FORT MYERS, Fla. – Since the month of September began, Perfect Game has handed out five automatic, paid bids to teams throughout the country for the WWBA World Championship in Jupiter, Fla. later this month. The sixth and final WWBA Qualifier unveiled its winner this afternoon with the Florida Burn 2016 Pennant squad being the lone team standing.

The Burn went 4-0 through their pool play before winning all three games Monday morning and afternoon, winning 8-1 over the Elite Squad 16u Prime to capture the 2014 Florida Qualifier championship.

Over the course of the tournament, the Burn pitching staff allowed only eight total runs throughout their six games, and their final game was no different. After starting 2017 lefthanded pitcher Jordan Butler in the 8:30 a.m. game, senior righthander pitcher Johnnie Schneider – who would later be named the event's Most Valuable Pitcher – took care of business in their semifinal victory of the Scorpions South Upperclass.

With their starting pitching doing their job and the bullpen providing quality relief, the Burn were able to save ace pitcher Austin Bergner, who was handed the ball on Championship Monday. It wouldn’t be an easy task though as the Elite Squad scored 31 runs through their first six games, allowing a mere eight runs through pool play and their first two playoff games.

The first two innings went as planned as both teams exchanged zeroes, with Bergner striking out four batters and Elite Squad starter Ian McEachern, a 2016 righthander, settling in to record six straight outs after the first two batters of the game reached base.

In the top of the third inning however, the Burn took a three-run lead, a lead they wouldn’t relinquish over the next four-and-a-half innings of the game. Gabriel Lozada reached base on a drop third strike, stole second base, and was moved over to third base on a ground ball to the right side of the infield. With two outs, two-hole hitter Scott Dubrule dropped a bunt down the third base line, catching the defense off guard and plating the first run of the game.

Following Dubrule was Justin Cohen, who was swinging a hot bat all weekend, and he put and exclamation point on the inning, smacking a two-run home run to put the Burn ahead 3-0.

That would remain the score for another inning until Elite Squad was able to finally break through to Bergner and plate their first run of the game. With leadoff man Brandon Chinea reaching base on the only walk issued by Bergner in his four innings of work, he showed off his speed coming around to score from second base on a well struck line drive single from the 21st-ranked player in the 2017 class, Joseph Perez.

With the run scoring, Bergner kicked it into a second gear, striking out the next two batters to minimalize the damage before handing the ball to Florida State commit Chase Haney to work the next 1 1/3 innings of shutout baseball.

With zeroes again being traded over the next inning-and-a-half, Elite Squad threatened again with a lead off single by Chinea. That single led the Burn coaches to go to the bullpen again, this time summoning Joey Favetta, who ended the threat by inducing two pop-ups and getting a key throw by catcher Jake Sullivan to nab a would-be base stealer at third base.

As the old adage says, no lead is ever safe, and the Burn offense heard that loud and clear in the top of the seventh inning. With the first three runners reaching base, Parke Phillips delivered a two-run double to the left-center field gap before Bergner tacked on another run with an RBI single to right field.

Doing a bit of everything for the Burn this weekend, Nick Long came in to close out the game and did just that. Facing the minimum three batters in the bottom of the seventh, Long struck out the side, all swinging, sending the Florida Burn 2016 Pennant team to the prestigious WWBA World Championship in Jupiter, Fla. later this month.

Uncommitted senior catcher Justin Cohen was named Most Valuable Player of the 2014 WWBA Florida Qualifier. Ranked 398th in the 2015 class, Cohen made his presence felt all weekend with his bat, and his home run in the championship ended up being the difference maker, providing the Burn with a lead and they never looked back.

Also receiving event hardware was Burn teammate Johnnie Schneider, as mentioned above, who started two games, winning both of them while striking out twelve in seven innings with zero walks.

The baseball world, and especially those at Perfect Game, have come to learn that the Burn are always a threat in any tournament they enter. After finishing last year as the WWBA World Championship runner-up thanks to a strong run, Coach Craig Faulkner and Mark Guthrie look to at least duplicate that performance in Jupiter.

Expect a big crowd, as they are certain to attract pro scouts and college coaches alike as they have several high end players at all positions.


2014 WWBA Florida Qualifier runner-up: Elite Squad 16u Prime



2014 WWBA Florida Qualifier MVP: Justin Cohen, Florida Burn 2016 Pennant



2014 WWBA Florida Qualifier MV-Pitcher: Johnnie Schneider, Florida Burn 2016 Pennant