Southwest Stripes, Southeast Stripes Win Gold at 11U/13U NTIS Champions Cup

CARY, N.C. – The 11U/13U National Team Identification Series (NTIS) Champions Cup concluded on Sunday afternoon at the National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina, and it saw the 11U Southwest Stripes and the 13U Southeast Stripes capture gold.

The 11U Southwest Stripes earn the Southwest region’s fifth victory since the tournament’s inception in 2017, while the 13U Southeast Stripes record the region’s second win and first since 2018.

11U - SOUTHWEST STRIPES 2, MIDWEST STARS 1

SEMIFINAL REWIND

The Southwest Stripes shutout the Southwest Stars 4-0 to advance to the gold medal game. Landon Hinojosa was lights out on the mound, tossing 5.2 innings and allowing just one hit while striking out nine batters.
The Midwest Stars defeated the South Stars 9-5 after a dominant offensive performance. Carson Gabriel delivered a three-hit performance while Easton Meints and Joey Anderson knocked two a piece in the victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After two scoreless innings, the Midwest Stars broke the tie in the third. Ethan Mack knocked a lead off single before stealing second. With one batter out, Nolen Allen singled to left to put runners on the corners. With Parker Ruppert at the plate, Mack scored on a throwing error while attempting to pick off Allen.
In the bottom frame, the Southwest Stripes returned the favor and plated a run of their own. Tacari Jacobs led off with a single to right field, then advanced to second on a throwing error. Jacobs then advanced to third on a wild pitch and tied the game on a balk.
After four scoreless innings, the contest went into extras. Southwest Stripes pitcher Cannon Code held Midwest scoreless to give the offense a chance to walk it off. With Everett Van Bogaert at the plate, both automatic runners advanced on a passed ball before Van Bogaert knocked a walk off single to win the contest for the Southwest Stripes 2-1.

OF NOTE

Tyler Frye was impeccable on the bump, striking out 12 batters across six innings and allowing just one hit. Code also tossed two scoreless innings in relief and fanned three batters.
Southwest Stripes pitchers combined for 26 total strikeouts between the semifinal and gold medal games.

BRONZE MEDAL RECAP

The Southwest Stars offense came through in a big way to down the South Stars 9-2 and claim the bronze medal. Jackson Fockaert and Brayden Rust both recorded multiple hits in the contest.

13U - SOUTHEAST STRIPES 11, SOUTH STRIPES 9

SEMIFINAL REWIND

The Southeast Stripes defeated the South Stars in a thrilling 8-7 victory. Down 7-6 heading into the final inning, Easton Forrester hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score a run and even the game at 7-7 before Preston Kelly lined an RBI single through the right side to plate another run and complete the walk-off victory.
The South Stripes earned a 3-1 win over the Northwest Stars. Nathaniel Alaniz plated the South Stripes’ first run of the game with an RBI single and Liam Untalan hit a sacrifice fly to score another and put the Stripes up 2-1. It added another run in the fifth and held off the Northwest Stars for a 3-1 victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Southeast Stripes immediately got on the board in the top of the first. With the bases loaded, Josiah Fyffe grounded into a fielder’s choice to score a run before Blake Boston followed with a two-RBI double, capping the three-run frame.
The South Stripes responded with a run in the bottom of the first. An error on a double steal allowed a run to score, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
The Southeast Stripes broke the game open with six runs in the second. Cam Hamilton grounded into a fielder’s choice to plate a run before an errant pickoff attempt led to another run scoring. Bear Reynolds then delivered an RBI single to highlight the six-run inning.
The third inning went scoreless before the South Stripes mounted a comeback with six runs in the fourth. Brooks Newton started the scoring with an RBI single up the middle before Zachary Wilburn singled in another. Larney Turner III then doubled in two runs to highlight the six-run frame, cutting the deficit to 9-7.
The Southeast Stripes added to its lead in the fifth. Lincoln Sherrill led off with a single before Blake Boston later delivered an RBI single to extend the lead to 10-7.
The South Stripes got two runs back in the sixth. Jace Service singled before back-to-back walks loaded the bases. An error then allowed two runs to score with runners in scoring position, cutting the deficit to 10-9.
The Southeast Stripes added an insurance run in the seventh. With the bases loaded, Preston Kelly singled to drive in a run and extend the lead to 11-9.
The South Stripes were unable to rally in the bottom of the seventh, finalizing the Southeast Stripes’ 11-9 victory.

OF NOTE

Boston led all batters with three hits, and Reynolds followed with two.
South Stripes’ Newton struck out seven in his 4.1 innings of work, the most of all pitchers.
Southeast Stripes’ Whitten Sanders and South Stripes’ Zachary Wilburn each turned in scoreless outings.

BRONZE MEDAL RECAP

The Northwest Stars defeated the South Stars, 6-4, in the 13U bronze medal game. Northwest Stars’ starting pitcher Calen Franke tossed four shutout innings with five strikeouts, allowing just two hits.