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Tournaments  | Story  | 10/20/2018

US Elite sitting pretty

Bryan Cooney     
Photo: Sal Stewart (Perfect Game)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – With a 1-2 punch consisting of Sal Stewart (2022, No. 9, Miami, Fla.) and Cole Young (2022, No. 16, Wexford, Pa.), US Elite 15u National entered the WWBA Freshman World Championship expecting to contend among the top programs within the 64-team field. Through their three pool play games, US Elite have proved to be a team to be reckoned with as they have outscored their opponents 17-3 with Stewart and Young leading the charge offensively.

Stewart is among the tournament’s leaders in hits with four, including a 3-for-3 performance against the South Jersey Sand Sharks in which he was a home run shy of the cycle.

Young has gone 3-for-7 with a double and a triple and he has utilized his speed on the basepaths with three stolen bases. Displaying his defensive ability at shortstop through the first two days, the Wexford, Pa. native has relished the opportunity to compete against the top players in his class.

US Elite has been much more than just its two top dogs as the pitching staff has struck out 28 batters in 19 innings and have allowed just three runs. Scattering the load on the mound has been effective for US Elite as a total of eight arms have done the job to allow the team to have an opportunity to move into the playoff bracket after winning their pool with a 2-0-1 record.

On Saturday morning, Joey Tuttoilmondo (2022, Monmouth Junction, N.J.) was dominant in his start against the Sand Sharks, striking out seven in three innings of work. Lefthander Jesus Gonzalez (2022, Hialeah, Fla.) was equally impressive in relief of Tuttoilmondo, striking out four over 2 1/3 scoreless frames as US Elite took a 6-1 victory.

In their Saturday afternoon contest, Brandyn Gonzalez (2022, Miramar, Fla.) was able to eat up 3 2/3 innings, allowing two hits while picking up four strikeouts in their 1-1 tie against Canes Florida 2022 Prime.

On Friday, Gavin Woodland (2022, No. 97, Vailer, Ill.), Patrick Walega (2022, Kinnelon, N.J.) and Ryan Sprock (2022, Morristown, N.J.) combined to allow just one hit in their 10-1, five-inning win over Team Elite 15u Premier. Woodland struck out five in 2 1/3 innings and Walega, who also sports a .714 average at the plate (5-for-7) with four stolen bases, punched out three in 1 2/3 innings with each righthander not allowing a hit.

“I think all of our pitchers have done a great job helping our team out throwing strikes and competing at their best,” Young said. “I think it’s great and leaves us in good shape heading into the playoffs tomorrow.”

Stewart will get his chance on the mound on Sunday as US Elite will need to win their second-round playoff matchup in the morning to advance to the afternoon quarterfinal.

“For us to win these games tomorrow, we need to be upbeat, high-energy because we beat teams when their heads are not in the game,” Stewart said. “I feel if that first inning if we can get a run early or have a quick 1-2-3 inning, that’s how we can be at our best.”

Stewart and Young had the opportunity to compete in last month’s 14u PG Select Festival game as teammates for the victorious Team Erickson side, coached by long-time MLB pitcher Scott Erickson. Stewart was selected as Perfect Game’s 14u Player of the Year for his efforts all throughout the year competing in numerous Perfect Game events.

“It’s an all-star game and you want to go out there and have fun, but I tried learning little things from our coaches we had and from my teammates,” Stewart said. “Being around each other, there’s things that I learned from others that I didn’t have and was able to maybe give others something I do well.”

Young hailed the experience as the best time of his young baseball life, being around a group of the best of the best and playing at JetBlue Park, the Spring Training home of the now American League champion Boston Red Sox.

“It was the best four days of my life, being around all of those great players and being able to learn from the coaches,” Young said.

Coming from two completely different parts of the country but having played together for the past few years together has made the relationship between the two players a strong one that has helped both improve to become top talents in the class of 2022.

“Baseball eventually will come to an end so creating these relationships can last a lifetime,” Stewart said. “When I’m at third and see Cole at short and have Drew Wyers at second, we’re considered brothers. On the field, I call it going to war with my brothers and I’m very happy that Cole is with me out there.”

The playoffs for the WWBA Freshman World Championship will begin with four first round contests at 8 a.m., followed by eight Round 2 games at 10:20. Quarterfinal contests will take place at 12:40 p.m., with the final four teams advancing to Monday’s morning semifinals.
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