The action wrapped up at the 17U National Team Championships North Carolina on Friday, with the semifinal and final rounds in the books. Read below to see how it all played out!
USA Prime/Aces National punched its ticket to the championship game with a walk-off 1-0 win over USA Prime National/Detroit Tigers Scout Team in the semifinals of the 2025 17U National Team Championships North Carolina.
The game remained scoreless through seven innings as both teams leaned on stellar pitching performances – highlighted by Brayden Harris’ nine-strikeout game for USA Prime National/Detroit Tigers Scout Team.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Warren Gravely played hero, lining a base hit to score Colton Guillot and send USA Prime/Aces National to the title game in dramatic fashion.
CBU Scout Team James pulled off a thrilling comeback to secure a spot in the gold medal game, walking off PRD 2026s in a 2-1 semifinal win. PRD struck first in the top of the fourth frame, as Logan Martel delivered an RBI to bring home Bradley McCafferty and put his team up 1-0.
The score held firm as both pitching staffs kept bats silent witheach team recording only four hits on the day. Mills Carrillo led the way offensively for CBU, going 2-for-3 at the plate. In the bottom of the seventh, CBU came alive. Carrillo scored the tying run on a walk, setting the stage for Isaiah Fernandez, who lined a clutch base hit into right field to plate Austin Knierim for the game-winning run.
In a high-stakes clash at Coleman Field, CBU 2026 Scout Team James edged out 2026 Aces National/USA Prime in a tightly contested 17U National Team Championship North Carolina matchup, 4-3.
CBU got on the board early in the top of the first. Reuban Vasquez worked a walk and stole second, Knierim delivered a line-drive single to center to bring Vasquez home and give CBU a quick 1-0 lead. It was a strong opening statement for a team that came out poised and aggressive.
On the mound, Aiden Nguyen set the tone with a composed performance, mixing pitches effectively and working out of key situations to protect the slim advantage.
The Aces responded in the bottom of the third, starting when Cole Prosek roped a double to left and advanced to third on a passed ball. Guillot followed with a sharp RBI single to right field to tie the game at one run each. But any momentum was quickly stopped as Guillot was caught stealing second by catcher OB Osceola, ending the inning and halting the rally.
CBU reclaimed the lead in the top of the fourth. With two runners on, Fernandez lined a single to center that brought home Knierim. A miscue in the outfield allowed Cannon Murtaugh to advance to third and Fernandez to second, pushing CBU ahead 2-1.
The defining moment came in the top of the sixth. With two runners aboard, Isaiah Perez delivered the knockout blow—a deep fly ball to right that went for a two-run triple, scoring Carrillo and Rodney Chung to extend the lead to three runs.
But, the Aces were not finished yet. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Trevor Condon and Coleman Borthwick both reached base, putting runners in scoring position. Then, Taj Marchand delivered a powerful fly ball to right field for a two-run triple, cutting the lead to just one run.
Suddenly, the score was 4-3, with the tying run just 90 feet away. However, CBU’s defense held firm and recorded the final out, ending the Aces’ comeback attempt and securing a hard-fought victory.
Nguyen, donning his gold, expressed just how much this week and win meant to him and his teammates, saying:
“My pitches were really moving well.Hopefully this brings some exposure and leads to a commitment. The week started off rough, honestly. But we figured it out as it went on. By the semifinals and finals, we were locked in. I pitched well and we finished strong. It all worked out.”
National Director for CBU Baseball, Aaron Lawson, couldn’t hold back his excitement when asked what the gold medal meant to him and his squad.
“We only brought 10 position players, so we didn’t have the depth that a lot of other teams had. The guys were exhausted. But for us, that really brought the group together. Everyone was involved in every game, and that created a family atmosphere that made a huge difference. Our pitching was outstanding, the defense held strong, and we came up with timely hits. At the end of the day, we played as a team—and that’s what got it done.”
Two of the nation’s top 17U teams brought their best to Cary, delivering a game full of energy, execution, and elite-level play. With standout performances on both sides, this championship matchup once again proved that the path to the next level runs through the National Team Championships.
In the bronze medal match, a fierce battle unfolded between PRD 2026’s and USA Prime/Detroit Tigers Scout, with both teams battling intensely over seven innings.
In the top of the seventh, PRD 2026’s sparked a potential rally with two walks but were quickly shut down by a key double play and a strikeout from USA Prime’s pitcher Keaton Neal.
USA Prime’s defense stayed sharp and composed, preserving its advantage. Heading into the bottom of the seventh, USA Prime held a solid 6-1 lead, positioning themselves well to close out the game and secure a podium finish.
