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Tournaments  | Championship  | 6/24/2020

Hurricanes Wash Out Elite Squad

Julia Krzeminski     
Photo: Florida Hurricanes (Perfect Game)
FORT MYERS, FL. — It was no surprise the Hurricane 14u Scout team, who ranks number one in the nation, made it into the championship game of the 14u BCS National Championship tournament. Over one third of the Hurricane’s roster has a batting average of at least .400 and throughout the tournament they have scored an average of 11.5 runs per game while run ruling 6 out of 8 games. Their opponent for the championship, the Elite Squad 14u, has a team batting average of .373 and run ruled 2 games with scores of 8-0 and 20-4. With both teams possessing a powerful line up, it was unclear which team would be the one to run up the score this time. 

It was three up three down for pitcher Mateo Gray of the Hurricanes in the first inning but, for Elite Squad pitcher Kody Morgan, the inning wouldn't be that quick. 



After a line drive to right from Anthony Tralongo brought Jackson Miller into scoring position on third, Gian De Castro came to the plate. De Castro boasts a .451 batting average making his RBI line drive to left for a double no surprise. Power hitter Mateo Gray, with a batting average of .635, added another run on the board for an RBI. Next up, EJ Burns finished off the inning with a ground ball to left putting a third run on the board. 

A shaky bottom of the second resulted in a pitching change for the Elite to Talan Holiday who closed out the inning with a strike out with bases loaded.

By the fourth inning, both teams were starting to heat up at the plate. For the Elite, Efrain Morales got the team started with a fly ball to center and after two walks, the bases were loaded and set Ethan Puig up for an RBI. Puig delivered with a single over the head of the second baseman which brought the score to 4-2 with the Hurricanes still in the lead. 

The Hurricanes responded with a single from Jason Bello but an error in the throw to first advanced him to second. Jackson Miller then brought Bello home with a double hit off the left field wall. 

At the start of the fifth, Rylan Lujo replaced Mateo Gray on the mound for the Hurricanes. A single to right by Jadyn Nunez followed by Kody Morgan’s line drive to right for a double set the Elite up to put a couple more runs on the board. Johnny Montgomery was able to bring the score to 5-3 after hitting a ground out to second. A balk from Lujo then allowed Morgan to advance home from third bringing the Elite even closer to a comeback as the game went into the bottom of the fifth with a score of 5-4. 

As the Elite appeared close to tying the game, the Hurricanes put their power at the plate on display to keep them in the lead. The Elite first walked Gian De Castro, then up next was Niko Benestad who hit a line drive to left, just a few feet shy of the foul line. While Mateo Gray was up to bat, De Castro stole third which gave him a short trip home when Gray hit a single to center. 

Next at the plate was EJ Burns who hit a sacrifice bunt to bring in Benestad. Once Benestad scored, pitcher Michael Torres attempted to pick off Gray at first but his throw went into the stands advancing Gray to third. Gray then had no trouble scoring after Jason Bellow hit a single over the head of the second baseman. 

By the time the fifth inning came to a close, the Hurricanes had given themselves a 4 run lead with a score of 8-4. 

Pitcher Rylan Lujo for the Hurricanes saw just three batters before the team came back to the plate to possibly end the game in a run rule as they had done in so many previous games throughout the tournament. 

As expected, Rylan Lujo and Jackson Miller both hit singles to the outfield and the bases were loaded after Anthony Tralongo was hit by a pitch and walked. The Elite tried to keep the score at 8-4 when a single to first resulted in an out at home but Niko Benestad then brought in a run with a pop fly to right. Marking his third hit and at bat of the game, Mateo Gray then hit a single to left for another RBI which put the Hurricanes 2 runs away from a run rule. 

When he is at the plate, Mateo Gray told PG “I don’t really think of the play, I just see the ball hit the ball. That’s what I’ve been taught to do and that’s what I do”.

Ej Burns then kept things going with a ground ball to second for an RBI. Finishing the game off with a walk off line drive to left was Riley Luft who brought the final score to 12-4. 

Coach Sam Luppino of the Hurricanes told PG, “Our mindset from the beginning has been that every play, every game has to matter, and that's what our team does really well. They never take an at bat or a play off”. 

After an incredible performance throughout the tournament and the championship game, Mateo Gray was named the 14u BCS National Championship MVP. Gray ended the tournament with 13 runs, 19 hits, and 17 RBIs, while in the championship game alone he went 3 for 3 at the plate with three RBIs and 1 run. He also pitched four innings allowing only 2 hits and 1 run.
 
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