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Tournaments  | Story  | 9/17/2018

Young Sparks win Midwest Under

Patrick Ebert     
Photo: Cangelosi Sparks 2021 Black (Perfect Game)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – In what was an all-Cangelosi championship game at the 2018 Midwest Underclass Qualifier, pitting the top-seeded Sparks 2020 Black squad against their younger organizational mates, the Sparks 2021 Black team, it was the younger unit that emerged victorious with a stunning 10-2 victory in five innings. The 2021 team entered the playoffs as the 11th seed (out of 12), requiring a play-in game on Saturday to advance to Sunday’s and Monday’s playoff action at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

After the 2020 Cangelosi jumped out to an early lead by scoring a run in the bottom of the first, the 2021 Cangelosi squad answered back, and never looked back, scoring three runs on three hits, a walk and a steal of home in the very next half inning.

Things got out of hand in the top of the fifth inning when the 2021 Cangelosi squad hung a seven-spot on the scoreboard to give them a commanding 10-1 lead. They drew five walks, reached on an error, hit two singles and a double, highlighted by Bobby Atkinson’s two-run two-bagger.

The 2020 squad was able to tack on another run in the bottom of the fifth, but it wasn’t enough to prolong the game, as the 2021 team won by run-rule given their eight-run lead after five innings. Jared Comia, Ryan O'Neil and Trez Rybarczyk combined to allow just four base hits over five innings on the mound, silencing the 2020 team that had out-scored their opponents 34-0 in their four previous games.

With the victory Cangelosi Sparks 2021 Black receives a paid invitation to the 2018 WWBA Underclass World Championship, which will be played October 4-8 in Fort Myers, Florida with the Lee County Player Development Complex serving as the event site host.

To advance to the championship game Cangelosi Sparks 2021 Black defeated the Nebraska Prospects Blue 6-1 in the first of two semifinal games played at Perfect Game Field on Monday morning. The Nebraska Prospects were undefeated at 4-0, winning their previous two playoff games. Cangelosi 2021’s Michael Bernas fired five no-hit frames and Atkinson – who had the big hit in the championship game – closed things out with two scoreless innings to secure the win. Noah Jouras’ bases-clearing double in the team’s four-run sixth proved to be the deciding blow.

Atkinson was named the event Most Valuable Player for his efforts both at the plate and on the mound. In six games he batted .455 (5-for-11) with a double, a home run and five RBI to go along with his scoreless two innings in his team’s semifinal victory.

In the second semifinal game Caneglosi Sparks 2020 Black wrapped up their win over the Chicago White Sox ACE 2020 team in five innings with a 8-0 victory. Ken Middleton went the full five, striking out three and scattering three base hits without allowing a walk. The White Sox ACE team was 3-0 heading into the game after entering the playoffs as the event’s No. 4 seed. Cangelosi’s 2020 team pounded out 13 base hits, as five different players had multiple knocks, led by Tommy Jarack’s 2-for-3, four RBI performance that included a double and a triple.

Alberto Lamas of Cangelosi Sparks 2020 Black was named the Most Valuable Pitcher. In a crucial playoff matchup against Iowa Select Black 2020 on Sunday Lamas fired five shutout innings, striking out seven in a 1-0 victory.


2018 Midwest Underclass Qualifier MVP: Bobby Atkinson



2018 Midwest Underclass Qualifier MV-Pitcher: Alberto Lamas
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