GOODYEAR, Ariz.- In the opening set of games of the 14U National Team Championships, TB SoCal shut out ABD Bulldogs in five innings, 8-0, at Field 4 of the Cleveland Indians Player Development Complex on Sunday.
Highlighted by Alvaro Lora's start, TB SoCal put together a five-run bottom of the fifth to end the game with a run rule.
After a quick top of the first, SoCal came out swinging, putting a run on the board after Jake Bold drove a run-scoring single over the middle of the infield to score the courtesy runner Carrancho following a one-out walk.
ABD went quietly again in the second, allowing SoCal to build their lead. A Martinez single started the rally before he eventually scored on a blooper to center by SoCal's Shaul. A sacrifice fly by Chris Esquivel increased the lead to 3-0 early.
A walk and a single past the shortstop brought ABD their first scoring chance against Lora in the top of the third, but a pickoff at second and a caught stealing neutralized the threat.
SoCal loaded the bases in the bottom, but a nicely turned 4-6-3 double play by ABD stopped the lead from growing.
Traffic found the bases again for SoCal in the fourth as back-to-back singles by Ganewal and Shaul led off the inning. But a popped-up bunt turned into another double play for ABD, keeping them in the game.
The wheels fell off in the fifth though, as a walk and a single in the bottom of the inning put runners on first and second for SoCal. Kyle Becker drove in the first run of the inning on a single, scoring Lora from second. Luetzous followed with a double, scoring two more before a walk, single, and steal brought home the final two runs.
Lora went 3.2 innings in the start, allowing just one hit and two walks on 45 pitches. He struck out three.
TB SoCal starts at 1-0, while ABD Bulldogs fall to 0-1. SoCal will be back in action Sunday afternoon, while ABD will attempt to get in the win column. Both teams begin at 12:30 p.m.