CARY, N.C. – The second day of the 15U/16U NTIS Champions Cup is complete, and featured many big moments, including the first home runs of the tournament, a double-digit strikeout performance, and big comeback wins. Read up on the top moments from Cary.
STARTERS DUEL IT OUT IN SOUTH STRIPES VS. MIDWEST STARS GAME
In the 16U South Stripes vs. Midwest Stars matchup, starting pitchers Richard Marshall (South) and Carson Frome (MW) dueled it out in a tightly contested matchup. Both pitchers threw 4.2 innings and combined for 16 strikeouts. Marshall surrendered one earned run on three hits while striking out seven batters, while Frome tallied a game-high nine strikeouts while allowing two earned runs on five hits. The South Stripes edged out a 2-1 victory in the contest.
JAROMILEK REACHES BASE FOUR TIMES
16U Southeast Stars’ Noah Jarolimek reached base four times in the Southeast Stars’ 10-0 win over the Midwest Stripes. He went a perfect 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored, and drew two walks. The offensive performance came following a solid outing on the mound on Thursday.
SCHRANZ, GONZALEZ RECORD FIRST HOMERS OF NTIS CHAMPIONS CUP
16U Northwest Stars’ Jaiden Schranz and 15U Southwest Stripes’ Nathan Gonzales hit the first home runs of the 15U/16U NTIS Champions Cup on Friday. Schranz hit a three-run home run to left field in the fourth inning to help the Northwest Stars collect a 9-2 win over the South Stars. Gonzales led off the game with a home run to right field in the Southwest Stripes’ 8-5 win over the Southeast Stars.
PAIR OF MIDWEST PLAYERS TURN IN THREE-HIT PERFORMANCES
15U Midwest Stripes’ Quinton Musick and 15U Midwest Stars’ Hayden Jones both showed out on day two of the NTIS Champions Cup, turning in three-hit performances. Musick went 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Jones with 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
ENNIS FANS 11 IN NTIS PITCHING DEBUT
16U Southeast Stripes’ Grady Ennis dominated on the mound in the squad’s 9-3 win over the Northeast Stars. Ennis fanned a tournament-high 11 batters in five innings of work out of the bullpen, and he allowed one earned run on four hits.
THREE TEAMS USE LATE SURGES TO SECURE WINS
In the afternoon slate of games, three 15U teams used late surges to secure wins on day two. Down 6-3 after four innings, the South Stars plated a combined 11 runs across the fifth and sixth innings to secure a 14-6 victory over the Northwest Stars. Tied 2-2 headed into the final inning, the Southeast Stripes used a six-run seventh to earn an 8-2 win over the Northeast Stars. And lastly, the Southwest Stripes scored a run in the sixth and two in the seventh to defeat the Southeast Stars 8-5.
