CARY, N.C. – ZT Prospects National (CA) completed its title defense at the 10U Futures Invitational on Sunday, taking down Banditos DeLeon (TX), 8-1, at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary, North Carolina.

ZT Prospects National took a quick lead in the bottom of the first and then built on the lead in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs to give them a 4-0 edge. The runs came on back-to-back RBI singles by Salvador Garcia and Jacob Miller, which were two of the four hits for the squad in the eventful third frame. ZT Prospects National then added four runs in the fifth, with two of them coming on a single by Garcia.

The Banditos battled to get back into the game but had multiple rallies halted before they could get on the scoreboard. Salvador Garcia kept the Banditos’ offense at bay all game long, turning in5.2 innings of one-run ball to earn the win. Garcia struck out five and allowed just four hits in the win. Despite pitching well, Reese Pogue suffered the loss for the Banditos.

ZT Prospects National got production from the top of their lineup, with Garcia, Miller, and Ju combining for seven RBIs in the victory. Steven Holguin and Chase Meka each scored two runs in the win for the gold medalists. Maddox McBryde, Boston Targac, and Ian Yarbrough combined to tally the four hits for the Banditos.

Game Highlights

• Garcia was locked in from the first pitch, retiring the Banditos in order to open the game in the top of the first.
• After reaching on an error to lead off the bottom of the first, Humphris advanced to third and scored on an RBI groundout by Ju to open the scoring and give ZT Prospects National a 1-0 lead.
• Garcia retired nine of the first ten batters he faced, carrying the 1-0 lead into the bottom of the third for ZT Prospects National. The squad then eventually loaded the bases before Garcia and Miller notched back-to-back singles to give ZT Prospects National a 4-0 advantage.
• The Banditos nearly cracked the scoreboard in the top of the fourth, putting two runners on with one out, but Garcia coaxed a strikeout and a ground out to escape the jam and keep the Banditos off the board.
• Holguin and Meka both singled to open the bottom of the fifth inning, and both were plated on another RBI single by Garcia. Garcia would eventually come around to score as ZT Prospects National’s lead grew to 8-0.
• McBryde tripled in a run in the Banditos’ final frame, driving in Targac to get on the board before Amari Kirschner entered to seal the victory for ZT Prospects National.

Notable Information

• With the win, ZT Prospects National has now won back-to-back 10U Futures Invitational titles, becoming the first program in event history to accomplish the feat.
• ZT Prospects National finished the tournament with a perfect 5-0 record, outscoring opponents 47-10.
• The Banditos finished runners-up at the 10U Futures Invitational for the first time in program history.