Expos 13U opened their season as champions as they went 4-0 on the weekend at the CIS Kickoff Classic in Des Moines over the weekend of April 9-10.
In Saturday's pool play, the Expos won their first game over MASH National Black (Eagan, MN) by a score of 5-2. Gavin Willeck went two innings giving up two hits and striking out four. Alden Marsolek pitched two scoreless innings striking out two while Bo Harriman picked up the win in relief. Charlie Hayden had multiple hits, including a double and a stolen base. Willeck's bases-clearing double in the 6th proved to be the difference in the contest.
The second game of the day was all Expos as they beat Mid West Pride Red (Ankeny, IA) by a score of 11-0. Jayce Rue, Jackson Peterson and Easton Grumdahl combined on a 1 hitter with Peterson leading the way with four strikeouts over two innings of work. Rue, Marsolek, Harriman and Peterson all had multiple hits, with Hayden and Peterson each driving in three runs in the contest.
The Expos secured the #1 seed in pool play to advance to Sunday's bracket and face MASH Black in the semifinal. Starter Charlie Hayden was dominant through three innings, giving up zero earned runs and striking out eight. Marsolek bridged a scoreless two innings striking out three, and Willeck closed it for the Expos for a final score of 5-1 over the MASH. Jackson Peterson led the way at the plate going 2-2 with a two RBI, with Grumdahl and Rue both doubling as well.
In the championship game, the Expos got things started early. Hayden continued his big weekend, going 2-3 with a mammoth bomb in the first inning. Rue and Mick Martalock bolstered that performance with multiple hits of their own including a double each. Bo Harriman claimed his second win in as many days, scattering five hits over four innings of work, giving up one earned and striking out four.
Congratulations to the 13U Expos! Next up for the squad is the BCS Championship by Perfect Game which will be held in Marion, Iowa over the weekend of May 6-8.