Cannons Baseball won the 18u Labor Day Classic in a thrilling 5-4 victory over Hardcore Baseball. Cannons Baseball made it to the finals by beating the Ravens Baseball Club in the Quarterfinals and Bullets Baseball this morning to earn their spot in the Finals. Hardcore Baseball advanced to the Finals by beating Orlando Baseball Academy in the quarterfinals and then beating Tampa Bay Warriors before losing to Cannons Baseball today.
Hardcore Baseball took an early 1-0 lead in the 1st inning on a passed by with Michael Paez coming in to score. Cannons Baseball Quickly answered back scoring a run of their own in the bottom of the 1st on a RBI groundout by Brendan Long. After each team left runners on in the 2nd inning Hardcore Baseball took a 3-1 lead on a 2-run Home Run by Chris Mourelle. The Bottom of the 2nd inning started out slow for Cannons having both guys go down in order only to have the next 2 hitters single to set up a bases loaded opportunity for A.J. Silva. Silva battled to earn a full count and ripped out a double to LCF and clearing the bases for Cannons Baseball giving them a lead they would not reliqush.
With Cannons Baseball still holding onto a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the 4th Corbin Olmstead hit the first pitch of his at bat over the LCF wall for the Solo Home Run adding some much needed insurance for Cannons. The game stayed that way until the Top of the 7TH when the lead-off reach second on a fielder’s choice and then score on a single by Michael Paez. Later in the inning Carlos Tapia singles to put runners on first and second with 2 outs and the 4 hitter (Alex Marquez) coming up. Marquez worked the count to a 3-1 count before popping out to the first baseman to end the game.
Corbin Olmstead (RHP, 2012, Thomas Jefferson HS, Tampa, FL) earned the Most Valuable Pitcher for the 18u Labor Day Tournament. Olmstead pitched 11 innings getting in the tournament including a complete game in the championship. Over the weekend Olmstead struck out 15 batters, walked 4, and gave up 5 runs for an ERA of 2.52. Olmstead also helped himself at the plate in the championship hitting a Solo Home Run.
A.J. Silva earned Most Valuable Player for the tournament going 7-17 over the weekend with 1 double 7 RBI’S, and walking once. Silva’s biggest hit came in the Championship game with his team down 2 runs. Silva came up with the bases loaded and 2 outs and drilled a double to LCF to give Cannons Baseball a lead they would never relinquish.