SARASOTA, Fla. - The Stars kicked off the 2021 18U National Team Trials with a 4-0 victory over the Stripes in the first game of the 2021 intrasquad series. Down to its final three outs, the team plated all four of its runs in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win and take a 1-0 trials series lead on Friday evening at the Buck O’Neill Complex in Sarasota, Florida.

Pitching dominated most of the contest as the starters for both teams threw three scoreless frames apiece. Joe Allen (Hampton Falls, N.H.) did not allow a hit and gave up just one walk while striking out five in his start for the Stars and Karson Milbrandt (Kansas City, Mo.) gave up four hits and one walk to kick off the game for the Stripes.

Termarr Johnson (Atlanta, Ga.) recorded the first hit of the game with a single in the bottom of the first and scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh to secure the Stars victory. Chris Stanfield (Tallahassee, Fla.) led both teams in the game with two hits, while Dylan Cupp (Cedartown, Ga.) collected two RBIs. Druw Jones (Suwanee, Ga.) and Eric Bitonti (Hesperia, Calif.) were responsible for both of the Stripes squad’s hits in the game.

Cam Collier (Austell, Ga.) was credited with the win for the Stars after throwing a perfect top of the seventh with two strikeouts. The Stripes’ Tucker Biven (New Albany, Ind.), who surrendered three earned runs in his one inning of work, suffered the loss.

Key Moments

• Johnson got the first hit of the game in the bottom of the first when he smoked a single to the shortstop. Jayson Jones then drew a two-out walk to put two runners on but the Stripes’ Milbrandt was able to escape the jam to keep it a 0-0 game.
• Sal Stewart (Miami, Fla.) drew a leadoff walk in the top of the second for the Stripes but Stars starting pitcher Allen responded with his own escape, collecting two quick strikeouts before Stewart was caught stealing to end the threat.
• A leadoff walk to Johnson seemed to get a rally started for the Stars in the bottom of the fourth. Johnson made it to third courtesy of a wild pitch and a groundout by Ryan Clifford (Raleigh, N.C.) before Stripes reliever Brady Disbro (Dana Point, Calif.) recorded a punchout to send the game to the fifth.
• Bitonti knocked a single through the middle to try and get a two-out rally going for the Stripes in the top of the sixth and Elijah Green (Windermere, Fla.) followed with a walk, but the Stars’ Cade Fisher (Dalton, Ga.) induced a flyout that kept things scoreless.
• A Stripes miscue that put leadoff hitter Johnson on second gave the Stars the opening they needed to finally break through in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jayson Jones followed immediately with a double down the right field line to plate the go-ahead run.
• A fielder’s choice and two walks then loaded the bases for the Stars with one out and Stanfield dropped a single into left-center for a 2-0 Stars advantage.
• Cupp put the finishing touch on the Stars’ 4-0 victory with a two-RBI double one batter later.

Notable Information

• With the victory, the Stars start the five-game trials series with a 1-0 advantage.
• Stanfield’s two hits lead both teams at 18U Trials after one game.
• Nine players have recorded hits through the first game of trials, including Bitonti, Cupp, Johnson, Druw Jones, Jayson Jones, Paxton Kling (Roaring Spring, Pa.), Stanfield, Toman, and Walker Jenkins (Oak Island, N.C.)

On Deck

• August 28: Stars vs. Stripes (4:30 p.m. EDT; Sarasota, Fla.; Buck O'Neill Complex)
• August 29: Stars vs. Stripes (12:00 p.m. EDT; Sarasota, Fla.; Buck O'Neill Complex)
• August 30: Stars vs. Stripes (4:30 p.m. EDT; Sarasota, Fla.; Buck O'Neill Complex)
• August 31: Stars vs. Stripes (12:00 p.m. EDT; Sarasota, Fla.; Buck O'Neill Complex)

Social

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