Day Three of NC Champs was full of action, seeing two walk-off wins and multiple one-run games. Both Alpha Prime and the Scorpions found their way into the championship game while Top Tier Select and the Texas Senators will compete for the bronze. Catch up on the quarter

Quarterfinal Roundups

Stix 9 (3-0), Alpha Prime 4 (2-1)

• The duo of Alec Blair and Ethan Porter totaled three RBIs and scored three runs apiece to help Alpha Prime knock off undefeated Stix 9-4. Alpha Prime started off early, cracking two singles in the top of the first to put a runner in scoring position, and Maverek Russell pushed him across as he reached on an infield error. To round out the first, Prime’s Alec Blair notched another run due to a wild pitch, pushing the lead to 2-0. Alpha Prime continued to add to its lead through the next four innings, as it added three of its nine runs in the fifth frame courtesy of back-to-back doubles and a single from Luke Cornelison. Stix responded with its own four-run rally, capped off by Landon Schaefer’s triple to cut the lead to just two after five frames. Not to be outdone, the Alpha Prime bats remained hot and added three more runs to its total with two consecutive multi-base hits, to push the score to 9-4. Alpha Prime’s defense hunkered down throughout the last two innings and knocked off undefeated Stix to secure itself a spot in the semifinal round.

Top Tier Select 6 (2-1), Team Elite 5 (2-1)

• Top Tier Select pulled away from Team Elite with four runs in the fifth inning to finalize a 6-5 win and push itself into the semifinals. Team Elite jumped out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to an Evan Hankins two-run triple to right field. Team Elite wasn’t done just yet, as it plated two more runs in the second inning on a sacrifice fly from Mateo Noto and another run would find home due to a passed ball on the same play. Not going down without a fight, Top Tier Select added its first run in the bottom of the third and would go on a four-run rampage in the fifth to gain its first lead of the day thanks to a big-time triple from Conor Essenberg. Down one in the top of the seventh, Team Elite tightened things up and tied the game with a Trent Grindlinger sacrifice fly. Going into the bottom of the seventh, Top Tier could taste victory, advancing its first two batters to first and second and putting a runner in scoring position. Jacob Parker stepped up to the plate for Top Tier and played hero as he cranked a single to center field to clinch the walk-off victory.

Scorpions Scout Team Black 6 (2-1), USA Prime National 5 (1-1)

• Late-game hitting and Ethan Holliday’s two-RBI day allowed Scorpions Scout Team to hand USA Prime its second loss at 17U Champs NC. USA Prime struck first and went on a four-run spree in the top of the second inning. After a single and a walk, Vincent DeCarlo stepped up to the plate and delivered an infield single to drive Kruz Schoolcraft home and advance two runners into scoring position. With the bases loaded, USA Prime tallied another run via a walk to double its lead at 2-0. Sean Gamble extended the rally with his single, driving Cannon Goldin in and advancing DeCarlo to third where he would later steal home to end the rally. In the third, USA Prime tallied its fifth run of the day as Goldin cracked an RBI-single to right field, extending the lead to five. The Scorpions capitalized in the third inning, starting off with back-to-back singles that would be moved around the bags via a double from Cash Williams and an outfield single from Holliday, cutting the deficit to two at the end of the third. For the Scorpions, Brody Juntunen held USA Prime scoreless, allowing his offense to keep chipping away at the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Scorpions’ Stephen Chucka started the fourth inning with a single to start the two-out rally, and later stole home plate to tie the game at 5-5. In dramatic fashion, both squads were held scoreless going into the seventh inning. USA Prime was snuffed out which turned the attention to the Scorpions lineup. The Scorpions had one man on base with one out when Luke Beeler cracked a ball to shortstop, and as the runner advanced to third an errant throw over third allowed the Scorpions to sneak one home and walk off the game to send them to the semifinals.

Texas Senators 1 (3-1), GBG 0 (2-2)

• Coming off of a complete-game pitching gem from Nicholas Partida on Wednesday, the Texas Senators deployed Nolan Moore on the mound in hopes of a similar performance. Moore excelled on the bump, throwing a complete game and tallying seven strikeouts while only allowing one hit in his outing to garner his squad a 1-0 victory over GBG. Moore began his day mowing down the GBG offense, collecting four K’s in his first two innings of work. GBG’s Hayden George also held his own on the bump and responded by striking out the side to complete the second. The only run of the game came in the bottom of the third when Gus Begert cranked a hard-hit double to left field and Jack Buerkle drove him home with another double of his own. With the lead in its clutch, the Senators defense continued to hold the fort down by only allowing three runners on base the entire game which would clinch their spot in the semifinals.

Semifinal Roundups

Alpha Prime 4 (4-1), Texas Senators 1 (3-2)

• Joey Lorenzini was credited with the win and Alpha Prime punched its ticket to the gold medal game, downing the Texas Senators in style with a 4-1 victory. Alpha Prime started its attack quickly, getting two players on base with a couple of singles. With a runner in scoring position, Maverek Russell hit a sacrifice bunt to plate the first run in the contest. Alpha Prime’s hot start translated into the second inning, as Brock Sell smacked a two-run single to right field, giving Prime the three-run advantage throughout the top of the second. Alpha Prime pushed another run across the plate to start the fourth inning to garner itself a comfortable four-run cushion. The Senators responded in the bottom of the fourth with a walk and then a double from Dean Hannah to register their first run. The lead proved too much to overcome, landing Alpha Prime in the championship game.

Scorpions Scout Team 4 (4-1), Top Tier Select 0 (3-2)

• Scorpions Scout Team downed Top Tier Select, 4-0, behind Max Murray’s complete-game shout, sending itself to the championship game. Murray earned the win for the Scorpions, allowing only two hits and three walks while striking out five batters in his time on the mound. Ayden Phillips broke the seal, hitting a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in a run in the second frame. The Scorpions extended their lead by two runs in the third courtesy of a Cash Williams double and Gabe Graulau sacrifice fly, going up 3-0. Playing behind Murray’s dominance on the mound, the Scorpions’ offense was able to add one more run in the sixth on a Sebastian Hurtado sacrifice fly. The Scorpions capped off the last inning with a well-executed double play and fly out to take the game 4-0.