Jacob “Cubby” Stogsdill sure is glad that he came back to the POWER SHOWCASE. Returning for the second time, the freshman from San Antonio triumphed at Globe Life Field to win the 14U World Championship. With dimensions of 305 feet to left and right field, and 325 feet to center, nearly all of his championship blasts traveled well past those minimums.

“This feels amazing. There’s no better feeling,” Stogsdill said. “The first year was just for the experience, and then I came back for this one and I was not as nervous as last time.”

Stogsdill accomplished the win while hitting second of the three finalists, which is not often done in the POWER SHOWCASE. When batting first, you want to set the mark high and hope nobody passes it, and when you go last you know the number to beat and you just chase to reach and then pass it. Batting second, Stogsdill had to balance both of those viewpoints.

“I wasn’t really thinking up there. I just tried to hit the ball up the middle and I went from there,” Stogsdill said.

Texas’ IJ Garza led off the 14U finale, after he won the Wild Card spot by hitting the longest home run of the Preliminary Round at 445 feet. Garza then set the bar really high by smacking 12 total home runs, his best being a few feet farther than the day before at 448 feet.

Cubby dug in for his turn, and on his third swing he got himself on the board with a 333-foot home run. He stayed consistent with his approach and his swing, and slowly he chipped away. Then he got locked in, hitting five straight homers to soar up to nine total with only seven outs. He then got on the most important streak of all to hit four in-a-row, the last one a 353-foot shot that moved him into the lead with 13 total home runs.

Virginia’s Cooper Crabtree closed things out, needing at least a baker’s dozen to stay alive. When he finished with four, Stogsdill knew the championship was finally his to claim.

“This feels great,” Stogsdill said following the victory.

After playing earlier in the day in the Babe Ruth Classic game, Stogsdill admitted that it proved to be very beneficial in loosening him up and being more relaxed and ready for the championship derby.

“I definitely felt more loose today, after playing in the game,” Stogsdill said. “The game was pretty good. I was a little tired at the end, but I got some rest before I came back for this.”

Stogsdill went 0-for-1, with a walk and a run in the Babe Ruth Classic, as his AL team won 8-5 over the NL team.