Congratulations to the Diamond Devils 17-U Champs

won the Perfect Game World Wood Bat tournament in Atlanta today. Congrats to them.

The Diamond Devils 17U Blue won the largest age group tournament in baseball history Monday afternoon at the East Cobb Complex in Marietta, Georgia, defeating FTB Mizuno 2-1 in the championship game of the World Wood Bat Association 17U National Championship.

The South Carolina based Diamond Devils went a perfect 11-0 over the 7 day tournament, which featured 216 teams from across the United States.

Most observers anticipated a high scoring final game between two powerful offensive teams but that didn’t come to pass. Both teams scored a single run in the first inning and had plenty of scoring opportunities the rest of the game, as the Diamond Devils left 9 runners on base and Mizuno left 7, plus had 2 runners thrown out at home plate.

RHP Patrick Andrews (2011, Hilton Head Christian HS, SC) was outstanding on the mound for the Diamond Devils, throwing a complete game 7 hitter to get the win. The 6-3, 180 lb. Andrews works in the 88-91 mph range with his fastball and mixed in a solid low 80’s slider and occasional change up. He had significant help from his defense throughout the contest.

The biggest defensive play of the game bailed out Andrews and the Diamond Devils in the top of the 7th inning. With Mizuno 3B/RHP Dante Bichette on first base and 2 outs, 2B Vincente Conde hit a slicing foul ball down the right field line that RF Tanner English dove for but couldn’t catch while sliding across the foul line. But English popped up quickly and threw a strike to catcher Brett Austin to nail Bichette at the plate to prevent the go ahead run from scoring.

Charlotte's own Brett Austin had a terrific tournament helping to lead his team to go 11-0 in Atlanta.

This is from a well respected pro scout

First off, I don't have a numerical list of 2011's, however, I can list the names of those I will seek out in 2011 and hopefully get to see play this summer at the TOS or at one of PG's events, perhaps in Minneapolis.

Here are the names, schools, positions only of those players I have noted, again in no particular order:

P, Phillip Pfeiffer, Farragut HS, Tenn
C-IF, Nic Delmonico, Farragut HS, Tenn
SS, Deion Williams, Redan HS, Ga
P, Max Homick, Rancho Bernardo HS, Calif
OF-IF, Travis Harrison, Tustin HS, Calif
OF, Eric Snyder, Edison HS, Calif
IF, Kavin Keyes, Alta HS, Utah
P, Michael Kelly, West Boca HS, Fla
P, Jose Fernandez, Alonso HS, Fla
P, Jacob Croft, Sylvania HS, Ala
P, Andrew Suarez, Southwest HS, Fla
P, Dakota Freese, CR-Washington HS, Ia
P, Austin Christensen, CR-Kennedy HS, Ia
OF, Tim Barry, Oak Forest HS, Ill
P, Jake Cave, Hampton Christian HS, Va
P, Ben Joseph, Bucholz HS, Fla
P, Dillon Williams, American Christian HS, Ala
Of-IF, Drake Roberts, Benham HS, Tx
If, Brett Hoffman, Moon Area Township HS, Pa
C, Brett Austin, Providence HS, NC
P, Adam Griffin, Forsyth Country Day HS, NC
P, Tyler Poole, Hickory HS, NC
SS, Mikal Hill, Mallard Creek HS, NC
P-IF, Rookie Davis, Dixon HS, NC
SS, Christian Lopes, Valencia HS, CA