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Prep Baseball Junior Future Games Bracket Play Recap

July 31, 2024
Steven Hardesty
Central Coast/North LA Area Scout

  

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EMERSON, GA - The 2024 Junior Future Games wrapped up on Sunday at LakePoint in Georgia. Today we take a look back at the performance of Team California during the bracket play portion of the event. Team California was comprised of some of the best underclass prospects from the 2028 & 2029 classes in the Golden State. 

Action at Junior Future Games consisted of a a series of scout style workouts for their baseball skills while being tested on athleticism and mental processing. Partners for the showcase day and the entire event include Vizual Edge, Blast Motion, TrackMan, Swift Performance, and S2 Cognition. All of these partners culminate a full data profile on every aspect of their game for each player to take home. Then a 3-game pool play portion in which all teams are grouped into pools of 4 teams to advance to the bracket play portion of the event consisting of Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze brackets based on how teams finish during pool play.

Team California was paired up with Team Connecticut for an early morning game and after a thrilling comeback in the final inning of play was set for a matchup with Team Colorado. During the second game of the day Team California's pitching propelled them into a semifinal showdown with Team Mississippi. Their run would ultimately conclude with a tough loss to the squad from Mississippi.

We previously to a deeper look into the results of Pool Play action and today we are taking a look at the Bracket Play games highlights. In addition, to take a look at all of our social media coverage please visit Prep Baseball California's account on X and Instagram for video/photos from Junior Future Games.

GAME RECAP TEAM CALIFORNIA VS. TEAM CONNECTICUT

Getting their bracket play schedule underway bright and early with an elimination game at 8 am. The California squad loaded the bases early in the game and was able to plate one run after '28 OF/RHP Brock Rainis opened up the game with a base hit continuing his hot hitting from the pool play portion of the event. He would eventually come around to score on a wild pitch.

Team Connecticut would jump out to a 3-1 lead after a strong bottom half of the first inning against the California pitcher '28 OF/RHP Jameson Pierce who would settle in to throw a scoreless second inning before turning the ball over to Rainis who would keep the score at 3-1 through multiple innings of scoreless relief.

As the Golden State squad looked to keep their Junior Future Games experience alive they received a big boost from '28 C/OF Julian Suarez when he stung a deep fly ball to CF for a SAC Fly to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Continuing to battle down 1 run the California squad received another hit from '28 C/OF Cooper Cantrell who lined a single to RF, but was unable to bring him home.

This brought us to the final inning of gameplay with California trailing by 1 run at 3-2 when the bats came alive versus the bullpen of Connecticut. It all got started by '28 INF/RHP Milo Benattar and would load the bases quickly on the next two pitches before Benattar came home on another wild pitch to tie the game. Which was quickly followed by a big 2 RBI double off the bat of '28 INF/RHP Jake Cevallos down the left field line that put team California on top for good. They would add on several more runs in the inning including a big swing from Pierce who stung a double that plated multiple runs and Team California would emerge with the 11-3 victory.

GAME RECAP TEAM CALIFORNIA VS. TEAM COLORADO

After the thrilling come from behind win to open the day the California squad had a game break before matching up with the squad from Colorado in the quarterfinals. Again the California squad would load the bases early in the game highlighted by another hit from '28 INF Ethan Miller who pulled a ball through the left side for a single and would eventually come around to score as they took the early lead again. Pierce who had the big extra base hit in the rally over Connecticut also would big up another knock during the Colorado game and come around to plate a run for California. Then '28 1B/LHP Aiden Vargas continued his outstanding performance at the plate throughout the Junior Future Games by collecting yet another hit and coming around to score for Califoria as they opened up a 4-0 lead against Colorado.

On the mound Team California used a combination of multiple arms to hold off the Colorado rally, but was highlighted by and outstanding 3.1 inning of scoreless relief from Cantrell who stepped up big with an effective fastball/curveball combination he threw consistently for strikes working efficiently throwing just 38 pitches in his appearance and allowing no runs. Then received a scoreless inning from '28 LHP Aiden Vargas to seal the win.

GAME RECAP TEAM CALIFORNIA VS. TEAM MISSISSIPPI

Facing off with the squad from Mississippi who put on an impressive offensive display earlier in the day with a 17-4 victory during their own quarterfinal matchup it was going to be a tough test to earn a berth in the Gold Bracket Championship game. California would be relying on a brief appearances from '28 RHP Russell Del Castillo who was dominant in his first appearance on Thursday evening and '28 RHP Brandon Hernandez, plus '28 RHP Jagr Scott who would be making their first appearances on the mound.

Despite the steep challenge against a powerful offense from Mississippi and facing their 3rd game of the day Team California was able to compete to the very end pushing Mississippi to the brink, but unfortunately feel by a final of 5-4 during the semifinals.

OVERALL RECAP

After falling to Mississippi in the semifinals the event for Team California was officially completed, but this years Junior Future Games squad made one of the strongest showings by any squad from California. They finished a total of 3-3 on the event going 1-2 during pool play before posting a 2-1 record during bracket play. They received strong performances on the mound from several arms highlighted by the work of Del Castillo, Cantrell, Vargas, and Rainis. While several bats showed well all weekend long including Vargas, Cantrell, Suarez, Rainis, Miller and Pierce. Overall the depth and quality of the squad that took the field for Team California showed very well and ensured they are names to know going for on the California High School/Travel Baseball scene as they begin the transition into that phase of their baseball careers. 

Upcoming Events

Showcase State Date Location
2024 California State Games (Invite-Only) CA 08/09 Fullerton College

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