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Tournaments  | Story  | 7/7/2021

Sparks Grind Out Opening Win at 17u WWBA

Matthew Welsh     
Photo: Noah Schultz (Perfect Game)
MARIETTA, Ga. -- The Cangelosi Sparks began their national championship conquest on Tuesday night, sliding past Slammers Blitzer, 3-2, at the TOP Chops East Cobb Complex. The win marked the first victory this year for the Sparks in a national Perfect Game event. 
 
Starting on the mound was 6-foot-9 Vanderbilt commit Noah Schultz, who took the opportunity to acclimate himself to the tournament and sharpen his skills heading into the latter days of pool play and playoff baseball. 
 
“It was tough at the beginning to find the zone, but I put my head down, got my stuff together, and threw strikes to help my team,” Schultz said. 
 
Schultz and the Sparks began play in front of a plethora of college and professional scouts, all with eyes on the lengthy left-hander, whose fastball touched 90 mph, paired with a nice breaking ball. In his two-inning, tune-up outing, Schultz gave up only one hit and struck out four batters. 
 


“I don’t ever pay attention to that,” Schultz said of the added eyes on him and his team this tournament. “I just focus on my game and do what I do. I let my defense play and let them do what they normally do, and I think that they really help our team win.”
 
Another distinguished performer from the Sparks’ inaugural contest was corner infielder and Illinois commit Jimmy Rolder. Rolder led the Sparks offense with two hits, one of which was a home run, two runs scored, and one RBI. Even in high-profile games such as those in Atlanta this weekend, Rolder utilizes his confidence to help lead his team.
 
“I just have a lot of confidence,” said Rolder. “As a team, we’ve been struggling a little bit, and sometimes we just need that spark to get something going, and that was my goal today.”
 
The aim for these two team leaders is ultimately to rally their teammates in an effort to give the squad the best chance to win each game. 
 
And although not headliners in the first game, the rest of their teammates are just as talented as those players on top teams in the 17u Championship’s field. Right-hander Julius Sanchez (Illinois commit), outfielder Jack Lausch (Notre Dame commit), shortstop Jayden Comia (Illinois commit), right-hander Caden Leonard (Kent State commit) and middle infielder Luka Radicevich are all ranked in the country’s top-500 players. 
 
An additional three players on the roster are nationally ranked in the top-1000 of the 2022 graduating class. Talent certainly is in excess for the Sparks, who are also aiming to set their highest tournament finish of the summer so far. But whether the team can live up to that potential is still to be seen. 
 
“It means a lot,” Rolder said of the first win. “We got the boys going, getting the first one out of the way after being in a little slump, but I think we’re looking good.”
 
The Sparks look to continue their run of play on Saturday with two games at 12:30 PM and 5:30 PM. After three games into the tournament, the team and its tournament outlook will begin to solidify in what they hope to be a dominant pool play display. 
 
“It was a good start. It’ll put some fire in our eyes to keep moving forward and get us as far in the tournament as we can go,” Schultz said.
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