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Tournaments | Story | 10/15/2018

Elite Squad takes 2nd World title

Perfect Game Tournament Staff

Photo: Elite Squad (Perfect Game)

FORT MYERS, Fla. – In the championship game of the 2018 WWBA Sophomore World Championship, Elite Squad got down early by a score of 2-0 before a consistent, whole-lineup offense woke up, came back, and took home the title over Cangelosi Sparks 2021 Black by a score of 5-4. Staving off a furious Cangelosi rally in the final frame, right fielder Michael Higgins made a full extension diving catch with the bases load to secure the Elite Squad title.

The championship win marks the second in a row for the Elite Squad program, winning the inaugural event a year ago.

Carsten Finnvold was excellent in his start for Elite Squad, settling down after a bit of a rough start to throw five strong frames, ending up only allowing a single earned run while walking no one and striking out three. Cangelosi struck first and went up 2-0 in the second inning when Matt Maloney doubled and then came around to score on an error off the bat of twin brother Michael Maloney, who then made it 2-0 when he scored on a Julian Jimenez single.

Elite Squad kept chipping away, however, picking up single runs in the third and fourth innings to tie the game at 2-2, before picking up a pair of runs in the fifth to take the lead for good. The lead was stretched to 5-2 in the top of the sixth when Bryan Loriga singled, stole a base and then came around to score on single from tournament MVP Marcus Franco.

Cangelosi would not go quietly, however, picking up two runs in the bottom half of the sixth on a passed ball and then an RBI single from Ryan Kraft to make the score 5-4. Elite Squad summoned lefty Brandon Vasquez from the bullpen with two outs, hanging on to a one-run lead, and Vasquez did the job, getting a huge strikeout to preserve the lead and send the game to the seventh.

Once again the seventh turned out to be no picnic for Elite Squad, as Cangelosi loaded the bases again via two hit batters and a single from Ryan O’Neil, before Vasquez yet again wiggled out of trouble, as Higgins’ diving catch in right field preserved the win and sent Elite Squad streaming onto the field, water flying everywhere, as they secured the victory.

Franco was very good all weekend with the bat for Elite Squad and was named tournament MVP, as the 101st-ranked player in the class of 2021 picked up seven hits, including two doubles and five RBI en route to a tournament-long OPS of .874.

Cangelosi Sparks 2021 Black pitcher Cj Byrdak took home MVPitcher honors of the event after spinning a gem in their semifinal victory, where he shut out 5 Star National over 5 1/3 innings, scattering six hits and walking no one while punching out two.

2018 WWBA Sophomore World Championship runner-up: Cangelosi Spark 2021 Black

2018 WWBA Sophomore World Championship MVP: Marcus Franco

2018 WWBA Sophomore World Championship MV-Pitcher: Cj Byrdak

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