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Tournaments  | Story  | 7/18/2018

Texas Twelve advances at 15u

Nate Schweers     
Photo: Brad Rudis (Perfect Game)

EMERSON, Ga. – Texas Twelve Maroon was able to use phenomenal pitching to tie the West Cobb Raptors 1-1 on the final day of pool play at the 15u WWBA National Championship. The tie allows Texas Twelve to advance out of Pool X and into the single elimination playoff bracket that starts Wednesday evening.

Knowing they needed a tie or win to advance, Texas Twelve counted on a trio of great arms to get the job done. Starting pitcher Brad Rudis turned in an impressive outing, allowing just one unearned run in his 2 2/3 innings while striking out three. Rudis was able to keep the Raptors at bay with a good mix of speeds on a day where he felt like he may not have had his best stuff.

“My curveball was working nice today. My fastball wasn't where I wanted to it to be, but I mean it was good enough to get the job done,” said Rudis, who also noted that the bats need to come alive for this Texas Twelve squad to make a run at a championship. “Bats need to get hot for sure. We are a little cold right now, but we need to get there.”

Rudis’ brother Matt has had success in the past at WWBA events. Matt Rudis is an incoming freshman at TCU and won MV-Pitcher honors at the 17u WWBA National Championship last summer. Having an older brother can be helpful for any young ballplayer, and Brad certainly looks to his brother for guidance.

“He has taught me a lot of different things about being on the mound and working hard.  It is great to have him teaching me how to get to my dreams.”

After reliever Anthony Giannette tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, it was up to Austin Ford to come in and shut the door. Ford delivered a clutch performance on the mound, tossing three hitless innings while allowing just one walk and striking out four Raptors.

“I’m just really happy that we are making it to the playoffs,” said Ford, who is native of Cypress, Texas. “It doesn't help that we tied, but we just had a great effort from everyone on our team today. As far as my outing, I was just happy I could help the team.”

It is in fact a team game, and Texas Twelve Maroon head coach Zach Dillon is proud of his team’s effort thus far. At 6-0-1, his team has outscored their opponents 55-5 so far in tournament play, a mark that might be good enough to earn them a bye into tomorrow’s second round playoff games.

“I think that the entire week the numbers would indicate that we have pitched really well. Our guys have gone out and shoved it in the strike zone and done a really good job of competing on the mound,” said Dillon. “Offensively, we have been a little spotty at times. We need to get a little more disciplined at the plate and a little more competitive pitch to pitch.”

One of the players that is leading the charge on the offensive side of the ball is Dylan Leach. Leach is a switch hitter that provides power from both sides of the plate in the middle of the Texas Twelve order. Leach is really starting to swing it well in the tournament, and his success could be key to a deep playoff run.

“Dylan is a guy that has really gotten going in the last couple of days, and he is a really talented kid. Depending on whoever is on the bump for them we feel he can really give us a shot in the middle of the order.”

Pitchers have been careful pitching to Leach all week, and he believes that patience in his approach will continue to give him good at-bats for his team.

“Everybody is throwing outside, so you just have to let it get deep and try to hit it to left center field for a lefthander and right center for a right hander,” said Leach. “Our pitching is dealing and now we just have to hit the ball. I think we are fixing to come out and swing it in the next game, but pitching is the key now.”

As this Texas Twelve group moves on the final 41 teams in this year’s 15U WWBA National Championship, building on the success they have had all week will be important to making a run. Coach Dillon thinks they can do it.

“We are excited to be moving on, we’re up to the challenge, and we’re looking forward to it.”
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