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Tournaments  | Story  | 7/1/2022

Shorthanded Premier Primed for 18u Run

Riley Sheppard     
Photo: Perfect Game
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Every baseball club has different challenges, but for Premier Baseball 18U, a player getting something as simple as a cramp can be detrimental.

“It's crazy, like we get hurt we have to keep playing,” Premier two-way player Stephen Hammergren said postgame. “You just have to keep playing but it's hard, especially with the Florida sun and the humidity.”



The reason why it’s a big deal for one of their players to get hurt is because they traveled to the BCS National Championship with just nine players, the exact amount needed on the field at all times.

“It's simultaneously extremely difficult but also easy,” Head Coach Tyler Long said postgame. “When you’ve got nine players, you don't have to worry about who you're playing, but figuring out pitching and defense is tough.”

Despite those challenges, Premier has made their way to the semifinals at the 18u BCS National Championship. In their quarterfinal matchup against Chi Town Cream, a one-run complete game from Hammergren led the way in their 2-1 victory.

The two teams faced off just 24 hours prior, with Premier coming away with a 7-3 victory behind a seven-strikeout complete game from Jayden Ripplemeyer. So when the two matched up one again, with a berth to the semifinal on the line, Premier was not going to be denied.

“My teams have always been gritty like that,” Long said. “When we play top level teams, they seem to always step up. I can't explain it, just moxie.”

Premier’s two runs came in the bottom of the first. Back-to-back walks from Trevin Long and Nikki Scott put runners on first and second with just one out. After a fielder’s choice and error, both made their way home to take a 2-0 lead entering the second.

Despite giving up a single and an RBI double in the top of the third, Hammergren was not taken out of rhythm and retired the next three batters in just seven pitches.

Chi Town had an opportunity to tie things up in the top of the fifth, getting runners on first and second with just one out. But a liner up the middle ended up in Hammergren’s glove to turn a double play and end the inning.

“I’m going to be completely honest, I didn't see it at all,” Hammergren said postgame. “But it definitely brought the energy, our whole team was hyped up after that so it felt great.”

A combination of faith in his pitcher and lack of eligible arms kept Hammergren out there the final two innings to finish his 104 pitch effort.

Just one win away from a BCS National Championship, Premier is looking to win a title with half or even a third the amount of players at their disposal as many of the other teams in the tournament.

“Guys are just gonna have to get rested and hydrated tonight and be ready to play,” Long said postgame. “I think mental and physical fatigue is going to be the biggest test at this point.”
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