OBERLIN, OH – It was another successful weekend for the Erie Steelheads 17U Prospects, as well as the Steelies 17U Travel.

The Warren quartet of Micah Passmore, Mitch Grosch, Ryan Rafalski and Nick Hussey continued their strong play, while Harbor Creek’s Aidan Kelly had a big weekend as well.

For the 17U Travel, Warren’s Ben Berdine and Ethan Wilson had big weekends as well.

Here’s a look how they fared.

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Saturday

Steelheads 10, Spikes 17U King 8

Kelly put together a monster game at the plate, belting two home runs, including a second-inning grand slam to help lift the Steelies (13-5) to victory.

The Spikes took an 8-5 lead with six runs in the fourth, but Erie re-took the lead in the sixth on Mason Bender’s RBI double. Bender also had a big game, going 4-for-4. Matt Shepard was 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs, Grosch was 2-for-3 with a run scored, Passmore 2-for-3 with a run, RBI and walk and Rafalski 1-for-4 with a run scored while also playing excellent defense at shortstop.

As a team, the Steelies had 19 hits.

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Sunday

Steelheads 2, Spiders 17U 1

Kelly, who has had a great summer on the mound to this point, was terrific again in this one, tossing a complete game 3-hitter. He allowed just one unearned run, struck out three and walked two.

Trailing 1-0, the Steelies struck for both of their runs in the third inning.

Passmore led off the inning with a single and came around to score on Cam Williamson’s RBI double. Casey Smith then walked with the bases loaded and two outs to bring in Hussey.

Passmore had two of Erie’s four hits.

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IVL 16U, 8, Steelheads 4

IVL had just five hits but took advantage of nine free passes by Steelies pitchers to earn the title.

Cody Smith started and went 4 1/3 innings for Erie, allowing five earned runs, walking six and striking out two. He was relieved by Rafalski, who allowed three runs in an inning of work before Casey Smith came in to get the final two outs.

Both teams scored a pair of runs in the second, and Erie took the lead in the fourth on Casey Smith’s sacrifice fly before IVL struck for three runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth.

Luke Jackson had two hits for Erie, while Passmore, Rafalski, Shepard, Bender and Cody Smith all had singles as well.

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Warren’s Berdine, Wilson help lead

Steelies 17U to pair of wins

The Erie Steelheads went 2-0 on Saturday in the Elite Midwest Invitational.

In game 1, the Steelheads beat Hurricanes Select 11-8 at Elyria Catholic High School. The Steelheads started the scoring in the second inning when Ben Berdine doubled and scpred on Colin Ishimaru’s RBI single.

In the third, Ethan Wilson led off with a triple, followed by Matt Leehan’s hit by pitch. Both scored on Jack Malec’s RBI single. The Steelheads added seven runs in the fifth inning, Wilson, Leehan, Malec, Connor Fitzgerald all walked, Michael Oblich cleared the bases with a double scored on Berdine’s second double of the day. Berdine scored on Ishimaru’s single and Joe Amann doubled to bring in Ishimaru.

Austin Moore got the win for the Steelheads, pitching 6 complete innings, giving up 8 runs on 9 hits and 6 strikeouts. (Game ended after 6 complete innings due to 2 hour time limit)

Wilson was 1-for-3 with a triple and 2 runs scored and Berdine was 2-for-4 with 2 doubles and1 RBI, scoring twice.

In game 2, the Steelheads bested IVL Linn 7-3 at Oberlin College. The Steelheads scored 5 runs in the second inning to take the lead, Fitzgerald led off with a walk and scored on Oblich’s RBI triple. Berdine then RBI singled and Amann tripled in Berdine and scored on an overthrow to third. Dolansky was hit by pitch and eventually scored on a wild pitch by Ishimaru. The Steelheads added single runs in the third and fifth to close out the scoring.

Berdine got the win, pitching five innings, giving 3 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits and 4 strikeouts. Connor Fitzgerald pitched a scoreless sixth inning (Game ended after 6 innings due to 2 hour time limit).

With only the top four of 15 teams making bracket play, Sunday’s consolation game was forfeited by Stampede of Solon, OH.

For the tournament, Wilson was 3-12 (.250) with 2 runs scored. Berdine was 6-11 (.545) with 3 RBI’s and 4 runs scored.

The Erie Steelheads 17u-Travel team is comprised of players from Warren, Cathedral Prep, General McLane and Mercyhurst Prep.