Bringing Home the Gold

ARIZONA

14U

Extra innings determined the winner of the 2018 14U National Team Championships in Arizona as 3D Gold topped Pacific Baseball Academy, 14-9, at Peoria Stadium in Peoria, Arizona, to earn the gold medal.

Pacific Baseball Academy began the contest by scoring four runs over the first two innings to jump out to an early 4-0 lead, but 3D Gold fought back by scoring four runs in the fourth and fifth innings to give them an 8-4 advantage.

Pacific Baseball Academy scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth to reclaim the lead, before 3D Gold tied it up once more in the top of the seventh to send the game to extra innings.

With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, 3D Gold began the inning with runners on first and second to begin the eighth. 3D Gold used the tiebreaker to its advantage, plating five runs in the inning to solidify the victory by a final margin of 14-9.

15U

Two undefeated teams clashed in the gold-medal game of the 2018 15U National Team Championships in Arizona as Pacific Baseball Academy defeated NCTB Prime,12-2, at Peoria Stadium in Peoria, Arizona

The two teams traded blows over the first two innings, with Pacific Baseball Academy earning the early lead after plating two runs in the bottom half of the first inning. NCTB Prime tied the game at two in the top of the second after scoring a pair of runs on back-to-back singles.

The Pacific Baseball Academy offense exploded in bottom of the third, taking advantage of six walks and four hit-by-pitches to score ten runs in the frame, giving them the 12-2 lead. They followed the offensive outburst with solid defense in the fourth, retiring NCTB Prime in order to win the game and the gold medal at the 2018 15U National Team Championships in Arizona.

16U

MVP Hustle shined on the mound and at the plate to earn gold at the 16U National Team Championships in Arizona, defeating Canyon Thunder, 8-3, at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona.

After jumping out to an early 4-0 lead in the first three innings, MVP Hustle looked to be in command early on, but Canyon Thunder put up a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut MVP’s lead to 4-2.

Canyon Thunder scored another run in the bottom of the fifth, but it wouldn’t be enough to mount the comeback.

MVP Hustle went on to score four more runs over the final three innings of the game, closing the game out at 8-3 to give them gold medal.

17U

In the 17-and-under division, the San Diego Show took on GBG Marucci National with a gold medal on the line at the National Team Championships in Arizona. The San Diego Show used a fast start to overpower GBG Marucci National, 10-8, to claim the gold medal.

San Diego Show jumped on the board early and never looked back as they plated nine runs in the top of the first inning. However, CBA Marucci National rallied scoring eight unanswered runs over the next five frames to cut the lead to one.

San Diego Show added an insurance run in the top of the sixth to give them the 10-8 advantage over CBA Marucci National. San Diego Show silenced the CBA Marucci National bats over the final two innings of the game to secure the 10-8 margin of victory and the 2018 17U National Team Championships gold medal.

FLORIDA

14U

The Kangaroo Court Roos 14U came away champions of the 14U Division at the 2018 National Team Championships in Florida after defeating the Kangaroo Court Roos 13U, 2-0, at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Kangaroo Court 14U scored both of their runs in the top of the fourth inning after Tanner Darley scored on a wild pitch and an RBI single from AJ Nessler that allowed Miles Curley to cross the plate. The game was called with one out in the top of the fifth inning due to inclement weather, giving the Kangaroo Court Roos 14U the gold medal.

Kangaroo Court Roos 14U starting pitcher, Renzo Gonzalez, was on fire on the mound, not allowing a single hit in his four innings of work throughout the championship game. The Kangaroo Court Roos 13U starting pitcher, Aiden Miller, went the distance as well, allowing just four hits and two runs all game.

15U

Team American Elite defeated the Louisiana Knights and claimed gold in the 15U championship game of the National Team Championships in Florida at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The Louisiana Knights were the first team on the board after an RBI double from Chase Allsup. Team American Elite responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the second inning, thanks to an RBI single from Jacob Orr and a run scored after batter Aiden Mastantuno drew a walk with the bases loaded.

With the Knights holding a 2-1 edge in the fifth, Team Elite American tied the game with a sacrifice fly from Josh Hartle. Team Elite American took the lead in the bottom of the sixth when Mastantuno recorded his second RBI of the game with a hard grounder to left field that drove in Nick Krutz to score the final run of the game and earn the gold medal for Team American Elite.

17U

The 2018 National Team Championships in Florida concluded with Rawlings Stealth besting the 16U Royals Scout Team, 4-3, to earn the gold medal in the 17U division at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Florida.

The 16U Royals Scout Team got off to a hot start in the bottom of the first inning when Garrett Rice hit a two-RBI double for his squad. Rawlings Stealth had a quick answer in the top of the second as Bailey Uderitz hit a double of his own that plated a pair of runs. Jaden Bruno put Rawlings Stealth ahead with an RBI-single that scored Sammy Cooper in the top of the second.

16U Royals Scout Team knotted things up at three runs a piece in the bottom of the second frame after Rice earned his third RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to center, driving home Tanner Hanke. In the top of the third, Rawlings Stealth regained the lead and never looked back after Bruno singled on a hard-hit grounder to right field, scoring Carmine Lane for the eventual game-winning run. Rawlings Stealth finished the tournament with an 8-1 record, scoring 61 runs and just allowing 23 on their way to a 17U championship. ♦