EULESS, Texas - Next Level Crusaders used an early lead to defeat CBA Texas, 11-4, on Friday at the Parks at Texas Star in Euless, Texas. With the win, Next Level Crusaders became the only undefeated team through the first day of competition. 

Christian Martinez was electric on the mound for Next Level Crusaders, throwing 2.1 innings pitched with no hits allowed and striking out four batters. Casen Savage came in during the fourth inning and finished with four strikeouts of his own while only allowing three hits. For CBA Texas, four different pitchers recorded two or more strikeouts.

Offensively, five different batters produced RBI's for Next Level Crusaders, led by Lucian Dixon (1-for-1 with three RBI's) and Dennis Butler (2-for-3 with two RBI's). For CBA Texas, Cohl Mccoy had a three-hit game with one RBI. Next Level Crusaders earned a total of nine hits and nine walks in the game.

Key Moments

• Mariano Valdez got Next Level Crusaders on the board first after laying down a bunt and reaching first base on a throwing error, allowing Dennis Butler to score.
• Later in the first, Valdez crossed the plate on another throwing error, giving Next Level Crusaders a 2-0 lead.
• After Elijah Bustillos earned a walk, Next Level Crusaders' Roque Serrano hit an RBI-single to left field that allowed Bustillos to score the third run of the first inning.
• In the top of the second, after Marcus Williams doubled on a line drive to left, Dylan Archuleta brought him home after hitting a grounder to third and reaching on an error.
• Still in the second, Butler hit an RBI-single to left field that would let Archuleta cross the plate, giving Next Level Crusaders a 5-0 lead.
• Continuing in the second, Valdez drove in his second run of the game on a hard-hit grounder that found the right field grass to increase Next Level Crusaders lead by six.
• Christian Martinez came in to pitch for Next Level Crusaders in the bottom of the second and retired seven of the next nine batters, including four punchouts.
• In the bottom of the fifth, after two CBA Texas batters reached base, one on a walk and one being hit by a pitch, Colh Mccoy hit an RBI-double to left and drove in CBA Texas' first fun of the game, making the score 7-1.
• Keeping the rally alive, Sergio Legorreta singled on a line drive to left that drove in CBA Texas' fourth run of the fifth inning.
• Lucian Dixon would record his second and third RBI of the game following a liner to center, increasing the lead to six in the top of the seventh. 

Notable Information

• Diego Diaz earned the win for Next Level Crusaders with one strikeout on one inning pitched.
• Addison Brown suffered the loss for CBA Texas after 0.1 innings pitched and three runs allowed.

On Deck

• Next Level Crusaders (2-0) are set to take on Prospect Central (1-1) on Saturday at 8:00 AM.
• CBA Texas (1-1) is slated to play Oklahoma Exclusive Baseball (0-2) on Saturday at 8:00 AM.

Social

• Stay tuned to @USABFutures on Twitter and visit USABaseball.com for the most up-to-date news about the 13U Futures Series Euless.