CARY, N.C. - Game on Roundtrip became the first team to advance to the 2018 14U Cup gold medal game with a victory over NW Elite on Sunday morning.
After both teams went three up three down in the first inning, NW Elite took an early lead on a wild play in the second. Chandler Tuupo hit an RBI line drive single to left field while an error by the catcher and an error by the third baseman sent two across the plate for NW Elite, giving them an early 2-0 advantage.
NW Elite's lead didn't last for long.
In the top of the third, Cannon Whatley sent an RBI single to right field, and back to back triples from Ty Dalley and Jamie Felix gave them a 4-2 advantage. Carson Murray followed Felix's triple with a ground out to make it a 5-2 ballgame heading into the bottom of the third. '
Following Game on Roundtrip's five run inning, NW Elite followed with a five-run inning of their own. With two outs, Kai Francis and Easton Herdman hit back to back RBI singles to make it 5-3, and Ely Kennel followed with a 2 RBI line drive to center to give them the lead. Tuupo was able to score on a wild pitch and give NW Elite a 7-5 edge heading into the fourth.
Following three scoreless innings, the Game on Roundtrip offense caught fire in the top of the seventh. Dalley hit a sac fly to right field and Felix tripled on a fly ball to left. With two outs, Mason Mikell hit a sac fly to go up 9-7.
NW Elite was able to get on base courtesy of a Francis double, but no runners were able to cross the plate.
Game on Roundtrip advances to the gold medal game of the 2018 USA Baseball 14U Cup with the win and will play the NC Baseball Academy Red Sox at 2:00 p.m. EDT on Coleman Field at the National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. Follow @USABEvents on Twitter for updates.