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Gamers win inaugural PBR Labor Day Challenge

September 4, 2013

By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

The inaugural Prep Baseball Report Labor Day Challenge featured many of the top Class of 2015 prospects in the Midwest at Illinois State University in Normal, IL. The competition level was high, but that didn’t prevent the St. Louis Gamers from steamrolling the field, going 4-0 to win the six-team event.

En route to winning the championship, the Gamers defeated the San Francisco Giants Scout Team (8-7), Ohio Elite (4-1), Top Tier (10-4), and the GRB Rays (7-3). Top Tier finished second at 3-1, while Ohio Elite and GRB Rays went 2-2. Hitters Baseball posted a 1-3 record, and the Giants Scout Team went 0-4.

All 12 games of the Labor Day Challenge were streamed live on the High School Cube. CLICK HERE to watch all the rebroadcasts, which include postgame interviews with the players of the game.

The Gamers received stellar play throughout their lineup, but none more so than OF/RHP Matt Vierling (CBC HS, MO, 2015). The 6-foot-3, 185-pound two-way talent earned the Labor Day Challenge Most Valuable Player honors after he went 9-for-13 with two doubles, one triple, six RBI, two stolen bases and three runs scored. Vierling also pitched six strong innings to earn a victory against Top Tier behind an 85-87 mph fastball.

Not far behind Vierling for MVP honors was 3B/RHP Ryan Mantle (Linn HS, MO, 2015). The strong-bodied 5-foot-10, 200-pound Mantle delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the seventh to sink the Giants Scout Team, in addition to going 4-for-9 with three walks, one hit by pitch, four runs scored and an RBI. Mantle also had the most impressive pitching performance of the weekend, going six strong innings to earn the victory. Mantle sat 86-88 for the entire game, topping out at 90 in the fifth inning. He also commanded a 75-76 mph curveball and a 79 mph changeup.

A look at the Labor Day Challenge All-Tournament Team:

MVP: Matt Vierling, OF/RHP, CBC HS, MO, 2015

Position Players:

Jesse Forestell, C, Homewood-Flossmoor HS, IL, 2015
Chris Ayers, OF, Westfield HS, IN, 2015
Owen Miller, SS, Ozaukee HS, WI, 2015
Pete Schuler, C, Kenosha St. Joseph HS, WI, 2015
Storme Cooper, SS, Timberland HS, MO, 2015
Austin Blazevic, 3B, Plainfield Central HS, IL, 2015
Takahiro Yamada, SS, Columbus East HS, IN, 2016
Doran Turchin, OF, Oak Creek HS, WI, 2015
Cameron Comer, C/INF, Olentangy Liberty HS, OH, 2015
Kyle Dockus, SS, Moeller HS, OH, 2015
Brett Newberg, 1B/LHP, Moline HS, IL, 2015
Ian Nelson, 2B, Timberland HS, IL, 2015
Jordan Ramey, OF, Moeller HS, OH, 2015
Justin Kelly, C/1B, Wheaton-Warrenville South HS, IL

Pitchers:

Ryan Mantle, RHP/3B, Linn HS, MO, 2015
Noah Shanteau, RHP, Westfield HS, IN, 2017
Steven Skolarz, RHP, Lincoln-Way West HS, IL, 2015
Jack Bredeson, RHP, Arrowhead HS, WI, 2015
Brandon Meissner, RHP, West De Pere HS, 2015
Nolan Watson, Lawrence North HS, 2015

Labor Day Challenge Statistical Highlights:

+ Left-handed hitting Chris Ayers went 4-for-9 with three walks, two triples, one double, five stolen bases and three runs scored to pace the Giants.

+ Left-handed hitting Jesse Forestell went 7-for-12 with three walks, one hit by pitch, two doubles, one triple, four RBI, and four runs scored.

+ Justin Kelly tallied five RBI, two doubles, one triple and went 6-for-12.

+ Pete Schuler drove in five runs, scored four times, and went 4-for-9 with three hit by pitch, two walks and one triple.

+ Austin Blazevic went 6-for-12 with two doubles, a triple, three runs and two RBI.

+ Owen Miller went 5-for-13 with a triple, double, three runs scored and an RBI. He also played a flawless shortstop, including making one highlight reel play.

+ Jordan Ramey made a Top 10 SportCenter-worthy diving catch in centerfield. CLICK HERE to view the clip.

+ 2017 RHP Noah Shanteau threw four stellar shutout innings against the Gamers, pitching at 83-85, touching 86, with advanced feel for his secondary stuff.

+ RHP Steven Skolarz struck out nine in five innings work for Top Tier.

+ RHP Jack Bredeson retired nine consecutive batters against the Giants behind a consistent 85-86 mph fastball.

+ The Hitters erupted for seven runs on seven hits in the third inning to end any suspense against the GRB Rays in the battle of Wisconsin’s top travel programs.

+ Brett Newberg went 7-for-14 with four runs and two RBI.

CLICK HERE to watch all PBR Labor Day Challenge Games

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