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Tournaments  | Championship  | 7/5/2019

FL Elite United takes 11u BCS

Autumn Jones     
Photo: Florida Elite United (Perfect Game)

FORT MYERS, Fla. – A respectable group who were certainly the underdogs early on made a remarkable comeback to claim the title in the 11u BCS National Championship. Florida Elite United slid past the GBSA Rays 11u Florida, 8-5, a team that outscored them in pool play.

Elite United clearly had unfinished business to take care of Friday morning. The young team steadily improved their game over the last few days in this near week-long tournament, coming back to defeat talented GBSA Rays and knocking out the No.1 seed along the way.



But having the opportunity to prove themselves was all the team needed to make a statement. The final matchup started off an even 4-4 in the first inning. Elite then produced the remaining runs in the third, fourth and fifth. The steady run of this skillful team was only needed for six innings when they struck out the last batter for the Rays in the top of the sixth.

Grant Johnson (2025, Jacksonville, Fla.) pitched for four of those innings allowing four hits and three walks while striking out six batters. Relief pitcher Tyler Johnson assisted with effective pitching efforts, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out two in his two innings. Landis Pickett led the way offensively going a solid 2-for-2 with a double and run scored. Teammates Ty Moses and Slade Wayne each went 2-for-3 with a double and run scored. Pickett, Wayne, Moses and G. Johnson each earned the team’s RBIs.

Florida Elite United are coached by Managers Dale Hanson and Lance Wayne. The two led their team from a slim chance in the playoffs to a championship victory they’ll never forget.

“It’s good for the kids,” said Wayne. “They put in the hard work throughout the week and throughout this whole season. It means more to them because it shows that when they put in the hard work, they get the results that they need and that’s what we want to instill in our team.”

In addition, the team didn’t let a set-back in the playoffs knock them out. Unexpectedly the Elite squad was down to nine players in the lineup entering the playoffs. Although this brought challenge, the team viewed the win as an even greater accomplishment, given the sacrifices they had to make for one another.

Florida Elite United’s General Manager Neil Jagolinzer reflects on how the opportunity to compete in a Perfect Game tournament is an achievement itself and consequently describes it as a “perfect” experience.

“It’s a significant milestone for these kids,” added Neil. “They worked hard and battled through pool play and every day at 8 a.m. two games a day in the heat, so I give credit to my parents and my players. All in all, a perfect experience, and again, I’m really happy Perfect Game invited us and allowed us to play.”

This West Palm Beach, Fla.-based team typically sees their competition from the East Coast, so getting over to the West Coast of the state was something the team really looked forward to and indeed got the most out of it. 

“Its great,” added Wayne. “We always want to play against the best competition and the best kids out there and that’s why we choose Perfect Game – so we can get that experience by playing against the best and seeing how we compete. PG puts on a great tournament for us and it’s the most well organized and well ran tournament there is.”

The MVP for the tournament was earned by a well deserving primary shortstop and catcher, Thomas Glasspoole (2025, Phenix City, Ala.). Glasspoole tallied 11 hits, eight runs, five doubles and seven RBIs in the tournament. He also pitched in on the mound, earning the win in the quarterfinals allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out seven in his 5 1/3 innings.

“We did great, said Glasspoole. “We weren’t the ones that people wanted to win, but we came out and did our work. There’s a lot of good talent and it's tough every weekend and we just had to come out, try our best and compete. I’d like to thank my coaches for letting me come down and play and letting me be a part of this team.”

“Thomas is the definition of an absolute flat out baller,” added Jagolinzer.  “You can put him anywhere at any time and in any situation and he will eventually come through for you. He’s dedicated and he knows the game. To have him as a member of this team and have him win the MVP we are really excited about that.”

MV-Pitcher was earned by GBSA Ray’s Mason Kayser (2025, Jacksonville, Fla.) who also earned the award in May at the Georgia PG 11u Southeast Memorial Day Classic. The righthander’s top performance came during the opener where he allowed only two hits while striking out seven in three innings, and at the semifinals when he allowed six hits and a walk while striking out six in five innings. Kayser mentioned how thankful he is just to be out here playing.

“We are all pleased and happy we competed in the Perfect Game event,” concluded Jagolinzer. “We admire Perfect Game and they run great tournaments, from the website, staff, facility and umpires. Just getting here is great, and the icing on the cake is winning the 11u BCS National Championship.”


2019 11u BCS National Championship runner-up: GBSA Rays 11u Florida



2019 11u BCS National Championship MVP: Thomas Glasspoole



2019 11u BCS National Championship MV-Pitcher: Mason Kayser
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