game 6-6, Duran finally grounded out to third base, ending the inning.

Murray, Spitfire’s starter, lasted 5 1/3 innings with Gabriel Riggs coming on in relief, shutting down Hustle 13u Premier’s momentum. The tie continued and the 2019 PG 13u South Championship went into extra innings. In the top of the eighth inning Young once again shut down the opposing lineup going three up, three down.

In the bottom of the eighth Joey Duran walked to lead off the inning for Hustle 13u Premier. A single by Reyes made it two on with no outs for Young, who hammered an outside pitch down the right field line. That hit brought home Duran who hustled across the plate to win the game for Hustle 13U Premier in extras and claim the 2019 PG 13u South Championship.

Give us your feedback