Two star infielders were named MVPs of the U16 and U18 Australian Youth Championships which concluded yesterday in Blacktown.
U18 MVP: Curtis Mead (South Australia)
Curtis Mead lead South Australia to an Australian Championship, and capped off his tournament with a Most Valuable Player award.
The Adelaide Bite infielder finished with 15 hits from 10 games, with five doubles, a triple and six RBIs.
Mead also anchored a strong South Australian infield, as he consistently made outstanding plays at shortstop.
U16 MVP: Travis Bazzana (New South Wales)
Another infielder who doubled up with an MVP and an Australian Championship is NSW shortstop Travis Bazzana.
Bazzana was the winning run in the U16 Gold Medal game against Victoria, and finished his tournament with a .524 batting average, 11 hits and five RBI.
As well as patience at the plate, Bazzana showed speed on the base paths, stealing four bases in four attempts.
U18 Golden Arm: Blake Townsend (Victoria)
By far the most dominant arm of the tournament, Victorian lefty Blake Townsend put in three lights out starts to claim the pitching award.
Townsend struck out 22 hitters in fifteen scoreless innings of work, including an incredible complete game shutout against eventual champions South Australia.
After making his professional debut this season in the ABL, the 16-year-old will be a dominant force for years to come.
U16 Golden Arm: Jack Higginbotham (South Australia)
Four strong appearances from South Australian Jack Higginbotham sealed his U16 Golden Arm award.
Higginbotham only conceded two earned runs in 14.1 innings of work on the hill, striking out six and only surrendering six hits all tournament.
As well as his superb exploits on the mound, Higginbothm picked up five hits and three RBI.
U18 Batting Title: Jarrod Miller (South Australia)
Two doubles and a solo home run in the Gold Medal game sealed Jarrod Miller’s U18 batting title.
Miller finished his tournament with 14 hits and .452 batting average. 11 RBIs and a game sealing home run in the Gold Medal Game capped off a memorable tournament for the South Australian third baseman.
U16 Batting Title: Solomon Maguire (New South Wales)
NSW outfielder Solomon Maguire confirmed his status as one of the brightest young bats in the country with an outstanding tournament.
Maguire finished with a .550 batting average, a tournament high 11 hits and seven RBI.
A feature of Maguire’s game is his speed, and he showed that with three doubles and three triples across the ten day tournament.
U18 Gold Glove: Ben Fierenzi (Victoria)
2017’s U16 MVP continued his rise through the ranks, capping off a strong tournament with a U18 Gold Glove.
Ben Fierenzi finished the tournament with a perfect fielding percentage, 18 assists and five double plays turned as he cemented himself as a star of the Victorian infield.
U16: Gold Glove: Jarryd Wood (Victoria Blue)
Victorian infielders have had a long history of success, and they seem to have found another with Jarryd Wood.
Wood turned four double plays and gave Victoria Blue a consistent bat throughout the tournament.
Six hits, a home run and three doubles added to his legitimate infield glovework.