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FaultLine 14U takes World Series title
By STEVE HARRIS
Pemiscot Press
Going into this year’s USSSA 14U World Series in Kansas City, coach Chad Foley was looking for back-to-back titles and, after a slow start in the first two games, his FaultLine team came alive, started swinging the bats and tallied three consecutive wins to capture the 2017 World Series championship. The title game, played Sunday morning, July 16, featured a showdown between FaultLine and the KC Cubs. With the game knotted at zero going into the bottom of the fifth, Landen Wrinkles smacked a single, driving in the first run of the game. FaultLine would go on to win 5-2, earning the coveted World Series hardware. Other hitters included Layton Robinson with two singles and a double. Justin Wilftang recorded a single, Ethan Suthern a double, Ethan Ludwick two singles and Tyler Shelton a single. On the mound, Ethan Ludwick went seven innings for FaultLine, allowing five hits and striking out nine, while giving up only two earned runs.
“That was probably the big inning, the difference in the game,” stated Coach Foley in an interview Monday. “Their team fought really hard to come back. They even had a big home run late in the game.
“We had five kids return from last year’s team, so that was really a special deal for those guys,” he further commented. “It was also a special moment for every kid on the team.”
In Friday’s opening-round game, FaultLine fell to the Bullets, 12-7. Landen Wrinkles belted a double and single, Andy Carrillo a single, Jordan Lewis a double, Justin Wiltfang two singles, Jake Higgins a single, Ethan Suthern a triple and Ethan Ludwick a double and single. As for pitching duties, Layton Robinson got the starting nod, tossing three innings of two-hit ball. He gave up four earned runs, fanning four batters. Andy Carrillo pitched one inning, allowing five earned runs off two hits and striking out one. Ethan Suthern closed, pitching two innings and giving up two earned runs and five hits, while striking out two batters.
Round two saw FaultLine drop a game to the KC Cubs by only one run, 8-7, despite cranking out 11 hits. Swatting a single and double was Landen Wrinkles, while Andy Carrillo had a single. Jordan Lewis smacked a double, Kaleb Alley a single, Justin Wiltfang a double, Ethan Suthern two singles, Ethan Ludwick a single and Tyler Shelton two singles. Pitching the first four innings was Justin Wiltfang. Off six hits, he allowed eight earned runs, striking out three. Serving as closer was Andy Carrillo, throwing two innings of two-hit ball and fanning two.
“It was definitely a rough two games, but we’ve kind of done that all year as far as pool play,” Coach Foley noted. “We never seemed to figure out how to solve that puzzle in pool play. We typically started out that way, putting ourselves in a hole, but the kids typically responded well. They seem to always battle back and find ways to give themselves opportunities to win.”
The FaultLine squad moved into championship form in third-round action with a 16-1 trouncing of the Bullets, scattering 15 hits in the big win. At the plate, hitters were: Landen Wrinkles, two singles; Ryder Banks, single; Andy Carrillo, two singles and a double; Jordan Lewis, home run, two doubles and a single; Justin Wiltfang, single; Ethan Suthern, single; Ethan Ludwick, single; Tyler Shelton, single and Tyler Landry, single. On the hill, Jordan Lewis put in 2 2/3 innings of work, allowing just two hits and striking out five. Ethan Suthern logged in 2 1/3 innings on the mound for FaultLine. He struck out three, while giving up only two hits.
In the semifinals matchup, Faultline blanked the KC Cubs, 17-0, and put 17 hits into the record books. Landen Wrinkles and Andy Carrillo belted a single each, and Jordan Lewis unleashed a homer and single as Layton Robinson blasted a double and single. Kaleb Alley unloaded a single, as Justin Wiltfang smashed a home run and single. Swatting a pair of singles was Jake Higgins, and Ethan Suthern recorded a double. Ripping three singles was Ethan Ludwick, while Tyler Shelton smacked a pair singles of his own. Getting the job done in four innings was pitcher Jordan Lewis, recording six Ks and giving up just one hit.
“We had a long conversation that Saturday and talked about what our mentality may have been in those two losses and what we wanted to accomplish,” Foley said. “The kids just responded well that day, and we had some big hits. ...The pitching that day was also just absolutely outstanding.”
As Foley concluded the interview, he expressed appreciation for the parents’ unwavering support throughout the season. “The parents have been great, and they were again this weekend,” he said. “It takes a lot of dedication on their part.” He also thanked all the team’s sponsors and community supporters. “We would like to especially thank Caruthersville Middle School for giving us a great opportunity to do a fundraiser, which really gave us the opportunity to make the trip to the World Series,” he added.