CARY, N.C. – The Stars and Stripes faced off in game three of 18U National Team Training Camp Phase 2 on Tuesday morning at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. The Stars took an early lead in the first and never looked back, taking game three by a score of 5-2.
The Stars starting pitcher, Coleman Borthwick, was on cruise control with an early lead as he tossed three innings of scoreless baseball to start things off. At the plate for the Stars, Brody Schumaker and Trey Ebel paced the lineup as they both had two hits each. CJ Sampson went 2-for-3 in the contest for the Stripes.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After a leadoff single and a walk to the Stars’ first two batters, Jared Grindlinger brought home the first run of the game for the Stars on an RBI groundout to the second baseman.
- The Stars added another run in the bottom half of the first when Brady Harris sent a ball to left field for an RBI single.
- In the bottom of the second, the Stripes’ defense was on display as Andrew Costello caught a Stars runner stealing, Anthony Muphy tracked down a ball in deep center field, and Jacob Lombard made a play in foul ground right up against the fence.
- Borthwick started on the mound for the Stars and tossed three innings of one-hit baseball before turning the ball over to Bryce Krenek.
- The Stars added another run on a sacrifice fly by Will Brick in the third inning, driving in Grindlinger.
- With no outs in the top of the fourth, Costello plated the first run for the Stipes on a single to right field. Two batters later, Murphy added another run on a sacrifice fly to center field.
- In the bottom half of the fourth, Jorvorskie Lane Jr. hit a one-out double to center field, putting him in scoring position. Ebel roped a single to left field one batter later to bring home another Stars run.
- After a leadoff single by Sampson in the seventh, the Stars’ Trey Rangel struck out a batter and induced a fielder’s choice to get two outs in the inning. Rangel’s batterymate, John Stowers, got the final out of the inning by throwing out a runner trying to steal second.
- In the final inning, Grindlinger took the mound for the Stars and struck out the side in order.
- The Stars added one more run in the bottom half of the eighth inning on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Grady Emerson.
NOTABLES
- The pitching was showcased for the Stars in game three, as Borthwick, Krenek, and Grindlinger combined for nine strikeouts.
- Eric Booth Jr. added two hits of his own today, as he went 2-for-2 at the plate, with two free passes.
- Jaden Jackson was left on base twice for the Stipes in game three.
- Schumaker’s two-hit day brings him to a .400 batting average through the first three games of Training Camp.
- Pitching has still proved dominant so far, as there has only been a total of fourteen combined runs across the first three games.
ON DECK
18U National Team Training Camp Phase 2 concludes on Wednesday, with game four of the Stars vs. Stripes series set for 10:30 a.m. ET at Coleman Field. Follow all the action live via AWRE Sports at USABaseball.TV and on social media at @USABaseball18U (X) and @USABaseball (Instagram).
