A busy day one is in the books at the 10U Futures Invitational in Cary, North Carolina. With 16 teams from across the country vying for the Futures crown at Thomas Brooks Park, the action was nonstop from dawn until dusk. Catch up on all the biggest headlines from today's action:
Canes West Futures jumps out to early lead and never looks back against Wow Factor National
Backed by a seven-run first inning, Canes West Futures picked up a 13-0 win over Wow Factor National in morning action. Leadoff hitter Joshua Park had a big day at the plate for Canes, driving in three runs and scoring twice. Grady Gentner added a three-hit day, while Jonas Ayala and Bryant Rodriguez combined to one-hit Wow Factor National.
Austin Dirt Dawgs notch first win in high-scoring affair
After dropping their tournament opener, the Austin Dirt Dawgs bounced back in their second game of the day for a 14-9 win over Wow Factor National. Davis Wrubel led the offensive charge for Austin, going 3-for-3 with four RBIs and three runs scored. Tripp Southwell contributed a pair of hits and three runs scored.
I Am United opens play with nailbiter victory over Knights Elite
A three-run fifth inning propelled I Am United past Knights Elite, 6-5, in its opening game on Thursday. Lucas Williams had two hits in the win, driving in a trio of runs, while Michael Bolufe and Isaias Rodriguez had RBIs. Rodriguez allowed no earned runs in three innings on the mound.
The Future Elite squeaks past the Texas Sun Devils in walk-off thriller
A back-and-forth battle ended with a walk-off win for The Future Elite over the Texas Sun Devils in a pool play opener on Thursday. After Texas tied the game in the top half of the sixth, Genaro Espinales III delivered a walk-off single to lift The Future Elite to the 4-3 win. Andres Rodriguez reached twice and drove in three runs for The Future Elite in the win.
New Level Nationals pick up epic win over Canes West Futures
Trailing by two runs in the bottom of the sixth, Canes West Futures stormed back to tie the game and send it to extra innings. But the New Level Nationals exploded for four runs in the top half of the extra frame–with three coming off the bat of Dylan Loper–and held off another Canes rally in the bottom of the seventh to pick up a 7-6 win. William Hemenway turned a crucial double play in the seventh to halt the Canes rally, and Maximo Morales Monroy picked up a strikeout to secure the win.
The action continues at the 10U Futures Invitational on Friday with the conclusion of pool play. Games are set to get underway at 8:00 am ET before a second slate gets underway at 10:30 am ET. The 10U Futures Home Run Derby will follow at 3:00 pm ET at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina.
