Despite a late rally from the Stripes, the Stars prevailed with a 4-3 victory in game two at 12U National Team Training Camp. After game one was cut short due to inclement weather on Tuesday, the two squads battled through an eight inning nail-biter at Thomas Brooks Park on Wednesday.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Kai Rios put the Stars on the board early with an RBI single in the first inning that scored lead off batter Taz Tulowitzki who reached base on a walk. The Stars went into the bottom frame with a 1-0 lead which they held onto with the help of a double play by Tulowitzki.
• After back-to-back scoreless innings from both squads, the Stars came to life, scoring three runs to take a 4-0 lead. Cooper Thissen got on base via walk and stole second, putting himself in scoring position as Carver Brown stepped to the plate. With two outs on the board, Brown knocked one to center field to score Thissen. The next batter, Jaxon Knox, followed with another single to advance Brown to second. Kohen Davis’ line drive scored both Brown and Knox to cap off the two-out rally and give the Stars a commanding lead.
• Both squads put up goose eggs in the fifth, before the Stripes made their way onto the board in the bottom of the sixth. Koda Graziadei opened the frame with a lead off single, before advancing to both second and third on wild pitches. With a runner in scoring position, David Thomas singled to left to bring Graziadei home.
• After blanking the Stars in the top of the next inning the Stripes opened the bottom of the seventh inning with a leadoff double by Noah Kirk. The next batter up, Noah Fisher-Gil, singled. Kirk took off around the bases and an error allowed him to score the team’s second run of the day. Fisher-Gil went on to score the final run of the day on a sacrifice fly by Cash Gonzales.
• Taz Tulowitski took the mound to close out the game for the Stars in the eighth. The young right-hander made quick work of the Stripes offense, setting down three straight batters on eight pitches. With the win, the Stars evened the series at 1-1.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Davis led all hitters with his two RBIs on the day. Brown, Gonzalez, Rios, and Thomas plated runs as well.
• The Stripes had two batters reach twice on the day in Jerry Hennessey and Graziadei. Each player posted a walk and a single in the game.
• Atticus Arnold pitched two scoreless innings for the Stars, posting zero hits, zero walks, and one punchout in a sharp outing.
• Cooper Thissen made several lead-saving plays in right field for the Stars. His laser to second base to catch Hennessey stretching a single was a game-changer, as was an over-the-shoulder, running catch he made to end the fourth inning.
• The Stripes’ Maverick Harwood had an all-around stellar day as well, as the Arizona native tossed two shutout innings on the mound and laced a line drive single at the plate.
• Jaxon Knox had a similarly successful two-way day, as he too pitched two scoreless innings and recorded a single for the Stars.
• Cannon Allen, Caleb McDaniel, and Rogelio Garcia also pitched clean frames in relief.

UP NEXT

• The Stars and Stripes will return to the field tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. for game three of the series. The matchup will take place on Field 6 at Thomas Brooks Park.