July 20, 2022
By Maddox Durst
Wisconsin Staff
After winning four games in a row at the 16U PBR at the Rock Summer Championships, STIKS Academy Black and Chicago White Sox ACE faced off for a championship game bid. RHP Landon Hagenow (Kettle Moraine Lutheran, 2024) was the starter for STIKS Academy Black, and RHP Torii Chaney (Simeon, IL, 2024) matched up against him. Chicago White Sox ACE got the scoring started in the second inning as OF Jevan Andrews (Hobart, IN, 2024) had an RBI single, and INF Moises Vazquez (Andrean, IN, 2024) followed with a 2-RBI double, making it a 3-0 after two innings. STIKS Academy Black answered back emphatically in the next inning as they strung together six hits in a row and scored seven runs. Four of those runs came from the bat of OF Braydn Nelson (Oconomowoc, 2024), as he launched a grand slam over the monster at Fenway Park, giving STIKS Academy Black a 7-3 lead. C Ryan Dummer (Burlington, 2024) followed in Nelson’s footsteps by sending a home run out as well, giving his team an 8-6 lead after a slight comeback from Chicago White Sox ACE. C Ryan Dummer (Burlington, 2024) hit a clutch HR to extend to STiKS Black’s lead in this semifinal. Physical RHH with strength and quick hands that create some bat speed, generating pull-side power in the process.#PBRatTheRock | @stiksacademy pic.twitter.com/xGXrluRXFrSEMINFINAL #1: STIKS ACADEMY BLACK 16U vs CHICAGO WHITE SOX ACE
On the other hand, after a quiet third inning, Chicago White Sox ACE scored in each of the final three innings of the ballgame. The offense was able to remove Hagenow, and then added on three more runs to take the lead back. C Marco Luna (Brooks, IL, 2024) drove in the eventual winning run with a fielder's choice, giving them a 9-8 lead.
RHP Trent Rosebourgh (Homewood-Flossmoor, 2024) slammed the door for Chicago White Sox Ace and earned the victory. The righty threw the last four innings, only giving up one run, and striking out four.
A valiant comeback and strong pitching allowed the Chicago White Sox ACE to pull away and advance to the championship game with a 9-8 victory.
SEMINFINAL #2: HITTERS 16U vs GRB RAYS GREEN
Hitters 16U and GRB Rays Green met up in the semifinals on Sunday after going undefeated in pool play and quarterfinals. The strong offense of the Hitters 16U team carried them to a championship game.
A large part of that was the bat of INF/RHP Jackson Brewer (Homestead, 2024), a 2022 PBRFG participant for the state of Wisconsin. Brewer hit a 2-run home run in the first inning, and then followed it up with a solo-shot in the third. In addition to that, the Hitters 16U offense scored three more runs in the first few frames, giving them a 6-2 lead after three innings.
1B/LHP Jackson Brewer (Homestead, 2024) is one of the top two-way players in the state, headed to #PBRFG22. Slugged two HRs in today’s semifinal; also 5 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 2 K while up to 83 mph.#PBRatTheRock | @hittersbaseba11 pic.twitter.com/RYx89LWIzy
— PBR Wisconsin (@PBRWisconsin) July 17, 2022
Brewer also did it on the mound for Hitters 16U as he threw five strong innings, where he limited a strong GRB Rays Green lineup to two runs and four hits.
C Nathan Hanel (Oak Creek, 2024), INF Brock Lulewicz (Muskego, 2024), and OF RJ Thomae (Hartford Union, 2024) each had two hits for Hitters 16U.
As for GRB Rays Green, INF Eason Hurd (Ashwaubenon, 2024) drove a 2-run home run to left field and OF Logan Dunn (Wautoma, 2024) was only retired once, as he walked twice and had a hit. The offense was only able to muster up four runs against Hitters 16U.
OF Logan Dunn (Wautoma, 2024) is another high-profile athlete in the state, also headed to #PBRFG22. Laced this base hit up the middle after chasing down a barreled line-drive over his head on defense that carried to the CF fence.#PBRatTheRock | @GRBRays pic.twitter.com/c73NZyHtRt
— PBR Wisconsin (@PBRWisconsin) July 17, 2022
Eason Hurd (Ashwaubenon, 2024) just connected for another #PBRBombSquad this weekend. A smart, composed at-bat; quick hands helped him land his latest barrel for a no-doubt HR over the LF fence.#PBRatTheRock | @GRBRays https://t.co/xoOIeea7Hc pic.twitter.com/V2d0AWyVia
— PBR Wisconsin (@PBRWisconsin) July 17, 2022
Hitters 16U coasted to a 9-4 victory in their semifinal matchup, and advanced to play the Chicago White Sox ACE to try and win the 16U PBR at the Rock Summer Championship.
CHAMPIONSHIP: HITTERS 16U vs CHICAGO WHITE SOX ACE
Out of the 58 teams competing at the tournament, Hitters 16U and Chicago White Sox ACE were the last teams standing in their sixth game of the weekend. Both teams were 5-0 entering the primetime matchup on Sunday morning.
After finishing game one of the day, RHP CJ Trask (Oak Creek, 2024) started game two for Hitters 16U and faced off against RHP Savion Flowers (Kenwood Academy, IL, 2024, Eastern Kentucky commit), who toed the rubber for Chicago White Sox ACE.
Both pitchers would have short outings though, as both offenses exploded at the beginning of the game.
In the first inning, two walks and two singles would result in three runs for Hitters 16U, giving them an early 3-0 lead.
Chicago White Sox ACE would respond quickly as they scored two runs, including one with the help of an RBI double from C Sir Jamison Jones (St. Rita, IL, 2024, Illinois State), who continued to stay hot after successful pool play.
21 runs combined to score between the two teams from the third to fifth inning. Chicago White Sox ACE was able to get the lead back in the third inning after a massive grand slam from Flowers.
— PBR Wisconsin (@PBRWisconsin) July 17, 2022OF Savion Flowers (Kenwood Academy, IL) is a 6-foot-4, 190-pound athlete with immense upside in the @PBRIllinois ‘24 class. The recent Eastern Kentucky commit just crushed a go-ahead, no-doubt grand slam in the championship game.
(@ShooterHunt)#PBRatTheRock | @WhitesoxAce pic.twitter.com/ew04XfRntG
After losing their lead, Hitters 16U had an answer and poured on seven runs to get their lead back.
In total, their offense had three hits and four walks to help power the scoring in the fourth.
Six walks allowed Chicago White Sox ACE to score five more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, cutting Hitters 16U lead to 13-12.
RHP RJ Thomae (Hartford Union, 2024) got the job done for Hitters 16U on the mound as he threw 3.2 scoreless innings despite walking six batters. Hitters 16U used that to their advantage, added one more run, and shut out Chicago White Sox ACE for the rest of the game, giving them a 14-12 win.
OF Payten Jibben (Oak Creek, 2024), INF/RHP Jackson Brewer (Homestead, 2024), and INF Brock Lulewicz (Muskego, 2024) each had multi-hit games for Hitters 16U. On the other hand, Flowers and INF Torii Chaney (Simeon, IL, 2024) led the offensive attack for Chicago White Sox ACE.
Hitters 16U used their juggernaut of an offense to power themselves to a victory and an unblemished 6-0 record, winning them the championship at the 16U PBR at the Rock Summer Championship.
????????? | #???????????? ?@hittersbaseba11 2024s won a thrilling 14-12 championship game. Brock Lulewicz tallied three hits; Jackson Brewer HR’d twice in the semis and drove in two more here; Payten Jibben doubled twice and scored three runs. pic.twitter.com/5i6h0uUhQp
— PBR Wisconsin (@PBRWisconsin) July 17, 2022
