CARY, N.C. – Brody Brooks hit a walk-off base knock and Team Stripes topped Team Stars, 8-7, in a back-and-forth affair on the first day of 15U National Team Training Camp Phase 2 Wednesday evening at the National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina. The contest saw six lead changes before Brooks dealt the final blow with an RBI single in the eighth to power Team Stripes to victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Back-to-back base hits by Stripes including a triple off the bat of Matti Di Maggio opened the bottom of the first and set the table for Brooks, who delivered with an RBI line drive to center.
Stripes executed a double steal in the next at-bat, scoring Jacob Reyes who reached on a walk to make it 2-0.
Stars responded in third, as a walk sandwiched between singles loaded the bases with no outs. After a walk halved the deficit, Tyler Early singled on a fly to left and scored a pair, handing Stars a 3-2 advantage.
The away team’s lead didn’t last long, as a two-out steal of home scored Jonah Hargrave, who reached on a double, making it 3-3 after three.
Trey Vandergriff entered on the bump in the fourth for Stripes and worked around a single and a pair of walks, punching out the final two batters to flip the frame.
Stripes retook the lead in the home half of the fourth following a defensive miscue allowed Brooks, who reached on a leadoff error, to trot home and make it 4-3.
A two-out base knock by Reyes extended Stripes’ lead in the bottom of the fifth.
Kolt Hampton came in clutch for Stars in the sixth, drilling a two-out offering up the middle to knot the score at five apiece.
Kingston George dealt the next blow, slapping a 1-0 offering up the middle to make it 6-5 in favor of Stripes.
Noah Vrzal got Stripes out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh, striking out three straight batters to keep Stars off the board.
Stars evened the score once more in the eighth thanks to a sacrifice bunt by Bryant Ju, before taking the lead on a wild pitch.
A walk issued to Reyes tied the game once more, until Brooks delivered the final shot with an RBI base knock to walk it off for Stripes.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Vandergriff led all pitchers with six strikeouts, while Stripes collected 14 as a pitching staff between Enzi Otieku, Vandergriff, and Vrzal.
Brooks and Ray Hunter were the only players to record multi-hit outings. Hunter went 2-for-3 with a walk and run scored, while Brooks posted a 2-for-4, two RBI performance.
Brooks drove in the first and last runs of the game, notching an RBI base knock in both the first and eighth inning.
Thirteen players combined for 20 stolen bases, including Calvin Madenspacher who swiped four bags.
There were six lead changes in tonight’s contest.
ON DECK
The Stars vs. Stripes series at 15U National Team Training Camp Phase 2 continues tomorrow at the National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina, with first pitch set for 5:00 p.m. ET.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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