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Tournaments  | Story  | 6/28/2021

East Cobb Earns Third Shutout of Southeast WS

Matthew Welsh     
Photo: East Cobb Prime 16u (Perfect Game)
MARIETTA, Ga. -- East Cobb Prime 16u advanced to their second semifinal round of the summer on Sunday afternoon, following a 3-0 shutout win against the Canes Southeast Scout team at Perfect Game’s East Cobb Complex.  
 
Although no strangers to playoff baseball (East Cobb has reached bracket play in four of their six tournaments of the season), this is the team’s longest tournament title bid outside of their first event of the season in May. And after having given up only two total runs through four games, come Monday, this weekend has the chance to be particularly fruitful. 
 
Sunday’s star was starting pitcher Logan Bryson, who threw a complete game shutout over seven innings in only 91 pitches. Bryson allowed only two hits and three walks in his outing and utilized an 87 mph fastball and 80 mph split-finger pitch. Aside from a fleeting, late-inning jam with two runners on base, Bryson exuded his dominance on the game.
 
“I feel great, I don't even know what to say. I haven't ever thrown a complete game,” said Bryson, immediately following the game. “My mentality was just to shut them down. I attacked them with my fastball and wanted to end it with a split-finger or a curveball.”
 
Bryson’s effort helped hand Prime their third shutout win of the tournament, tied for the most among all bracket participants. Noah Darden (ranked in the nation’s top-1000) complemented his teammate’s mound presence with a 2-for-3 day at the plate and drove in one of the team’s winning runs. 
 
And despite their individual brilliance on the day, both Darden and Bryson attributed the win to their team’s overall level of effort, a standard that they say is brought to the ballpark on a daily basis. 
 
“We always bring energy and are always energetic,” Darden said. “We never give up, which is something that we’re pretty good at, and we’re just out here to try and get it done very day.”
 
That energy will certainly be on display again as the team advances to the tournament’s final day. Additional pieces to the East Cobb arsenal hopeful to make an impact on the upcoming games include top 500-ranked right-hander Dylan McCarthy and top-1000 prospect and shortstop Bryant Loving. Loving himself logged a 1-for-2 day en route to the Sunday quarterfinals win.
 
Yet another eight players on the team are designated on Perfect Game’s ‘high follow’ list for the class of 2023, and eight more are given the ‘follow’ status. Within the East Cobb program, Prime does not possess the largest array of committed prospects, but what they may lack in rankings, they certainly compensate for with intensity and determination.
 
With similar performances as those seen today, Prime has a tangible shot at not only advancing to the championship, but also claiming what would be their second crown of the summer. On the mound, Bryson just wants to see a continued commitment to consistency.
 
“As a team we just need to keep throwing strikes, and to try to limit our walks and limit the hits." Bryson said. “For us [pitchers], that’s all we can do."
 
On the other side of the ball, Darden similarly hopes to see a continuation of what has propelled them to their current position. Overall, it’s a team endeavor.
 
“We need to keep hitting like we are, keep playing solid defense, keep picking each other up, and keep being loud,” Darden said. “If we keep playing as a team, we should be able to get the job done.”