TOURNAMENT RESULTS (4/21/08): 13U TBS - Elite Travel Classic

Travel Ball Select’s 12th ranked Memphis Travelers (TN) captured the TRAVEL BALL SELECT’S 13U Elite Travel Classic championship this past weekend at East Cobb Baseball Complex in Georgia.

After pool play the Travelers came into the championship round as the # 2 seeded team. The Travelers won their quarter final game by a score of 15 - 6 over the West Cobb Vipers (GA). The Travelers then continued their impressive play as they exploded for 13 more runs in the semi finals and defeated the East Cobb Astros (ranked 15th) by a score of 13-4. The Travelers ace lefty Ryan Garner pitched 4 innings to earn the win but the Travelers hitters were the key to this victory. 

Chase Hamilton (2007 Elite 24 Offensive MVP) recorded 4 RBIs with a 2 run home run and a 2 run double. Caleb Powell ended the game in the bottom of the 5th with a walk off grand slam which sent the Travelers to the Championship Game.

Last year’s CABA World Series champions, the Game Day Athletics (AL), opened their season with some impressive baseball. The Athletics came into the championship round as the fifth seed team after losing a close 5-4 game to the # 4 seed South Forsyth War Eagles (GA). The quarter finals saw a rematch but this time the Athletic put their top pitcher, Caleb Lindsey, on the mound. Lindsey recorded 9 strike outs while allowing only 3 hits and 1 run as the Athletics defeated the War Eagles 9-1 in 5 innings. The Athletics then faced the tournaments # 1 seed team, the Rocket City Stingers (AL and ranked 4th by TBS) who were playing in their first tournament of the 2008 season. The Stingers are under new leadership and had some new faces on the roster that finished second at the 2007 Elite 24. The new players, Mark Hernandez, Danny Sanchez and Colby Sherman, make the Stingers one of the powerful lineups in the country. The Stingers rolled through pool play and their first game on Sunday but it was evident they were still in the “learning” phase of their season. In addition, the team suffered injuries to their middle infield and had to shuffle some players around. As Travel Ball Select had predicted in the Tournament Preview, an upset would not be a surprise. And the Athletics were mentioned as one of the teams who could pull it off.

The Stingers jumped out early with a three run bomb hit by Trent Simpson and held a 3-1 lead after one inning of play. The Athletics tied the game in the top of the second. Athletics’ pitcher Colton Ord then settled in recording 8 strike outs to earn the 8 - 6 win.  The game ended in climatic fashion as the Stingers’ Danny Sanchez attempt for a three run dinger was caught at the base of the 330’ fence for the third out in the final inning.

In the Championship game, the Travelers continued hitting the ball and with the pitching combo of starter Chase Hamilton and reliever Jordan Barnes the Travelers were not to be denied. This pitching combo recorded an impressive 13 strike outs and a 10 - 3 championship win. The Travelers finished with a perfect 6 - 0 record while scoring a tournament high 71 runs.
 
Championship Round Scores:

Quarter Finals
Game Day Athletics 9 South Forsyth War Eagles 1
East Cobb Astros 13 Elite Red Sox 6
Rocket City Stingers 10 Cherokee Reds 0
Memphis Travelers 15 West Cobb Vipers 6

Semi Finals 
Game Day Athletics 8 Rocket City Stingers 6
Memphis Travelers 13 East Cobb Astros 4

Championship Game
Memphis Travelers 10 Game Day Athletics 3
 

Top Performances:

Jordan Barnes - Travelers - recorded 8 strike outs in 4 innings vs. Game Day
Chase Hamilton - Travelers - 2 run home run vs. the Astros, winning pitcher vs. Game Day
Caleb Powell - Travelers - walk off grand slam vs. the Astros.
Josh Cooley - Travelers - 3 run double vs. Game Day
Ryan Gainer - Travelers - winning pitcher vs. the Astros
Caleb Lindsey - Athletics - winning pitcher with 9 strike outs vs. the War Eagles
Colton Ord - Athletics - winning pitcher with 8 strike outs vs. the Stingers
Will McDonald - Athletics - 3 home runs including a grand slam, outstanding play in center field.
Austin Sexton - Athletics - hit over .500 for the tournament.
Tyler Graham - Astros - recorded 10 strike outs vs. Elite Red Sox
Jackson Stephens - Stingers - hit 3 run homer vs. the Athletics
Trent Simpson - Stingers - 2 run homer vs. the Athletic, hit the ball hard all weekend.

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