Logan Bakos went 3-for-3 and pitched five strong innings to pace Sportika National 14U.
By Rich Bevensee
More importantly than anything else, Sportika National 14U coach Nick Franke was concerned about his team’s mental approach once the players emerged from winter conditioning this weekend.
Franke can cross Logan Bakos’ name off that list because the young right-hander displayed the poise of a player immersed in the heat of a summer campaign.
Rather than force the issue and mix all four of his pitches into his approach, Bakos quickly came to the understanding that Maine Lightning Elite wasn’t hitting his fastball, which he used primarily to bring Sportika its first win of the season.
Bakos allowed two runs on three hits and four walks over five innings of work, and kept the Lightning in check long enough to earn a 7-2 decision in the quarterfinals of the 14U Easter Extravaganza on Saturday at Diamond Nation in Flemington.
“It was mainly fastballs today. They couldn’t touch it, so if it’s not broken don’t fix it,” said Bakos, who threw just two changeups and one curveball. “I think I pitched pretty well. Only three hits, pitched for contact and my teammates made plays so I’m pretty happy with that.”
Sixth-seeded Sportika, nabbing its first win of the season after going 0-2 in pool play, was slated to face Flores Baseball Braves 2030 Scout or FB Braves 13U Red in the semis.
Bakos also led the Sportika offense by going 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Leo Plachino was 2-for-3 with two RBI, Ryan Bierne singled and drove in two runs, and Hudson Cagliosotro doubled, walked and scored twice.
Franke said the win exemplified what he was looking for in terms of his players’ mental approach. After bowing to Jersey Devils-Pandolfini and FB Braves 13U Red in pool play, Franke got the performance he was looking for against the visitors from Portland, Maine.
“First one’s the big one. Gotta have some momentum,” Franke said.
“I wanted to see if we put any of the mental stuff to rest. As you get older you’re gonna fail, but we’re trying to preach it’s about us and you have to pick each other up. Everyone’s going to make some mistakes, everyone’s gonna strike out. At the end of the day you have to bounce back.”
Leo Plachino slides home safely during Sportika’s 7-2 win in the Easter Extravaganza.
Bakos, whose fastball hovered in the low 70s, said he didn’t need any pregame or in-game advice to figure out how to approach Lightning hitters. It’s an attack mode he’s possessed since he first picked up a baseball.
“It’s just something you learn as you go,” Bakos said. “I’ve been playing since I was eight, so it’s part of the mental IQ that you learn – if it’s working then use it. I have three main pitches but if I need to I can mix in a two-seam and I can change my timing, and mix a lot of things to make it work.”
“I liked his composure,” Franke said. “I liked how he got ahead of hitters and he did a great job commanding his fastball.”
Sportika, based in Monmouth County, had its offense clicking from the outset. In the top of the first inning Bakos helped himself with an RBI single up the middle, Plachino hit a bases-loaded, infield tapper that went for an RBI single, and with the bases still full, Ryan Bierne was hit by a pitch to force in another run for a 3-0 lead.
In the second, Carter Tittle singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch, and Bakos struck again with the game’s hardest hit ball, an RBI double into the left center gap for a 5-0 Sportika lead.
Franke’s club extended it to 6-0 in the third on a Bierne RBI single.
The Lightning finally got to Bakos in the fourth when Seby Almy led off by dropping a triple into the right field corner and scored on an Emmet O’Brien groundout. Owen LaPlant singled and eventually scored on a Miguel Medina groundout.
Sportika added one more run in the fifth on Planchino’s RBI single. Bierne came on to pitch a perfect sixth inning in relief and close out the game.