The intensity of 16U Champs NC reached a fever pitch as the final four teams battled for a shot at gold. The semifinals delivered everything you’d expect from elite-level youth baseball—clutch performances, late-inning drama, and standout talent on full display. With hard-fought victories earned, two teams emerged from the grind to face off in the championship game, where the stakes were higher and the spotlight even brighter. In a thrilling finale that capped an unforgettable week of competition, one team rose above the rest to claim the coveted gold medal and etch their name into 16U Champs NC history.
Canes Midwest National 2027 took control in the middle innings and never let go in its semifinal match, pulling away from PRD 16U for a 10–3 win. A five-run fifth inning proved to be the difference, as the Canes capitalized on several free passes, a wild pitch, and a clutch RBI single from Carson Leuthauser to break the game open.
PRD struck first with a Bryan Ravelo RBI single in the third and scratched across two more runs in the fifth and sixth thanks to aggressive baserunning and a defensive error. However, the Canes' pitching and defense held firm the rest of the way. Tyler Denny came on in the seventh and slammed the door, retiring the side in order with two strikeouts and a groundout to seal the victory. Ravelo led the way offensively for PRD with multiple hits and an RBI, but it wasn’t enough to match the Canes’ sustained pressure.
Across the complex, Stacked Baseball edged out SBA Bolts Robbins 16U in a tightly contested 4–3 semifinal. Stacked built its lead with a sacrifice fly from Cole Munyon in the first, a Tanner Brown triple in the fourth, and a well-executed safety squeeze in the sixth that brought home the eventual game-winning run.
The Bolts made a late push in the bottom of the seventh as Dariel Carrion ripped a clutch RBI double, followed by an RBI single from Max Neshov to trim the deficit to one. But with the tying run 90 feet away, Stacked’s defense rose to the occasion and closed the door, preserving the win and punching its ticket to the title game.
That set the stage for a gold medal showdown between two powerhouses: Stacked Baseball and Canes Midwest National 2027.
In the final, Stacked Baseball delivered a statement performance, blanking the Canes 10–0 to secure back-to-back gold medals, winning gold at the 15U level a year ago. After taking home the title last year, Stacked returned with a clear goal and executed flawlessly, posting its second straight shutout in a gold medal game.
Head Coach Kyle Davis couldn’t hold back his pride for his team, recognizing that their tight bond and unwavering support for one another were the driving forces behind their championship run.
“These are the 20 best teams in the country, and it’s incredibly difficult to win—especially in a four-day setting where you have to come out and win six games. It’s tough. But what sets our boys apart is how close-knit we are. We’re all from within a 30-mile radius. We’re not just a team—we’re a family. And that bond is what drives us to championships like this.”
The offense erupted with a five-run fourth inning, sparked by a two-run single from Aiden Anaya and RBI base hits from Munyon and Carter Hullett. Ricardo Hurtado added a run with a bases-loaded walk, and Jaxon Olmstead tacked on another hit to keep the rally going. Meanwhile, Charlie Fuller dominated on the mound, scattering hits and recording timely strikeouts while getting help from a key double play.
With their lead at eight runs, Anaya struck again with a two-RBI single to push the advantage to 10 runs which would enforce a run-rule victory.
Stacked Baseball capped off its title defense with authority, leaving no doubt they remain the gold standard at this level.
