PBR at The Rock: Top Tier Americans takes down Quad City Hitmen Elite to win 13U Championship
June 3, 2019
Amidst a rain-shortened weekend, Top Tier Americans 13U capped off a long day in style by taking down the Quad City Hitmen Elite 13U, 10-5, in the championship of the PBR at the Rock 13U tournament.
Top Tier wasted no time in getting the bats rolling, as five of their first six batters reached base to open the game. Joseph Bedtke (St. Rita, IL, 2023), who started the game on the mound, broke open the scoring with an RBI single; and only a couple batters later, Luke Heidenry (Lisle, IL, 2024) added an exclamation point with a big two-out, two-run base hit to cap off a five-run first inning for the Americans.
The early cushion was all Bedtke needed on the mound; after giving up a double and walk within his first three batters faced, he would go on to retire the next 10 Hitmen batters in order and slam the door shut on any potential Quad City comeback. Over three innings, Bedtke allowed no earned runs on one walk and only one hit.
Top Tier would tack on three more runs in the top of the third via a Bedtke sac-fly, Josh Sullivan (N/A, 2024) RBI groundout, and an Anthony Holloway (N/A, 2024) RBI base-hit. Searching for some late game insurance, the Americans would score two more runs in the top of the sixth to make it 10-2.
The Hitmen, looking to make a late surge, put three runs across in the bottom of the sixth, but couldn’t squander anymore runs after Top Tier brought Tomas Valincius (St. Laruence, IL, 2024) in from the pen. Valincius would go on to shut down the rally and record the final three outs of the game.
The Hitmen struggled to solve Top Tier pitching all game, scattering only five hits throughout. Payton Dye (Bureau Valley, IL, 2024), Tommy Honeycutt (Rock Island, IL, 2024), and Zach Almaguer (Monmouth, IL, 2024) all reached base twice for Quad City. Dawson Peterson (Riverdale, IL, 2024) crushed the team’s only extra base hit, bringing to a close a stellar weekend at the plate for the standout first baseman and pitcher.
Randall Nauden (N/A, IL, 2024) led the way for the Top Tier offense, picking up a double and a single while also scoring two runs. Bedtke, Heidenry, and Jordan Vazquez (N/A, IL, 2023) all drove in a pair of runs for the Americans -- highlighting an impressive all-around offensive display from the lineup.
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If you're looking for more in-depth analysis on the tournament, check out our weekend scout notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
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