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PG Series  | PG Series Classic  | 8/1/2019

Deep South rallies in 14u Series

Autumn Jones     
Photo: Deep South (Perfect game)

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Deep South battled to win the 14u Series Classic using a late, seventh inning rally against Coastal to squeeze by in walk-off fashion, 9-8. This team consisted of talent from the South and primarily from Florida, who performed exceptionally throughout this near week-long series, going undefeated with a tie in the opener to Mid West.

The battle began with two scoreless innings and soon after Deep South would get the lead on the boards in the bottom of the third, tallying three runs scored by Bryan Frydenlund (2023, Naples, Fla.) Colton Ide (2023, Fort Myers, Fla.) and Christopher Carroll (2023, Miami, Fla.).

A speedy recovery for Coastal entering the fourth led them to gain the same amount of runs, coming from Thomas Paxton (2023, Waxhaw, N.C.), Bradley Link (2023, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) and Edian Espinal (2022, Viera, Fla) to tie the game 3-3. A base hit from Carroll in the bottom of the fifth allowed him to steal second and advance to third on an error where he would then score a run from a balk and give Deep South back their lead.

But Coastal responded twice as much in the top of the sixth and would then double Deep South's runs, 8-4. Jacob Dudan (2023, Huntersville, N.C.) got them started with a double followed by Links’ base hit to center. Then, Espinal hit a double, Hayden Gustavson (2023, Lake City, Fla.) followed with a base hit and FIU commit Devan Meran (2022, Aventura, Fla.) would walk. Lastly, Austin Schrowe’s (2023, Cape Coral, Fla.) base hit to center scored all three batters on base totaling a five-run sixth inning for Coastal.

Deep South looked for a comeback soon after Coastal's dominant start to the sixth, but couldn’t quite yet amount to even half as many runs. A base hit by Antonio Jimenez (2023, Miami Lakes, Fla.) and a line drive to left field by Ryan Jones (2023, Keystone Heights, Fla.) had batters on base early on for Deep South. Both batters would eventually come around to steal third as Jones would also steal home plate, and each would score the team's pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. A wild pitch from Paxton that was intended to throw off their batters, would abruptly advance Riley Bambino (2022, Pembroke Pines, Fla.) to third. Deep South's head coach Brett Merritt reminds the team that it was still a great inning as they tread to the dugout down by two runs.

Mason Terry (2023, Jacksonville, Fla.) of Deep South took the mound in the top of the seventh and didn’t allow a single Coastal baserunner while striking out the side. Deep South was short on pitching, so the primary catcher and first baseman stepped up and pitched 2 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and a walk in the game, while working consistently in the 75-78 range. Even after such a direct inning, Coastal still held onto an 8-6 lead.

A base hit by Frydenlund and a walk by Ide allowed to key runner to reach base early in the bottom of the seventh for Deep South. Carroll then walked to load bases leading up to the biggest hit in the game, a line drive to right field by Neisser Sanchez (2023, Miami, Fla.) to clear the bases and secure the dramatic 9-8 victory. 

“It was just a special week,” added Merritt. “I really enjoyed the time with these kids and regardless if we won or lost today, these kids are all winners. It was just an awesome week, everyone contributed and it’s just really an unselfish cool group of kids. We had guys playing out of position and doing a lot of things they were uncomfortable with. It was a challenge for everyone, and they did a really great job. I’m really proud of them.”

MVP for the series was earned by primary lefthanded pitcher and first basemen, Garett Corkhill (2022, Alva Fla.). Corkhill pitched a solid 5 1/3 innings for Deep South in the title game allowing five hits and four walks while striking out five batters. The lefthander worked consistently in the 75-78 mph range and complemented his fastball with a 66-mph curveball.

 “He did great,” added Merritt. “We were really short on pitching so to get an outing like he gave us, we knew he had to throw a lot of pitches for us, and he just did an awesome job. He gave us exactly what we needed to win.”

But it wasn’t just his pitching efforts that earned the win, he had an impressive play each and every game of this near week-long series. Corkhill earned 13 hits, 11 runs, two doubles and six RBI overall.

“It was a lot of fun,” added Corkhill. “I really appreciate the award and I feel like I performed well myself, but we're always going to be a team. It doesn’t matter who you play with or where you play, you’re always going to be a part of a team and we had to work together. Coach helped me a lot with my command pitching this week. He’s a big reason in winning this as well.” 

Likewise, Coach Merritt admires this team's work ethic just as much as the players appreciate his coaching abilities. He believes bringing talent together is the greatest thing about baseball and sports in general.

“Bringing everyone together is important,” added Merritt. “Only a few of our boys knew each other but most of them didn’t. I think to spend a week together and become a special group and learn to play with each other is what it’s all about.”

In addition to his offensive efforts, Schrowe earned MV-Pitcher for the series. The lefthander and high follow pitched five innings in Coastal’s semifinal shutout against Virginia, where he allowed only three hits and two walks while striking out two batters. Schrowe worked consistently in the 79-83 mph range and complemented his fastball with an elite 73 mph curveball.


2019 14u PG Series Classic runner-up: Coastal 



2019 14u PG Series Classic MVP: Garett Corkhill



2019 14u PG Series Classic MV-Pitcher: Austin Schrowe
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