EVANSTON, Ill.- On the first day of the 2018 USA Baseball 17U National Team Development Program, Stripes shut down Stars, 25-4, to take Game 1 at Miller Park on the campus of Northwestern University on Sunday.
Yohandy Morales lined a pair of triples and a home run and drove in six to help lead the Stripes offense, while Dylan Crews drove in six of his own with a pair of home runs and a single.
After both teams failed to score in the first, Stripes got the scoring started in the second inning. Morales hit his first triple after Colten Keith walked and Crews singled to put traffic on the basepaths. Alek Boychuck singled and Jack O'Dowd doubled to bring home the next pair, putting Stripes out in front, 4-0.
Crews added his first home run of the day, a solo shot, in the top of the third to add to the Stripes lead. Stripes would add four more in the fourth to extend the lead to double digits. A pair of walks and a Carter Young single loaded the bases before Keith walked to bring home the first run of the frame. Crews grounded into a fielder's choice to plate another before Masyn Winn would reach on an error for the ninth run. Morales then blasted his second triple and then scored on an error to bring the lead to 11.
Drew Bowser would put the Stars offense on the board in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double, scoring Gavin Casas after a leadoff walk. Mac Horvath would follow with a walk of his own to load the bases before Josh Shuler would hit a bases-clearing double off the wall in right center.
The momentum would shift back to the Stripes in the fifth as Crews would blast a grand slam to put the score at 15-4.
Morales added his solo shot in the sixth before eight more runs crossed in the frame on five hits and two walks.
The final run of the game would come in the ninth, as Aaron Nixon scored on a Morales RBI single after a single of his own to lead off the inning.
Jamar Fairweather helped keep the Stars offense at bay early, allowing just two hits and one walk in 3.0 innings in the start.
Winn and Nate Wohlgemuth combined for 5.0 innings in relief for the Stripes, with neither pitcher allowing a hit. Winn struck out five and walked one, while Wohlgemuth struck out seven and walked two.
Stars starter Max Carlson tossed 2.0 innings, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks.
"To see the guys get out there and compete against each other was awesome," Field Coordinator Jack Leggett said. "It was maybe the most impressive offensive day I've seen. We've got some things to work on, but the kids had a lot of fun today and got to know each other and the system a little better."
The Stars and Stripes will be back in action at Rocky and Bernice Miller Park for Game 2 tomorrow. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m. CT.