CHAMPION-- Fielder's Choice

RUNNER-UP-- Astro Falcons

BATTING CHAMPION-- Matthew Mansbery, Fielder's Choice

TOURNAMENT MVP--Shawn Sullivan, Fielder's Choice

Championship Game Final Score-- Fielder's Choice 9  Astro Falcons 2

Struthers, OH – The 2022 Sophomore NABF World Series included twelve teams from three different states – Maryland, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. After 26 games were played, Astro Falcons, Pittsburgh Spikes – Forbes, Ohio Longhorns and Fielder’s Choice became the last four teams who battled in Semi-Finals. The Falcons narrowly defeated Spikes – Forbes 5-2, while Fielder’s Choice dominated the Longhorns in every facet of the game in a 13-0, 5-inning victory. Fielder’s Choice, an Ohio Prospects League (OPL) team, was going up against one of the premier Youngstown Class B teams in Astro Falcons.

The Falcons reached the Championship through timely hitting and quality pitching – Collin Resetar tossed a complete game shutout in the club's opening 1-0 victory over Spikes – Forbes –  with the latter resulting in giving up just 7 runs, which was the least number of runs allowed through five contests. This meant that their opponents only scored 1.4 runs a game while Astro Falcons scored 8.2 runs a game. Fielder’s Choice crossed the plate 56 times over their first five games for 11.2 per contest, the highest mark in the tournament. Additionally, the OPL team had consistent starting pitching from their second through fifth games that included four consecutive complete games victories by Dominic Williams, Cole Gurka, Johnny Neal, and Ryan Wiehe.

Fielder’s Choice used their recipe of solid starting pitching to silence the Falcons bats in a 9-2 win at Cene #1. Head Coach Juan Sanchez gave the baseball to Matthew Mansbery who allowed a run when Anthony Groner singled home Andrew Corfield with 2-outs. Falcons led 1-0, which didn’t last long as Fielder’s Choice tied it up on a JaVon Clayton ball hit to Kirlik who bobbled the grounder that deflected off his glove into shallow right field, allowing Mansbery to score. Julian Tranovich, Falcons starter, picked up his teammate at second by getting Gurka to line out to Drew Snyder in center field.

Mansbery settled in nicely on the mound and pitched two scoreless frames in second and third. After his first zero, Fielder’s Choice scored three on a Shawn Sullivan bases-clearing triple hit over Gabe Hammerton’s head in left field. It increased their lead to 4-1, and in the fourth added another tally on Clayton’s RBI single, which came off reliever Joey Cappuzullo.

Fielder’s Choice had another three-run inning in the fifth where Neal singled home one and Nolan Ignacio drove in a pair on a 2-RBI double. Their advantage increased to 8-1 as the game entered the sixth that saw Clayton replace Mansbery on the hill. His first inning went smooth, despite a 1-out walk that didn’t cause any runs to score, eliminating the Falcons' chance to get back in the contest. Fielder’s Choice put the icing on the cake with an RBI single by Neal, his second of the game, making it a 9-1 lead.

In the seventh, the Falcons got a run closer on Vincent Butto’s pinch-hit knock, which was all they got before Clayton retired Kirlik by producing a fly ball to center field. Fielder’s Choice won the Sophomore NABF World Series and began celebrating on the field together.

Following the game, both teams lined up on their respective foul lines as the trophy presentation got underway, handing medals to each player on both the Runners-Up and Champion squads. Then, the All-Tournament team was announced, including Matthew Mansbery, named Batting Champion, who hit .565 (13/23), and Shawn Sullivan given MVP honors after compiling a .444 (8/18) BA., 7 R, 6 XBH, 1 HR, and 11 RBI in 6 games.