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Tournaments  | Championship | 6/29/2025

Showtime Select Walks Off The BCS

Hannah Jo Groves
Showtime Select National 16U snatched the walk-off victory over Ostingers Baseball 2027 Green - claiming the 2025 16U BCS national championship 4-3.

It was a back-and-forth battle with neither team scoring for the first three innings.



“Just a complete and total war,” Showtime Select head coach, Joe Fusco, said about the championship game. “Two great teams. Ostingers is a great program. Just a battle every pitch, every play. You just had that feeling it was going to come down to a one-run game at the end.”

Fusco wasn’t the only one seeing the future - as Wrigley Zweifel, a guest player for the Showtime Select National 16U team, said that he had positive feelings way before the first pitch was thrown in the championship game.

“I had a feeling the entire week that we were gonna go out there and do great things,” Zweifel said. “I feel like everyone was so locked in. We were just playing for each other instead of playing as individuals. That really helped.”

The Ostingers struck first in the top of the fourth with two runs - the first coming off an RBI triple from Tristan Macpherson - the second reached on error.

Showtime Select punched back with a run in the bottom of the frame, as two-way player and tournament MVPitcher, Ray Kim, bringing one home with a single.

“I was just thinking, ‘I just need to hit a single,’ because everyone was playing pretty deep and it was a big field… he threw me something inside. I got jammed, but I still got ahead of it,” Kim explained. “It was a good momentum shifter.”

Despite signs of life from the Showtime Select bats, the Ostingers tacked on one more in the top of the fifth, as Isaiah Romero got an RBI groundout to make the score 3-1.

Fusco said that though the score was a bit daunting at that point, his team still remained hopeful.

“I don’t think there was an ounce of doubt in any kid’s mind that we were going to win that game,” Fusco said. “They don’t hit the panic button. They’re confident in their ability. They know that at the drop of a hat, we can explode on somebody. That confidence and that closeness - it’s unmatched in games like that.”

Showtime Select’s Christos Vangelatos brought in one more run in the bottom of the sixth, making the score 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh.

With two on and two outs, Zweifel stepped up to the plate.

“I was just breathing - making sure I controlled my breathing,” he explained. “I didn’t want the moment to get too big, so just big, deep breaths. And then coach pulled me aside and he was like, ‘this guy’s throwing a couple balls. He’s walked a batter. He’s hit a batter. Don’t help him out. Just make sure you get your pitch and when you do, swing hard and hit it hard.’”

On the first pitch he saw, Zweifel launched one out to right field for a 2-RBI, ground rule double to win the game.

“I was so excited. I kind of blacked out a little bit after I hit it,” Zweifel laughed.

“I remember the ball landing and I remember putting my hands up, and then I don’t remember anything,” Fusco said. “After that, I see videos of myself running down the line towards home plate, jumping in my coach’s arms, my kids’ arms.”

“It was just crazy chaos,” Kim said.

Kim didn’t just contribute to his team at the plate during the tournament, but also on the mound - winning MVPitcher with 7 innings pitched, 14 strikeouts, one walk, no earned runs. His fastball reached 90 mph.

When asked about what helps him be successful on both sides of the ball, Kim emphasized the importance of consistence.

“I’m throwing every day,” Kim said. “Obviously, we’re going to Alabama now - I’ll be prepared for it because I’ve already been throwing every day and hitting. Hitting every day, throwing everyday - just sticking with your routine. Routine is very important.”

Fusco attested to Kim’s talent and drive.

“His work ethic, I’ve never seen anything like it,” Fusco said. “Where he’s come from…he’s turned himself with his work into one of the best players in the country. I’ll die on that hill any day. He’s one of the best two-way players in the country at his age.”

Kim also talked about his admiration for his coach - who also coaches him during high school season.

“Coach Fusco is the best, best coach. He’s the best coach I’ve ever had,” Kim said.

Though a guest player, Zweifel said that Fusco’s emphasis on a family dynamic was crucial to their championship win - singling out one teammate in particular.

“Our catcher, Gavin (Franchetti), he keeps everyone good and ready to go and keeps us talking like a family - making sure none of us have any problems with each other and making sure everyone is good.”

Fusco echoed Zweifel’s sentiment and added in another player to highlight:

“[Gavin]’s the number-one ranked catcher in New Jersey. Forget his considerable talent - I mean, that’s easy to see when you watch him play, but his leadership ability - he’s the glue… and Chris Vangelatos - he’s our centerfielder. He’s got a relentless motor and just keeps everybody so engaged, locked in - just so hungry all the time…

We are the first team that’s based out of the northeast to win this thing at this age group…we’re inside for six months of the year hitting indoors - we’re hitting tires with baseball bats indoors. We’ve started competing and winning on a national level - [that’s] something that I think shouldn’t go unnoticed.”
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