FLOWER MOUND, Texas – The Stars scored three runs over the game's final three innings to battle back and secure a 7-7 tie against the Stripes in the opening game of the 2021 12U National Team Trials at Bakersfield Park in Flower Mound, Texas.

The Stripes scored first, plating a pair of runs in the second inning and four runs in the fourth frame to take an early 6-1 lead. But the Stars chipped away, scoring five runs in the middle three innings to make it a one-run game entering the ninth.

With one out in the top of the ninth, the Stars' Aaron Garcia (Pico Rivera, Calif.) drove Caleb Hudson (Carrollton, Ga.) in with a game-tying groundout to make it a 7-7 game. Isaac Vidal (Miami, Fla.) then worked around a leadoff walk in the bottom of the final frame for the Stars to secure the tie.

Julian Martinez (New York, N.Y.) led the Stripes offensive attack, picking up two hits (2-for-2) and driving in two runs. Easton Brunson (Highlands, Texas) and Jared Grindlinger (Huntington Beach, Calif.) each added a hit for the Stripes.

The Stars tallied eight hits from eight different players. Brady Bickham (Claremont, Calif.), Garcia, Hudson, and Colt Sampson (Magnolia, Texas) all drove in runs for the Stars.

Game 1 scenes 📸#12UTrials pic.twitter.com/tMP2Xbd3ti

— USA Baseball 12U (@USABaseball12U) November 9, 2021

Key Moments

• After Konnor Briggs (Oxford, Fla.) and Hudson Brown (Iola, Texas) exchanged scoreless first innings on the mound, the Stripes opened the scoring in the bottom of the second on a two-run double by Martinez.
• The Stars answered in the top of the third, cutting their deficit to one on an RBI single by Bickham. Hudson scored on the play after getting hit by a pitch and stealing two bases.
• Angel Gonzalez (Whittier, Calif.) and Jacob Gray (Benicia, Calif.) both reached scoring position for the Stripes in the bottom of the third, but Zachary Estrada (Covina, Calif.) escaped the jam on the mound to keep it 2-1, Stripes.
• The Stripes rallied for four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Brunson led off the inning with a double and scored on a throwing error to make it 3-1, Stripes.
• Brodie Campbell (Newnan, Ga.) and Martinez both scored on wild pitches for the Stripes, and Jackson Fetters (Montgomery, Texas) added another run to extend the lead to five in the fourth inning.
• The Stars responded quickly in the fifth. Carter Moon (Bogart, Ga.) led off the inning with a walk before stealing second and scoring on an RBI single by Hudson to make it 6-2, Stripes. Hudson eventually scored on a wild pitch to make it a three-run deficit for the Stars. Estrada was hit by a pitch with two outs in the top of the sixth before coming around to score for the Stars to make it a 6-4 game.
• The Stripes loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth, and Kekahupono Kong (Mililani, Hawaii) scored on a wild pitch, extending the lead to 7-4 in favor of the Stripes.
• After Levi Kerr (Holly Springs, N.C.) and Jackson Maddix (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) walked, Sampson dunked a two-run single into left field for the Stars to cut the deficit to 7-6.
• Down to their final two outs, the Stars tied the game on an RBI groundout by Garcia to make it 7-7.
• Adrian Villela (Tuscon, Ariz.) led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk, but Vidal worked around it to escape the jam and secure the tie.

Notable Information

• With the result, both teams are 0-0-1 to begin Trials.
• All 10 pitchers recorded at least one strikeout in the game, with Maddix leading the way with six in 2.2 innings pitched.
• Both teams combined for 17 stolen bases. Hudson had a game-high three, while 14 other players tallied a stolen base.
• Gonzalez, Blake Ragsdale (Burr Ridge, Ill.), and Jake Welch (Lehi, Utah) all drew two walks for the Stripes.

On Deck

• November 10: Stars vs. Stripes (12:30 p.m. CT/11:30 1.m. CT, Bakersfield Park)
• November 11: Stars vs. Stripes (9:00 a.m. ET/8:00 a.m. CT, Bakersfield Park)

Social

• Stay tuned to @USABaseball12U on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the 12U National Team Trials.