SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - Jack Ruckert (Baton Rouge, La.) and John Dolan (Camarillo, Calif.) recorded a hit and two RBIs apiece to lead Team Red past Team Blue, 9-5, in the first game of the 2019 12U National Team Trials on Tuesday at William S. Hart Pony Baseball and Softball Park in Santa Clarita, California.
Titan Targac (Flatonia, Texas) (1-0) earned the win in relief for Red after striking out two batters in his lone inning on the mound. Owen Robinson (Greensboro, N.C.) (0-1) suffered the loss for Blue after allowing two runs on two hits in the second inning. Team Red's pitching staff struck out seven batters, while Blue earned four strikeouts in the contest.
Ruckert and Dolan led the way for Red offensively, recording a hit and two RBIs each. Jayden Stroman (Medford, N.Y.) added an RBI-single and scored two runs, while 10 batters picked up a hit for Red. Brenden Lewis (Santee, Calif.) led Blue with two hits and a pair of RBIs at the plate. Rashad Hayes (Oakland, Calif.) and Thomas Brown (Livermore, Ga.) each hit a double for Team Blue in the game.
Key Moments:

• Blue opened the scoring in the top of the second after Brenden Lewis (Santee, Calif.) brought home Rashad Hayes (Oakland, Calif.) with a single through the middle of the infield to give his team the 1-0 lead.
• Team Red's Lucas Tinajero (Corpus Christi, Texas) tied the game at one in the bottom of the second with an RBI-single to shallow center field. Tinajero crossed home two batters later, on a wild pitch to give Red the 2-1 lead.
• Blue tied the game at two in the top of the third after Brayden Gutierrez (Bakersfield, Calif.) drove in Luis Mejia (Phoenix, Ariz.) with a single that fell just short of the center fielder.
• Jack Ruckert (Baton Rouge, La.) regained the lead for Red with a two-RBI single that plated Jayden Stroman (Medford, N.Y.) and Gavin Fien (Temecula, Calif.).
• The back-and-forth game continued in the top of the fourth as Blue plated three runs on five hits and a walk to tie the game at five.
• John Dolan (Camarillo, Calif.) claimed the lead for Red with a two-out double that bounced to the wall in right-center as Stroman and Jesse Del Toro (Modesto, Calif.) scored.
• Gustavo Melendez (Cayey, P.R.) scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the fifth and Del Toro scored on a bases-loaded walk in the home half of the sixth to give Red the 9-5 win.

• Team Red took a 1-0 advantage in the three-game intrasquad scrimmage.
• Titan Targac (1-0) earned the win, while Owen Robinson (0-1) suffered the loss on the mound.
• Following the conclusion of Thursday's intrasquad matchup, USA Baseball will announce the final 18-man roster for the 2019 12U National Team.

• Game two of the three-game series will take place on Wednesday, July 17, at 2:30 p.m. (PT) at William S. Hart Pony Baseball and Softball Park in Santa Clarita, Calif.
• The 2019 12U National Team Trials will conclude on Thursday, July 18, with the series finale at William S. Hart Pony Baseball and Softball Park. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. (PT).
• Red outhit Blue 10-9.

• Stay tuned to @USABaseball12U on Twitter and visit USABaseball.com for the most up-to-date news about the Futures Invitational.