By: Matt Betts
The Terriers 16U team went 6-0 en route to winning the Perfect Game All Prospects World Series in Cincinnati, Ohio over the weekend.
Aaron Clawsie and Lucas Meden drove in runs to support a strong pitching performance from Brett Crowley in a 5-4 victory over the Indiana Bulls in the final.
It’s the first championship for the Terriers this season.
The tournament began with a convincing 13-0 win over the Cincinnati Black Dogs that included a total of 15 hits. Stiaan Henning led the way offensively, going 3-for-3, and Crowley picked up his first win.
The offence continued to roll in Game 2, plating 12 runs in a victory over Galaxy Premier. Lincoln Rose hit a home run and Aidan Cochran went 3-for-4. After producing three hits in the opener, Henning earned the win on the mound.
Clawsie then went 3-for-3 and Ryan McIntosh was the winning pitcher as they followed it up by downing Launch Baseball 7-3.
Next was a quarterfinal showdown with the Mason Aftershock and it was the pitching that stole the spotlight. Meden tossed a no-hitter and was backed by a pair of hits each by Jack Hatton and Nolan Scott.
With a berth in the final on the line, Zac Karanopoulos picked up the victory and Clawsie closed it out to secure the save in a 8-7 semifinal win over the Durham Bulls.
Head coach Ian Bala was impressed with his team’s approach to the six-game schedule.
“We came into the tournament prepared, deep and confident, and walked out undefeated champions,” Bala said.
“From walkoff pressure to mercy-rule dominance, they displayed the full spectrum of elite tournament baseball. This group earned every bit of the trophy and left no doubt who the best team on the field was.”
For their efforts, Clawsie was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and Meden garnered the Top Pitcher honour.
The 16Us will head to East Cobb, Georgia from July 5 to 11 for the WWBA tournament.