The 11U Expos had a great start to their 2022 season, going 3-1 at the CIS Kickoff Classic in Des Moines, Iowa the weekend of April 9-10.
Saturday’s opening pool play game saw the Expos dominate the Lil Devils (Martensdale IA) by a score of 20-2. Every Expos player scored in the contest, led by multiple hits from Jaxon Hardi, Mattson Rue, George Oleska, John Sundberg, Ezra Alhberg and Weston Deboer. Easton Lahti pitched three innings with six strikeouts and two walks, followed by Rue and Oleska to combine for a one hitter.
In the second pool play game against Stingers (Grimes IA), the Expos broke it open with six runs in the bottom of the third inning, and a walk-off single by Rue with the bases loaded gave them an 8-0 win. Hardi went 2-2 at the plate. Dane Linn went three scoreless innings with four strikeouts and was relieved by Jordan Kangas who closed the door in the fourth.
The 11U Expos went into Sunday’s bracket play as the number one seed. They began the day with a rematch with the Stingers. The Expos bats came out hot and they scored five runs in the top of the first, highlighted by a monster bomb by Jordan Kangas, his first as an Expo. The Stingers wouldn’t go down without a fight and put up four runs of their own in the first. The Expos offense showed resilience by scoring runs in every inning, led by Mattson Rue, Kangas, and John Sunberg with two hits apiece. Sunberg and Kangas combined for the win on the mound. Sunberg went three innings striking out three while only walking one. Kangas cleaned up the last two innings by striking out two and walking two to solidify the victory with a 14-10 win. The semifinal game paired the Expos against the Cyclones (Sioux Falls SD), who proved to be a formidable opponent with good pitching, strong defense and consistent bats. The Cyclones went up early by scoring four runs on four hits in the first off of Easton Lahti. Lahti was able to settle in and keep the game within reach through three, giving up five runs on six hits and three walks. Dane Linn pitched well in relief giving up three runs on three hits and walking two. The Cyclones pitchers were able to keep the Expos bats at bay all day, allowing only four hits while walking three in a 8-1 victory. The Cyclones would eventually take the championship later on in the day. The 11U Expos fought hard all weekend and committed only 2 defensive errors in four games. Next up for this talented group is the BCS Championship by Perfect Game which will be held in Marion, Iowa over the weekend of May 6-8.
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