Eagles U16 team squad continues outstanding play

American National’s U-16 team was not in a giving mood at last week’s St. Louis Amateur Baseball Association U-16 Tournament.

In the team’s first two games, Eagles starters Shane Hartwig and Brandon Fosdick both pitched complete games and neither issued a walk. Not surprisingly, American National came out on top in both of those games, beating the Tigers 4-3 and the Southwest Stars 5-2. That set the tone for the tournament and continued a strong run through the month of July for the Eagles.

“Those were two outstanding performances,” said American National coach Lance Hartwig, whose team was 13-3 in July heading into this week’s action and 28-16 overall. “To not issue a walk at this age, or any age, is a rare feat.”

Hartwig’s son Shane stymied the Tigers for seven innings in the team’s opening round game July 17, allowing just four hits and no earned runs while striking out six. Last Tuesday, Fosdick allowed two earned runs to the Stars, but he gave up just five hits and struck out 12.

The starting pitching was not quite as dominant in the semifinals game Friday against the Stallions, though, as Hartwig went to the bullpen after just two innings. Reliever Tyler Hunt was up to the challenge as he struck out 11 Stallions over the next five innings and the American National bats woke up for a 12-6 win.

That victory put American National in the driver’s seat for the tournament title. The Eagles were scheduled to play the Stallions, who made it back through the loser’s bracket, for the championship. The Stallions would have had to beat the Eagles twice to claim the championship, but the first contest was rained out and could not be made up due to scheduling conflicts.

As of Sunday evening, Hartwig was not sure what to call his team.

“We couldn’t make it up because half my team was already on the way to Florida,” said Hartwig, whose team will play in the Team Exposure Summer National Tournament in Tampa this week. “I’m not sure if they are going to call us co-champs or if we’re going to be declared champs or how they’re going to work it.”

Regardless of how that shakes itself out, no one can deny that the Eagles have been soaring. Assuming American National is awarded some slice of the pie it is the second tournament that the Eagles would have captured in July.

American National traveled to Evansville for the Evansville River City Shootout earlier in the month and showed well there, winning five of six and capturing first place.

The Eagles took the suspense out of the championship game by scoring seven times in the first inning of that contest. Jared Frank helped pace the attack with two hits, two runs scored and two RBIs. Trey Wright also had two hits and three runs scored.

“We played well there,” Hartwig said. “The championship was played at Southern Indiana, the Division II National Champs, so that was a nice setting.”

Not as nice as the setting the Eagles will be in if they manage to advance to the finals at the Team Exposure event. The championship game will be played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersberg where the Tampa Bay Rays play.

Hartwig, though, realizes that will not be an easy road.

“The 18s went down there last year and that pitcher who was in the news for throwing all the no-hitters was there,” Hartwig said. “He was the No. 2 pitcher on his team. So, we’re going to be facing some very tough competition.”