The Bash gave the top teams local to Kansas City a last chance to prove they have what it takes to bring home a PBKC title before the Youth World Series this weekend. Of the 14 divisions in this weekend's tournament, KC area teams claimed 12 titles, most of which making great strides over the course of the spring in order to do so. Below we will go over each division's champion and finalist as well as my picks and player notes for the standouts from the Bash. 

 

 2030 C Joseph Mulcahy (Engaged Athletics - Paine): Mulcahy has been the definition of consistency both at the plate and behind the dish for a competitve EA - Paine team. The RHH backstop delivered at the plate with an OBP over .500 while starting 2 of the 3 games behind the plate for coach Paine. Smooth operation with efficent rotation in the swing looking to hunt for extra bases out of the middle of the order. Strong catch and throw game behind the plate rounds out a profile with a lot of upside as the frame continues to develop. 

2030 INF Bijan Kamerzell (Building Champions - Pena): The Junior Future Games alum continues to produce at a ridiculous level at the plate reaching base at a .777 clip with most teams doing their best to pitch around Kamerzell as opposed to letting him do damage and Kamerzell confirmed their weariness, leaving the yard in 1 of his 6 offical at bats. The young two-way finds himself with a close to unlimited ceiling with a full tool belt that will go as far as his work ethic is willing to take him. 

2030 OF Brady French (Old School Ducks - Williams): French found himself in a spark plug role for the Ducks this weekend turning in a pair of multi hit games from the left side while playing high level defense dealing with some strong winds out roaming the outfield. The LHH shows off strong BTB skill with the ability to consistently extend ABs and will continue to find bigger roles in the offense as he continues to add size and strength to an athletic 5'10 frame.

2030 UTL Bo Wilkens (Prodigy Express): Bo Wilkens has been the definition of consistent production in the PBKC circuit, turning in his 3rd showing on the standouts list of the Spring. The RHH finished the weekend with a .615 OBP out of the leadoff spot, including a pair of multi hit bouts in Prodigy's 4 game slate while playing steady defense in both the infield as well as the outfield in order to earn another showing on the standouts list. Wilkens shows plenty of present athleticism and will continue to improve at the plate as he starts to tap into his power stroke moving into high school. 

2030 UTL/RHP Fabian Palomarez (Staley Sluggers): Palomarez is the definition of a competitor, doing whatever necessary for his team to win baseball games and it showed in a big way this weekend as he went for a CG in the championship to give the Sluggers a title. Holding things down in the heart of the order, Palomarez collected 4XBH in 5 games while reaching at an over .500 clip. The RHH swing plays on the longer side as he looks to work to extension on contact and elevate the ball to the gaps with the present power to continue to collect extra bases. while the stout frame wouldn't suggest it at first glance, Palomarez displays some high level athleticism being able to hold things down in a variety of positions including C, P, 1B, 2B, and 3B over the course of the Spring. As Palomarez continues to add to the present set of tools, the competitive edge will keep him above athletes of the same or slightly higher skill levels for the rest of his career. 

Tournament Champions 

14u D1 

The Staley Sluggers claim their 2nd title on the PBKC circuit this Spring, running a gauntlet of a 3 game Sunday slate in order to win the Bash after a 1-1 start to the weekend in pool play. The Sluggers were powered by a productive top 5 of Roman Strain, Ryker Graverson, Fabian Palomarez, Ian Thornton, and Jacob Hollandsworth in the top of the order with Will Anderson coming up with some big hits for the Sluggers in the bottom half of the order. With their championship win in the Bash, the Sluggers move to 11-4-1 on the year in KC. 

Finalist 

STL Legacy - Kranawetter carried a +23 run differential into the finals of the Bash claiming the #1 overall seed in the bracket. Legacy was powered by a combination of timely hitting and gutsy performances on the hill. Notably: Jacinto Arenas's 6 innings of 1 run ball on the hill in the semi final and Colton Taylor going 6 1/3 innings in the championship out of the pen, racking up 7Ks to 2BBs. 

14u D2

Cavs - Maroon delivered an outstanding 4 win Sunday making a final push after a finalist finish in the Evolution Series in order to take home a title in the Bash. The Cavs offense was the catalyst for the wins on Sunday, averaging close to 9 runs per game in the bracket. Notable performers in the offense include Anderson Klekcaz, Jesse Linderer and William Davis moving the Cavs to 15-3-1 in the PBKC Circuit on the Spring. 

Finalist 

Team KC - Whalley played some of their best baseball on the year this weekend finishing just short of a championship in the Bash. Following their 4-1 finish on the weekend, Team KC moves to 10-7 on the Spring. 

14u D3

The Illinois Patriots were 1 of 2 squads outside the KC area to claim a banner on the weekend with their 4-0 performance in the Bash. The Patriots plated over 7 runs a game en route to a title in their first PBKC showing. 

Finalist

Mac N Seitz - Blue exploded for 24 runs in their first two bracket play games on Sunday to find themselves fighting for a title in the Bash. 

13u D1

KC Reign continues their run of being a dominant force in the 13u ranks, moving to 13-4 on the spring after claiming their title in the Bash. After a slow start in pool play, Reign piled on 49 runs in 3 bracket play matchups in order to earn their banner. 

Finalist

Engaged Athletics - Mitchell fought tooth and nail to find themselves in the championship this weekend, upsetting a perenial contender in the 13u ranks in the process. Following their podium finish, Engaged Athletics moves to 16-8-1 on the Spring in the PBKC circuit. 

13u D2 

YBC - Nolte made a statement to finish off the Bash with a big 10-0 championship game win following a finalist finish in last weekend's Evolution Series. 

Finalist 

Competitive Edge - Rucker fell just short of a championship this weekend after winning their first 5 games moving their record in PBKC events to a strong 17-9-1.  

13u D3

SPY Wolfpack - Lewis took home the 13u D3 Divison title in dominant fashion, averaging 13 runs per game in the bracket to cruise to a championship win.

Finalist

The Thundercats brought a strong +19 run differential into the title bout before falling just short in the Bash.

12u D1

The BPC Reds continue what has been a dominant season in the 12u ranks, moving to 22-1-1 after their 4-0 weekend to claim another title in the PBKC Circuit and redeem a championship loss in the Evolution Series. 

Finalist 

Iowa Sticks - Red fell just short in the Bash this weekend after claiming the #1 overall seed following bracket play and dethroning last weekends champion in the final to earn their podium finish. 

12u D2

Berserk Brigade claimed a title in the Bash behind a high powered offense plating over 7 runs per game in their 5 game weekend set to claim their banners. 

Finalist 

Naturals Baseball Club - Gold carried a +44 run differential into the championship game this weekend, falling just short of a title in a 11-9 finish.

12U D3 

Inside Edge - Quayle finished up their weekend on top with a dominant offensive performance in the bracket. Edge plated 48 runs over the course of their 3 bracket play matchups to leave no doubt who the best team in the division was in the Bash. 

Finalist

ABA-Huwar earned the #1 seed with a 2-0 showing in pool play, touting a +43 run differential into a shootout of a championship bout before falling short in a 12-10 finish. 

11u D1

The KC Scrappers bats got hot at the right time in the Bash, scoring over 10 runs per game in their 3 game showing in the bracket in order to secure their title.

Finalist 

Old School Ducks - Anderson's high powered offense fell just short of a title in the Bash plating just over 8 runs per game on their way to the championship. 

11u D2 

Absolute left no doubt who was playing their best baseball in the division in the Bash with a 22 run explosion in the championship game to secure a banner. 

Finalist

Bulldog Baseball KC battled from the last seed in the bracket all the way into the championship game behind a pair of quality wins over tough opponents before running into Absolute.

11u D3

Engaged Athletics - Cross dominated their division all weekend long with a +32 in the run differential column on their way to claim a title in the Bash. 

Finalist 

The Lawrence Warriors fought their way from the 5 seed into the championship of the Bash after upsetting the #1 overall seed in the division to earn their podium finish. 

10u D1/D2

Naturals Baseball Club averaged over 10 runs per game in a three game bracket slate in order to claim their championship in the Bash.

Finalist  

Building Champions - Gold earned the #1 overall seed and started the weekend winning 4 straight games before falling just short in the championship to claim their podium finish.

10u D3 

The KC Scrappers claim their 2nd title of the Bash in this division behind an outlandish +40 run differential in the bracket from their 9u squad to cruise their way into a banner. 

Finalist 

The Southwest Rebels fought their way from the number 5 seed into the championship game after upsetting the #1 seed in the semi final before falling short in the title bout.