PBR Junior Fall Championships: 14U Bracket Preview

Day One of the PBR Junior Fall Championships is in the books and now we can take the time to examine how things shook out and which teams are seeded where on both 14U brackets, the championship and consolation groups.

Eight teams earned spots into the championship bracket and Wisconsin’s Hitters Baseball program took the coveted No. 1 rank. Hitters were one of five teams to go 2-0 in pool play but the first tiebreaker, runs allowed (of which they only gave up five), earned them the top overall ranking. This means they’ll be squaring off against the No. 8-ranked Midwest Astros (1-1; 14 RA) at 11:15 a.m. The Indiana-based Astros program fell to Illinois’ Pro Player Hurricanes in their first game of the day but were resilient in a come-from-behind victory over Gem City Throwbacks which earned them the final slot in the championship bracket.

Speaking of Pro Player, they’ll head to Grand Park tomorrow as the No. 2-ranked squad within this bracket. The Hurricanes allowed just one more run than Hitters so they’ll be taking on No. 7 Elite 2023 at 11:15 a.m., a group that fell just short of upsetting a quality Indiana Bulls 14U Black team.

The 9 a.m. games will feature these two contests: No. 4 Marucci Founders Club Legends (2-0; 13 RA) vs. No. 5 Futures Scout Team (1-1; 5 RA) and No. 3 Indiana Bulls Black (2-0; 9 RA) and No. 6 Indiana Elite (1-1; 9 RA).

The Kentucky-based Legends program lands some tough luck as the No. 4 seed – the team outscored every other team on the 14U side (28 runs total). Their dramatic 14-11 slugfest between Indiana Bulls Grey is to blame. Their high-powered offense will oppose Indiana’s Futures Scout Team, a squad that was tied for the second-fewest runs allowed (5).

Bulls Black edged out a 7-6 walk-off win over Elite 2023 in game one on Saturday and took down Indiana Ducks 10-3 to get them to 2-0 overall. They’ll square off against Indiana Elite, who held a strong Hitters lineup to five runs and outscored ICH Giants by 11.

The winners of Hitters/Astros and Legends/Futures will play against one another in the 1:30 p.m. semifinal. On the other side, the winner of Bulls Black/Indiana Elite will play either Pro Player or Elite 2023.

The championship game will be held on Diamond 8 at 3:45 p.m.

CONSOLATION BRACKET

The eight remaining teams are left to the consolation bracket where No. 9 South Bend East Side (1-1; 15 RA) will bypass the first round with a bye, having fallen just short of championship play. South Bend will be pitted against the winner of the 9 a.m. game between No. 12 Indiana Ducks (0-2; 20 RA) and No. 13 Gem City (0-2; 21 RA).

The 14U Indiana Bulls White team will not play tomorrow, meaning they’ve forfeited their game with the No. 10 Michiana Mutts (0-2; 12 RA), placing them in the next round already where they’ll meet either No. 11 Indiana Bulls Grey (0-2; 16 RA) or No. 14 ICH Giants (0-2; 26 RA); that game will be played at 9 a.m. as well.

South Bend’s consoloation semifinal will take place at 11:15 a.m. while the Mutts game will be played at 1:30 p.m. The consolation championship will immediately follow at 3:45 p.m.