CARY, N.C. -- USA Baseball named the All-Tournament Team for the inaugural 17U National Team Championships North Carolina on Thursday, following the championship game of the tournament.
East Cobb Astros won the gold medal after defeating Florida Burn, 6-0, in the title game. East Cobb leads all teams with four selections, followed by 5 Star National and NEB with two selections apiece.
ICYMI: The 17U #ChampsNC20⚾️ All-Tournament Team was announced yesterday. Congrats to all of these amazing athletes on a great week!
- National Team Championships North Carolina (@USABChamps_NC) July 31, 2020
📝: https://t.co/3A20UIn1Xi pic.twitter.com/viGJrvUXx2
The 2020 17U National Team Championships North Carolina All-Tournament Team:
Andrew Armstrong - East Cobb Astros
Andrew Armstrong was named to the All-Tournament Team after he struck out nine batters in a complete-game appearance for the East Cobb Astros. In his seven innings pitched, he surrendered just two hits and no runs.
AJ Causey - 5 Star National
AJ Causey led the entire tournament with strikeouts to earn his spot on the All-Tournament Team. In his one appearance on the bump, he struck out 11 batters in just six scoreless innings of work for 5 Star National. Facing 21 batters, he walked only one.
Kaelen Culpepper - East Coast Sox
Kalen Culpepper led the East Coast Sox in batting average during the tournament and found his way on base half the time during the 17U National Team Championships North Carolina. Finishing the event with two runs scored and three walks, he was even more impressive during the Prospect Development Pipeline assessment testing, where he led all participants in the "Man in the Box" agility drill and finished in the top-four of all athletes with a 10.8" broad jump.
Harry Ford - East Cobb Astros
Harry Ford was a stalwart in the middle of the lineup during the playoffs for the champion East Cobb Astros. Hitting .250 for the tournament, he turned it on in the semifinals and finals, tallying all seven of his tournament-leading RBIs in the final two games. He hit a two-RBI-triple and a two-RBI-double in the 6-0 championship game-victory and grabbed a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
JD Jones - NEB
JD Jones led the entire tournament with a .636 batting average for NEB, earning him a spot on the All-Tournament Team. He finished the tournament batting 7-for-11 with two doubles, a triple and four RBIs. He also picked up five walks to contribute to his tournament-leading .750 on-base percentage.
Carson Kelly - South Charlotte Panthers
Carson Kelly made an impact in his one appearance on the mound for the South Charlotte Panthers. In his lone game on the mound, he pitched 6.2 innings, struck out 10 batters and gave up no earned runs to help lead South Charlotte to the #1 overall seed in the playoffs. His impressive outing also placed him on the All-Tournament Team.
Rene Lastres Jr. - Canes National
Rene Lastres Jr. was named to the All-Tournament Team after finishing the tournament with a .455 batting average for Canes National. He went 5-for-11 with two doubles, 5 RBIs and two stolen bases in just four games.
Bryan Loriga - Elite Squad
Elite Squad's Bryan Loriga was named to the All-Tournament Team after hitting .333 with two doubles and five RBIs. He finished the tournament 6-for-18 in six games and scored two runs as Elite Squad advanced to the playoffs.
Joe Mack - East Cobb Astros
Joe Mack contributed to the powerful East Cobb Astros lineup to the tune of a .429 batting average and a triple on the way to making the All-Tournament Team. He walked four times to contribute to a .526 on-base percentage and scored four runs en route to a gold medal.
Jackson Merrill - 5 Star National
Jackson Merrill did a little bit of everything for 5 Star National during the 17U National Team Championships North Carolina, finishing the tournament with a .375 batting average, three RBIs, three walks and three stolen bases. He also made two appearances on the mound, giving up no runs in his relief appearances to earn his spot on the All-Tournament Team.
Treyton Rank - East Cobb Astros
Treyton Rank always seemed to be on base for the East Cobb Astros during the 17U National Team Championships North Carolina, walking three times and holding a .588 on-base percentage. He finished the tournament with a .500 batting average (7-for-14) and tallied four stolen bases to earn his spot on the All-Tournament Team.
Zane Taylor - Molina Stars
Zane Taylor made a commanding impression on the mound for the Molina Stars during the 17U National Team Championships North Carolina. In his lone appearance on the mound, he struck out six batters and walked just one of the 25 batters he faced, earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
Chase Valentine - NEB
Chase Valentine finished the tournament with a .333 batting average, contributing a pair of doubles for NEB at the 17U National Team Championships North Carolina. Scoring three runs, tallying two RBIs and swiping two bases earned him a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
Kahlil Watson - Team Elite
Khalil Watson was named to the All-Tournament Team at the 17U National Team Championships North Carolina thanks to a .353 batting average and a home run. He scored four runs and stole three bases to go along with his three RBIs for Team Elite.
Tommy White - Florida Burn
Tommy White led the entire 17U National Team Championships in two offensive categories for the runners-up Florida Burn, earning a coveted spot on the All-Tournament Team. He led the event in hits (8) and RBIs (6), finishing the tournament with a .444 batting average, two doubles, four walks, three stolen bases and three runs scored.
