FORT MYERS, FL. -- The 13U BCS National Championship saw many PG tournament regulars, most notably, the Gulf Coast Monarchs 13U and Five Star Schlosser. Throughout the summer, the Gulf Coast Monarchs have previously won the 13U Super 25 and 13U Freedom Classic with PG, so for them, championships are nothing new. The same can also be said for team Five Star as they continue to claim championship after championship in almost every age group of the BCS tournaments this summer.
For these two teams, it was during pool play when they first faced off and Five Star took home the win with a score of 7-2. Despite this, the Monarchs continued to dominate throughout the tournament to earn their spot in the championship. For Five Star, they went undefeated through pool play and put up nearly thirty runs in two of their games, making their line up a force to be reckoned with.
Showing their strength on the mound as well, Five Star started the championship game with three up three down from pitcher Jacob Kendall. They then got things started at the plate as they quickly put up four runs. Leading off was Osjun Rivas who singled to center and was then brought home off a double also sent to center by Jackson Roper.
To bring Roper around the diamond, Jacob Kendall sacrificed a fly to right and the last two runs of the inning came from a line drive sent deep into right off the bat of Gabe Gonzalez.
When the Monarchs came to the plate to start the second inning, they knew they had some catching up to do. Pitcher Jacob Kendall helped the Monarchs get on the board by allowing them to walk in a run. With the bases still loaded and two outs, Vincent Mattei hit a grounder to left to allow Charley Bergsma the opportunity to score which brought the game to 4-2.
Wanting to keep their four run lead from the start of the second, Five Star got back to work at the plate and after a two walks combined with a single from Jackson Roper, power hitter Jacob Kendall brought in their fifth run. Right behind Kendall was Emery Coleman who grounded out to third letting Osjun Rivas reach home and bring the score up to 6-2.
Cole Ingole finished out his time on the mound for the Monarchs in the bottom of the third, walking one batter and giving up no runs. Jalen Foxx then took over in the fourth and pitched three scoreless innings giving up just two hits.
While Ingole and Foxx kept Five Star scoreless from the mound, the Monarchs began their comeback in the fifth inning. Back to back singles to right from Vincent Mattei and Owen Rardin got the team’s momentum going. Johnny King then turned around a 78 mph fastball sending it deep to center for an RBI.
Behind King was Carter Smith who came to the plate with runners on third and first and one out. Smith waited for his pitch and crushed a fastball sending it off the top of the green monster in left field at jetBlue park. However, what would be a triple; quickly became an inside the park homerun thanks to an overthrow from the left fielder to third. Smith had tied up the game at 6-6 with just two innings remaining.
After losing their four run lead, Five Star coach Gus Schlosser told his team to “maximize [their] outs and make sure [they] don't give away any at bats”. He also told PG they tried to “minimize damage” as much as possible in order to have an opportunity for a come back.
The Monarchs then took the lead in the top of the sixth after Osjun Rivas of Five Star walked a run in. Rivas was able to hold them to a 7-6 lead through the seventh inning and then it was Five Stars' last chance to take back the game after going scoreless since the second.
Pitcher Jalen Foxx started off the bottom of the seventh with a quick two outs but Five Star was not ready to give up just yet. Randy Ruiz brought in the tying run with a grounder to right which also put Owen Layfield in scoring position at third. Foxx then loaded the bases after walking Gabe Gonzalez and the game was down to the wire. With a 3-2 count, Jalen Foxx walked in the walk off run for Five Star to win the championship 8-7, adding to their organization’s list of BCS titles.
After an incredible championship performance, Jacob Kendall of Five Star was named the Most Valuable Player of the 13U BCS National Championship. Throughout the tournament, Kendall had twelve runs, ten hits, and twelve RBIs.
Most Valuable Pitcher was awarded to Charley Bergsma of the Gulf Coast Monarchs who pitched for seven innings with eight Ks and twenty three outs.