By Nathan Rode
National Supervisor

WESTFIELD, IN—The Giants Scout Team fended off a last-inning threat from the Cangelosi Sparks to win the inaugural Prep Baseball Report Fall Championship Upper Class Division 4-3 at Grand Park Sunday evening.

The Giants used a balanced offense and some solid pitching to come away with the victory. RHPs Gabe Bierman (Jeffersonville HS, IN) and Nick Hoffmann (Centerville HS, OH) combined to toss six shutout innings, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out six. Scoring was opened in the third inning when OF Casey Manigilia (Solon HS, OH) led off with an infield single and 2B Jacob Daftari (Hamilton Southeastern HS, IN) reached on a fielder’s choice when a double play pivot was dropped. They then attempted a double steal and came around to score when the catcher’s throw sailed down the left-field line.

Insurance runs were added in the fourth in sixth innings. In the fourth, SS Gage Hughes (Greenup County HS, KY) led off with a double that was smoked to left center. He scored on a squared up single by C Keegan Fish (Lakota West HS, OH). In the sixth, Hughes squared up a single off the first baseman’s glove, advanced on a chopped single by Fish and scored on a passed ball to make it 4-0.

Cangelosi 3B Cam McDonald (Hall Township HS, IL) led off with a single and 2B Branden Comia (Sandburg HS, IL) followed with one of his own. The both scored when C Brant Vanaman (Hall HS, IL) launched a triple over the center fielder’s head in the right-center gap. Vanaman then scored on a groundout to make it 4-3, but the Giants got two more outs to clinch the victory.

Related Content