Perfect Game’s first event at Prospect Meadows since the COVID-19 shutdown in March brought heavy hitters, plenty of runs, and a great weekend of youth baseball. Saturday and Sunday played host to four age divisions of the Midwest Elite Championship, some familiar names taking home hardware all the way from 11U to 14U.
GRB Rays Green Take Home 11U Crown
The Greg Reinhard Baseball Academy (GRB Rays) was well represented throughout the entire complex this weekend, and the 11U Green team went 3-0 on their way to a tournament championship. After winning a pair of hard-fought pool play games on Saturday, this GRB group came back on championship Sunday and cruised to an 8-0 victory over the Encompass Expos.
Luke Chynoweth was dominant on the mound in the final contest, striking out four and allowing just two hits in his four shutout innings of work. It took the right-hander just 46 pitches to finish the game, and the primary shortstop was a strike throwing machine throughout. The performance was enough to earn him the title of Tournament MV-Pitcher.
Offensively, the GRB Rays Green were led by tournament MVP and championship game standout Ashtyn Seifert. Seifert went 2-for-2 with an RBI and three runs scored in that final contest, which was standard for all three games this weekend. Seifert totaled four hits, six runs scored, and five stolen bases over the two days.
Champions: GRB Rays Green
Runner-up: Encompass Expos
MVP: Ashtyn Seifert
MVPitcher: Luke Chynoweth
GRB Rays Continue Dominance in 12U Division
The states of Minnesota and Wisconsin continued their championship game battles in the 12U division, with the GRB Rays 12U Green edging out the Minnesota Icemen 12U by a score of 6-4.
After going down 1-0 in the top of the second inning, the GRB Rays answered back with six of their own, taking the commanding lead and refusing to look back. After a couple two-out hits, GRB was able to take advantage of an error and some clutch swings to move ahead. Having already scored four runs in the inning, the biggest swing of the inning came when tournament MVP Van Vogler drove in another two with a single.
Winston Alonso was the winning pitcher for GRB, holding off what is always a dangerous Minnesota Icemen lineup. The trio of Brady Stelzer, Alonso, and Manuel Abreu-Socorro struck out nine Icemen hitters in the game and were able to make enough big pitches to grab the victory.
The tournament’s Most Valuable-Pitcher was Brody Geislinger of the Icemen. Geislinger tossed a complete game in the Icemen’s first pool-play contest Saturday, striking out 11 hitters over five innings of work. The right-hander allowed just one hit and run, tossing 70 percent strikes in his outing.
Champions: GRB Rays Green
Runner-up: MN Icemen 12U
MVP: Van Vogler
MVPitcher: Brody Geislinger
Sparks are Comeback Kids, Take Home 13U Crown
It was never easy, but the Cangelosi Sparks 13U took home the championship at the Midwest Elite Championship on Sunday. Trailing the Capital City Bombers 10-4 in the bottom of the seventh, the Sparks scored seven runs in the last half to walk off winners, 11-10.
Working station-to-station and taking runs as they came on Sunday, the Sparks closed the gap with some timely singles and strong at-bats in that last inning, finally grabbing the winning run on a Fielder’s Choice that allowed Brandon Stinson to score.
In total, eight of the 11 hitters in the Cangelosi Sparks lineup had an RBI in the championship, with tournament MVP Gavin Triezenberg helping to lead the way in the middle of the order. Triezenberg was 3-for-4 with a double in the championship game, totaling three doubles for the tournament and six RBI.
The Sparks group hit throughout the tournament, going 4-0 and scoring double-digit runs in three of those games. The 43 total runs was an event-best, and players such as Ethan Moore, Triezenberg, and Jaden Fauske helped lead the way throughout.
The Most Valuable-Pitcher of the tournament was Capital City Bombers right-hander Kyren Waggoner. Waggoner did not allow a hit in his four innings of work, striking out three batters and running the fastball up to 73mph.
Champions: Cangelosi Sparks
Runner-Up: Capital City Bombers 2025
MVP: Gavin Triezenberg
MVPitcher: Kyren Waggoner
Cedar Rapids Reds Take Crown in All-Local Championship
For those that follow youth baseball in the Cedar Rapids area, the championship game was sure a treat as it featured a pair of local teams. The Cedar Rapids Reds bested Saints Silver 2024 in the finale on Sunday, using a five-run fifth inning to take the crown, 5-4.
After going down 4-0 early, they took advantage of a two-out error and managed three two-out knocks to open the door and take the lead. The game-winning hit proved to come off the bat of Ryker Remington, who drove a run-scoring double for the fifth run of the inning.
Brock Harland proved important out of the bullpen for the Reds, tossing four strong innings and allowing just one run. Harland threw a clean sixth and seventh after taking the lead as well, and the right-hander finished his outing having given up just one hit.
The Most Valuable Player of the 14U division was Cedar Rapids Reds left-fielder Jackson Mishler. Mishler finished the tournament with six hits and five RBI, and one of his hits came in the championship game.
The MV-Pitcher on Sunday was Saints Silver 2024 right-hander Preston Lang. Lang did not allow an earned run over eight innings of work, allowing just five hits and striking out four batters. Lang ran the fastball up to 75 mph and could be a local name to watch on the mound as he continues to grow and develop.