WWBA Underclass World Championship 10/10-13

I guess I am getting good. Beat I could throw a hook with no bait on it in a mud puddle and catch a whale.

 

Canes skin the Indians

 

Day one result

Cats drop one 4-0 to a powerful team.

 

Day 1 Scores

Dirtbags 17's 1
South FL Bandits '10 Navy 9

Dirtbags 6
East Cobb Titans 0

Dirtbags 17's 11
Cust D-Jacks/Tri State Arsenal 17u 4

South Char Panthers 2010 0
KC Royals Scout Team/Midland Braves 4

2010 On Deck O's 2
Team CT Baseball 2

South Char Cougars 1
All Amer Prosp Blue 8

Hurricanes Baseball '10 5
Tallahassee Indians 0

Dirtbag 17's 1-1
Dirtbags 1-0
SCP 0-1
2010 On Deck 0-0-1
SCC 0-1
Hurricanes 1-0

 

Maybe Baseball in Our Region is Getting Recognized

ASTROS, ROYALS SHOWDOWN ON TAPBY DAVID RAWNSLEYFriday October 10, 2008
FORT MYERS, Fla.--The 2008 World Wood Bat Association fall underclass championship, which gets underway here Friday, serves as a coming-out party every year for countless high school juniors and sophomores, and even a few freshmen who will eventually become household names in the prospect world.
The 66-team tournament, with teams from all over the country, runs through the weekend and concludes early Monday afternoon with the championship game scheduled for City of Palms Stadium, the spring training home of the Boston Red Sox. You’ll be able to follow much of the action by logging on to Perfect Game-affiliated websites over the next four days, and we’ll highlight some of the top prospects next week in PG Crosschecker.

Please check on both the World Wood Bat Association (www.worldwoodbat.com) and Baseball Web TV (www.baseballwebtv.com) sites for constant updates on the action.

In one respect, handicapping such a tournament with so many players who are just starting to show prospect tools or who are still essentially unknown to the Perfect Game staff, and the scouting industry generally, is difficult. But some teams just reload every year and have undoubtedly showed up with a new core of talented youngsters.

It’s not hard to figure who the tournament favorite should be. Georgia’s East Cobb Astros have won four of the six WWBA underclass championships, including three straight from 2004-2006, a streak that was broken a year ago by the previously unheralded McKinney (Texas) Marshals. The Astros have brought their usual combination of a deep pitching staff, very athletic outfielders and highly-skilled infielders and catchers to the event. They also have the huge advantage of having played together extensively throughout the summer and early fall.

That being said, the KC Royals Scout Team/Midland Braves might have the most talented team—on paper. They have an all-star group of players from at least 11 different states and some top name pitchers that will make them a very difficult team to beat—particularly come Monday, when the 2008 champion will have to win three games to take home the rings.


Here’s a rough idea of the top 10 teams participating along with some of the premium talent on each club:

1. East Cobb Astros/Gray (Marietta, Ga.)
Experience, a deep pitching staff led by righthanders Caleb Cowart and Ralston Cash, and athletes such as outfielders Trey Griffin and Andrew Toles are just part of the Astros annual reloading process.

2. KC Royals Scout Team/Midland Braves (Amelia, Ohio)
As good as their 2010 players are, the Royals/Braves group of 2011 prospects (LHP Dillon Peters, RHP Dillon Howard and RHP Dakota Smith) might be even more exciting.

3. All-American Prospects/Blue (Miami)
The middle of the Prospects lineup is imposing with third baseman Kris Castellanos, shortstop Yordy Cabrera and catcher Tyler Ross all measuring 6-foot-3 or better, with plus power across the board.

4. Orlando Scorpions/Gray (Orlando, Fla.)
Righthanders A.J. Cole (the No.-1 ranked high school prospect in the 2010 class) and Brett Winger might be the best pitching duo in the field and will be a big factor—if the rest of the Scorpions roster can get them to the end of the playoffs.

5. Louisiana Elite (Baton Rouge, La.)
The Elite has Louisiana’s top in-state talent (RHP Joe Broussard) but has also gone out of state for players such as third baseman/righthander Matt Kirkland (the top 2010 player in Tennessee) and first baseman/lefthander Patrick McGavin (Alabama).

6. Richmond Braves (Richmond, Va.)
The Braves are missing some key players from the team that won this summer’s WWBA 16-and-under national championship in Marietta, Ga., in July, but they will still field an outstanding team.

7. Dirtbags (Sedalia, N.C.)
The Dirtbags were the 2007 runner-up and always play deep into the playoffs. Outfielders DeSean Anderson and Jonathan Holt lead the line up.

8. Florida Hardballers (Gainesville, Fla.)
Shortstop/righthander Jacob Tillotson and catcher Will Allen give the Hardballers excellent strength in the middle of the field.

9. South Charlotte Panthers (Charlotte, N.C.)
Based on their recent track record, the Panthers are sure to show up with a deep roster of very fundamentally sound players and pitchers who throw strikes.

10. Hurricanes Baseball (Fredericksburg, Va.)
Shortstop Connor Narron, the son of former big league manager Jerry Narron and the top-rated high school position player in the 2010 class, will be one of the most-watched players at the championship, and the rest of the Hurricanes roster looks solid as well.

 

SC Cougars

2-1 record after three games.

First Game -vs. All-American Prospects Blue in a loss 8-1.
Easy top see why they are favored to win it all....
Ran into some buzz saw pitching - 89 mph sinking FB (on the gun at the field) with a curve at 72.
Hunter Conley got us started with a broken bat single thru the infield.
Lefty Hendel pitched very well getting to one of the relief pitchers. Had some chances with the first batter in the inning Alex Baker in the fifth, Will Frazier in the sixth and Peter Hendel in the seventh getting on base but could only get Frazier in to home. They hit very well and a couple of miscues in the field hurt the Cougars. Will Frazier made a nice play in right catching a foul fly ball and throwing the runner out trying to tag and go to second.

Second Game -vs. Baseball U Prospects in a 10-3 win.
Got it going in this one. Brett Lang had a nice double over the centerfielders head to drive in two with the bases loaded. Hendel had a nice hit, going 1/3. Alex Baker went 2/3 with a couple good hits and drove in a couple.
Lefty Will Frazier pitched very well and the defense backed him up pretty well cutting the errors down to one.

Third Game -vs. Team Orlando in a 2-1 win.
Close and quick game - pitching duel. Lead off Batter Lucas LaSalle walked to start the game and stole second and then advanced to third and home on past balls. Hunter Conley got a hit over the second basemans head to right, advanced on L.J. Newman getting hit by a pitch, tagging on a fly ball to get to third, and scoring on Brett Langs ground ball.
Lefty Hunter Conley pitched 4 strong innings, giving up one unearned run.
Two step on the bag and throw to first double plays by Jake Fincher at short and two good plays by Baker at third kept the Orlando team in check.

A lot of great players down here...will be surprised if the All American Prospects Blue don't make the finals - depends on pitching depth.

 

NC teams have a very good day today in Florida

Dirtbags defeat Team Mizuno 2-1 (must have been a great game)


WP: Hobbs Johnson (DB) 5 innings, 2 hits, 1 run, 9 K's, 3 BBs
S: Dale Innes (DB) 2 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 6 K's

C Matt Roberts (DB) 1-2, HR, Rbi

 

Day 2

Dirtbags 2
Team Mizuno 1

SCP 6
South FL Bandits 0

SC Cougars 10
Baseball U 3

2010 On Deco O's 5
Louisiana Elite 1

Dirtbags 17's 1
Ralph Ball 2

SC Cougars 2
Team Orlando 1

Deep South FL 5
SCP 1

Hurricanes 5
FL Bombers Blue 2

Dirtbags 6
Minn Stars 0

South FL Elite 3
2010 On Deck O's 1

Records:
Dirtbags 17's 1-2
Hurricanes 2-0
Dirtbags 3-0
2010 On Deck O's 1-1-1
SC Cougars 2-1
SC Panthers 1-2

 

Elite 8 in Florida

Just got a text message from Coach Collins of the Canes saying they have this tough matchup tomorrow at 9 am BUT the guys are playing real well and he hopes to see them advance to the Final 4. Go Canes!!

 

Dirtbags 17's

Just got back home from a great time at Fort Meyers. We finished 2-2 with a bunch of very young players playing up in this event. We did have three 2010 players but the rest were 2011 and a very talented 2012. We lost a tough one on a couple of very tough calls (BS) calls. I should have been tossed for what I said. But thats another story. I am very proud of my guys for the effort they put forth this fall and in this tourney. Every game we played we had numerous college scouts in attendance. Several ACC SEC and College of Charleston , Coastal Carolina , UNCA etc etc etc. This was a great opportunity for these young players and many of them took full advantage of it. I rode back on the plane to Charlotte with one college coach and he had alot of notes on some guys and alot of questions for me. Thats always a good thing for the guys. This was a great opportunity for these players to get the experience and great competition as well. I look forward to going back in the summer and taking another crack at it. Great group of young men and parents as well. Thanks