Pair of Champs Crowned at Prospect Meadows

Halos Take Home First Perfect Game Championship

The Midwest Halos took home the win on Monday, knocking off the Recruits Baseball Club by a score of 8-2. The win marks the first Perfect Game tournament championship in the program’s young history, as the Wisconsin based group finished the tournament 6-0.

After putting together a six-run sixth inning to advance out of the semifinal round, the Halos struck first in the championship, jumping out to a 1-0 lead before starter Dylon Sass even took the mound.

The Halos fell behind after allowing two runs in the bottom of the second, but the Halos did what they had done all tournament long, they just kept hitting. The Halos scored in three straight innings, driving in two runs in the third and fifth innings with a three-spot in between.

“The effort put in by each and every one of these kids, they just have so much resiliency and don’t give up,” said Midwest Halos head coach Anthony Andres. “We took things one pitch at a time and just told the guys they needed to stay focused on winning every pitch.”

The Halos stayed pitch-to-pitch throughout the tournament, but the bats certainly did not skip a beat. The Halos scored double-digit runs in a pair of games, tallying seven or more in all but one.

While the bats were the star of the show, Halos’ righthander Presley Wachowiak took home the MV-Pitcher honors at the event. Wachowiak ran his fastball up to 83 mph, allowing just three hits and striking out eight over a five-inning appearance.

The MVP of the WWBA 15U North Championship was Recruits Baseball Club hitter Mickelson Otto. Otto tallied five hits over the course of the four days, scoring seven runs and driving in five RBI.

The Halos are a young program sure, but the future is bright for this group that just set a new milestone at Prospect Meadows.

“This is a first year program and this is our first PG championship as a program. We came here with nothing to lose and just as motivated as anyone out here. We went and got it.”

Elite Baseball Training Takes Home 16U Title

MARION, Iowa – Elite Baseball Training 16U-Johnson finished off a perfect trip to Prospect Meadows on Monday, knocking off the Duluth Diamond Jaxx to take home the 16U Midwest Elite Championship. Elite finished the tournament 7-0, winning a trio of games on the final day including the 7-2 championship victory.

While Elite Baseball Training had been able to pitch their way to victories throughout the playoff rounds, the Duluth Diamond Jaxx presented a tough task that righthander Owen Ross was able to tackle. The starter tossed four innings of solid ball on Monday, striking out four and running the fastball up to 84 mph.

At the plate, Elite Baseball Training was led by Keegan Stanley. Stanley went 3 for 4 in the championship game, collecting two of his three RBI on a first inning double that rattled the wall in center field.

Elite Baseball Training wasted no time jumping into the run column in Monday’s finale, taking a 2-1 lead into the second inning before using a four-run fourth to extend it out to 6-1. In a fourth inning that saw five total hits, the first five Elite hitters were able to reach base safely. The big lead would prove enough for a group that has been looking to hit their stride all summer.

“We’ve been working hard and have really been coming along in each weekend of games this summer,” said Elite Baseball Training head coach Darrin Johnson. “We’ve been talking about how it is a complete game with all 14 players, and we came together at the right time this weekend.”

Elite Baseball Training 16U–Johnson certainly hit their stride this weekend, and tournament MV-Pitcher Ryan Buck proved to be one of the biggest bright spots. Buck threw a complete-game no-hitter in the semifinal, holding a good Bandits lineup at bay.

“Ryan is just one of those guys that is really solid. He comes in and nothing is really going to phase him. He had his fastball working and his curveball was really nice. It (curveball) was really sharp. He is a gamer that has gotten better each and every time out for us.”

The MVP of the event was Duluth Diamond Jaxx leadoff hitter Ian Moore. Moore had 12 hits over his seven games, scoring 11 runs and collecting nine RBI. The Jacksonville, Florida native showed some speed on the bases as well, stealing five bases.