PHOENIX — Kaden Shields filled the box score for Playa Vista Orioles - Select in its tournament opener to earn Player of the Day honors on Day 1 of competition at the 17U National Team Championships Arizona.

Shields, a 6-foot-2 outfielder, posted three hits, including a two-run homer, and tallied three RBI in Playa Vista's tournament opener against California Bucs. He also scored four times and recorded a stolen base.

Shields' Game 1 performance helped Playa Vista nearly erase an 8-4 deficit against the Bucs, but the rally fell one run short in a 10-9 defeat.

Julian Orozco (So Cal Bombers 2022) captured the Pitcher of the Day honor with a complete-game, three-hit shutout of Storm Elite.

Orozco commanded the strike zone effectively throughout the seven innings and compiled a standout 78 percent strike rate. The 5-foot-10 right-hander struck out six, which included four of the first six batters he faced, and did not walk a single batter in So Cal Bombers' 2-0 win to open the 17U National Team Championships Arizona.

Orozco faced the minimum through four innings before he surrendered a leadoff double in the fifth. He ended his impressive outing by inducing a double-play grounder.

Honorable mentions (Player of the Day):

Niko Riera (Long Beach Bears) — 2-for-3, 5 RBI, SB

DJ Cardinal (San Diego Longhorns) — 2-for-3, 2B, 4 RBI, SB

Robert Linares (SGV Arsenal) — 3-for-4, HR, 3 RBI

Jack Gurevitch (GBG Navy 2022) — 3-for-4, 2 3B, 3 RBI, 3 R

Honorable mentions (Pitcher of the Day):

Sebastian Edwards (Athlete911 Bammers) — W, 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 8 K, 2 BB

Isaac Lucas (Zoots Baseball Club Black) — W, 6.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 8 K, 2 BB

Cortes Amador (San Diego Baseball) — W, 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 5 K, 2 BB

David Tran (MVP Baseball Black) — W, CG, 4 H, 0 R, 5 K, 0 BB

Stay tuned to @USABChamps_AZ on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the National Team Championships Arizona.

PHOENIX — Playa Vista Orioles - National earned its first win on the opening day of pool play at the 17U National Team Championships Arizona on Wednesday with a 12-2 victory against Team Dinger.

Playa Vista's Liam Miller and Team Dinger's Toby Haarer worked back-to-back shutout frames to begin the game before the Orioles broke the scoreless tie when a run scored on a double-play grounder.

Consecutive base knocks from Matthew Quintanar and Jake Long extended the lead to 3-0 and a single to center off the bat of Greg Pierantoni brought the advantage to 4-0 in the fourth.

Team Dinger responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning, which included a sacrifice fly courtesy of Miles Crutchley.

However, Playa Vista's Liam Miller allowed just the two runs, only one of which was earned, through four innnings of work to keep Team Dinger's bats at bay for most of the day.

The Orioles added two more insurance runs in the fifth on a single from Matthew Quintanar. Playa Vista tacked on six more runs across the final two innings to bring the game to its final score of 12-2 and secure a tournament-opening victory.

Four players recorded multi-hit performances for Playa Vista, including Quintanar, Ryder Dykstra, Ty DePerno and Dylan Taguiam.

Playa Vista Orioles - National (1-0) is set to face Canyon Thunder (0-1) in its second game of the 17U National Team Championships Arizona at 9:45 a.m. MT on Thursday at Goodyear Ballpark (Reds 4).

Team Dinger 2022 (0-1) will look to collect its first win of the tournament against CBA Victus North (1-0) at 9:45 a.m. MT on Thursday at Goodyear Ballpark (Reds 3).

Key Moments

• Ryder Dykstra (Playa Vista) recorded the game's first run when he scored on a double-play grounder in the third inning.
• Consecutive run-scoring singles from Matthew Quintanar and Jake Long extended Playa Vista's lead to 3-0 in the fourth.
• Miles Crutchley (Dinger) delivered a sacrifice fly to bring Team Dinger within a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth.
• Dylan Taguiam (Playa Vista) brought home a pair of runs for the Orioles when he shot a single up the middle in the top of the fifth.
• Ryder Dykstra (Playa Vista) posted his third hit of the afternoon when he doubled home a run in the seventh to extend Playa Vista's lead to 10-2.

Notable Information

• "The first game is very important overall. The boys did a good job and grinded from the first inning through the last inning." — Playa Vista Orioles - National head coach Tim Olivarez.

On Deck

• Playa Vista Orioles - National (1-0) faces Canyon Thunder (0-1) at 9:45 a.m. MT on Thursday at Goodyear Ballpark (Reds 4).

• Team Dinger (0-1) will square off against CBA Victus North (1-0) at 9:45 a.m. MT on Thursday at Goodyear Ballpark (Reds 3).

Social

• Stay tuned to @USABChamps_AZ on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the National Team Championships Arizona.

A complete list of MLB Draft Combine can be found here.

Major League Baseball and USA Baseball today announced the list of 167 players scheduled to take part in the MLB Draft Combine presented by Gatorade, taking place this week at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina and the Raleigh Convention Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.  The Combine will feature the Draft prospects, including 76 collegiate players and 91 high school athletes, as well as a decorated group of former Major League players and coaches, and various general managers, scouting directors and other Club personnel.  Please see below for a full list of players scheduled to attend the 2021 Draft Combine.

In addition to the Draft prospects, others scheduled to attend include five-time All-Star and 1995 World Series Champion Fred McGriff; two-time All-Star and 2003 World Series Champion Brad Penny; former All-Stars Billy Butler, Royce Clayton and Rickie Weeks; 1986 World Series Champion Roger McDowell; 2013 World Series Champion Jarrod Saltalamacchia; two-time World Series Champion and MLB’s Senior Director of On-Field Operations Gregor Blanco; former Major Leaguers Michael Barrett, Erik Kratz, Ray Searage and Rajai Davis, who is also MLB’s Senior Director of On-Field Operations; former Major League managers Jeff Banister and Bo Porter, who serves as a consultant on coaching development for MLB; longtime baseball executive Omar Minaya; former All-Star and MLB’s Senior Vice President of On-Field Operations Raul Ibañez; and MLB’s Senior Vice President of On-Field Operations Michael Hill.

The Combine will provide an opportunity for players to participate in a series of medical and performance assessments as well as educational programming designed to prepare them for a career in professional baseball. On Thursday and Friday, all players will have the opportunity to participate in a pro-style showcase workout, as well as strength and conditioning and PDP performance assessments.  Additionally, as part of the Combine experience, the high school players will participate in a unique showcase tournament.

2021 MLB DRAFT COMBINE MEDIA SCHEDULE

In addition to the portions available to the media listed above, additional components of the Combine will include Draft prospects meeting with front office personnel and scouts of individual Clubs, undergoing medical testing and receiving player education.

MLB Network will cover the MLB Draft Combine throughout the week of June 21, including five consecutive hours of exclusive coverage live from Cary, North Carolina on Friday, June 25 beginning at 1:00 p.m. (ET).  MLB Network’s Greg Amsinger, Dan Plesac, Harold Reynolds, Bill Ripken and Dan O’Dowd, as well as MLB.com’s Jim Callis and Sarah Langs, will provide analysis and breakdowns throughout the afternoon on June 25 as the players undergo their pro-style showcase workout.  Interviews with players and Club personnel will be featured as part of the coverage.

Participants at the MLB Draft Combine will have opportunities to be featured on MLB social media channels, in addition to receiving personal branding training and access to real-time content and custom video for their own platforms.

The 2021 MLB Draft is planned for July 11-13 during All-Star Week in Colorado, and for the first time since the inception of the Draft in 1965, the event is scheduled outside the month of June. The Draft will feature 20 rounds across the three days, beginning with the opening night of the Draft on Sunday, July 11 at the Bellco Theatre in Denver, following the 2021 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, part of All-Star Sunday at Coors Field. Since 2009, the first night of the Draft has been held live at MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey.

PHOENIX — Top-seeded TB SoCal Easton claimed gold at the 16U National Team Championships Arizona with a 7-5 win against fifth-seeded MBA Navy 2023 on Monday morning at Peoria Sports Complex.

The gold medal marks the third as a program for TB SoCal and the first at the 16U level. TB SoCal won championships at both the 14U and 17U levels in 2017.

Jackson Freeman stole the show with a standout performance at the plate and on the mound for TB SoCal. Freeman collected three hits, including a two-run triple in the second, and tossed four innings of one-run ball to earn the win.

The 6-foot right-hander posted at least one hit in seven of TB SoCal's nine games at the National Team Championships Arizona and logged a 1.101 OPS throughout the tournament.

MBA Navy opened scoring in the first inning after Kaden Hodson produced a sacrifice fly to plate Ryder Robinson. However, TB SoCal responded in quick fashion with two runs apiece in the first, second and third, and another run in the fourth. Dean Carpentier delivered a two-RBI single through the left side to five TB SoCal its first lead of the game and Freeman's two-run triple to right extended the lead to 4-1 at the time.

Carpentier tacked on a sacrifice fly in the fourth to give TB SoCal its largest lead of the game at 7-1.

MBA Navy, who erased deficits in five of their previous eight games games at the National Team Championships, failed to go down without a fight, however. The Utah-based organization put a pair of runs on the board in the fifth thanks to Mason Thompson's bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly courtesy of Jake Olsen.

MBA Navy cut the deficit to just two runs when Chett Wilson ripped a two-run double off the wall in left to make it a 7-5 game.

After Tahj Henrie picked off a pair of batters and put up a zero in the bottom half of the inning, MBA Navy brought the potential tying run to the plate when Crew Schenk delivered a two-out single. However, TB SoCal right-hander Matthew Hart sealed the win with a soft fly to right caught by Freeman.

TB SoCal Easton finished the 2021 16U National Team Championships with an undefeated 9-0 mark and outscored its opponents by a 69-21 margin.

MBA Navy 2023 concluded its time at the event with a record of 8-1.

Second-seeded Canes Arizona (7-2) captured the bronze medal.

Key Moments

• Kaden Hodson (MBA Navy 2023) opened scoring with a sacrifice fly to score Ryder Robinson in the top of the first inning.
• Dean Carpentier (TB SoCal Easton) plated a pair of runs with a single through the left side in the bottom half of the first frame.
• TB SoCal Easton extended its lead to 4-1 when Jackson Freeman delivered a two-RBI triple in the bottom of the second.
• Dean Carpentier's sacrifice fly gave TB SoCal Easton its largest lead of the game at 7-1 in the fourth.
• MBA Navy remained within striking distance after Mason Thompson recorded a bases-loaded walk and Jake Olsen produced a sacrifice fly to make it 7-3 in the fifth.
• Chett Wilson (MBA Navy) sent a two-run double off the wall in left to bring MBA Navy within a pair of runs in the sixth.
• Matthew Hart (TB SoCal Easton) sealed the gold medal after he induced a soft fly ball caught by Jackson Freeman to end the game with the potential tying run at the palte.

Notable Information

• "It's an awesome feeling to win a great tournament like this. Everybody on this team worked super-hard to get here, so it's a great feeling to see the work pay off." — TB SoCal Easton right-hander Jackson Freeman
• "We got challenged the entire tournament and we had to play our best to be here. It showed on the field." — TB SoCal Easton right-hander Jackson Freeman
• "It takes everybody. It's fun to watch the kids grow up right in front of your eyes and see kids you maybe weren't expecting to stand up. We had to deal with some adversity today and these kids just didn't miss a beat. We came out and were supposed to win this (tournament) and we did. That's the way we look at it. We found a way to finish it the right way and find that mountaintop." — TB SoCal Easton head coach Benny Bonilla
• "Jackson (Freeman) didn't even know he was going to pitch today. We kept going back and forth and have a couple guys who are a little dinged up. He got us what we needed. The kid had a great week." — TB SoCal Easton head coach Benny Bonilla

On Deck

• The 2021 17U National Team Championships Arizona kick off with testing day Tuesday at Peoria Sports Complex. The first day of pool play is set for Wednesday. 

Social

• Stay tuned to @USABChamps_AZ on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the National Team Championships Arizona.

PHOENIX — Kaden Hodson delivered four hits, including a grand slam, and collected six RBI to earn Player of the Day honors on Day 2 of bracket play at the 2021 16U National Team Championships Arizona.

Hodson's MBA Navy 2023 squad advanced to Monday morning's gold-medal game with a pair of wins against Alpha Power 2023 and previously undefeated Canes Arizona. The 6-foot-2 outfielder and shortstop sparked his team's offense in both games Sunday.

Hodson singled and scored an important insurance run in MBA Navy's quarterfinal win before he showed out in the semifinal matchup with three hits — a single, double and grand slam — and six RBI to power MBA Navy to a 19-8 victory. His slam extended MBA Navy's lead to 14-7 in the sixth inning and he also closed out the game by pitching 2.1 innings of one-run ball with a pair of strikeouts.

Hodson owns a .400/.478/.600 slash line through eight games at the National Team Championships Arizona for MBA Navy 2023 (8-0), who will face top-seeded TB SoCal Easton (8-0) in the championship game at 9 a.m. Monday at Peoria Sports Complex.

Nehuel Garcia spun six hitless frames and earned the win in the final game for Titans Baseball Club at the 2021 16U National Team Championships.

Garcia, a right-hander, allowed just one unearned run via an error and struck out six batters to guide Titans Baseball Club (2-4) to its second win at the tournament.

Garcia commanded his pitches effectively to the tune of a 67 percent strike rate. It marked his second appearance on the mound at the National Team Championships after he tossed three scoreless innings in a 9-6 win against GamePrep Baseball Academy 2023 on Tuesday.

Garcia's performance helped Titans Baseball Club seal a 9-1 win against MVP Hustle to conclude its tournament schedule.

Honorable mentions (Player of the Day):

Nate Smith (Team Trinity) — 3-for-3, 2B, 3 RBI, R

Cooper Rasmussen (MBC) — 3-for-4, 3 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R

Joshua Bravo (Titans Baseball Club) — 2-for-3, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, R, SB

Michael Raymond (West Coast Blackdogs) — 3-for-3, 3B, 3 RBI, 2 R

Honorable mentions (Pitcher of the Day):

Cristian Brewster (Legacy Baseball Group Black) — W, 4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 9 K, 0 BB

Carson Timothy (Alpha Prime 2023) — 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 K, 0 BB (quarterfinals)

Luke Barragan (West Elite) — W, 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 8 K, 1 BB

Ryan Jemkins (Rios Baseball 2023) — W, 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 5 K, 4 BB

Stay tuned to @USABChamps_AZ on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the National Team Championships Arizona.

PHOENIX — Fifth-seeded MBA Navy and top-seeded TB SoCal Easton erased deficits in both of their respective quarterfinal and semifinal matchups to earn spots in the gold-medal game of the 16U National Team Championships Arizona on Sunday at Peoria Sports Complex.

Semifinal — MBA Navy 2023 19, Canes Arizona 8

MBA Navy 2023 delivered an offensive onslaught en route to a 19-8 win against previously undefeated Canes Arizona to lock up a trip to the gold-medal game of the 16U National Team Championships Arizona. MBA Navy scored multiple runs in every inning except the third, which included a four-run fourth to take the lead for good.

MBA Navy's lineup collected 24 hits in the victory and eight players recorded multiple hits. Kaden Hodson's three-hit, six-RBI performance led the way. He hit a grand slam to break the game open and extend MBA Navy's lead to 14-7 in the sixth.

The 6-foot-2 outfielder and shortstop owns a standout .400 clip at the plate and a 1.078 OPS through seven games at the event. Hodson also closed out the win for MBA Navy and tossed 2.1 innings of one-run ball, which marked his first appearance on the mound at the tournament.

Ryker Schow (4-for-5, 4 R, SB) and Ryder Robinson (3-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI, 4 R) helped set the tone for MBA Navy, as well, and set the table for Hodson's run-producing role.

MBA Navy 2023 (8-0) advanced to Monday's gold-medal game to face TB SoCal Easton (8-0). First pitch is set for 9 a.m. MT at Peoria Sports Complex.

Semifinal — TB SoCal Easton 8, USA Prime National 16U 4

TB SoCal Easton erased a deficit for the third time in four games since the start of bracket play to capture a spot in the gold-medal game with an 8-4 win against USA Prime National 16U.

SoCal fell behind 3-1 before Jackson Freeman sparked a two-out rally with a two-run single to center to tie the game. Roman Martin followed with a two-RBI double down the left-field line to put SoCal ahead for good.

Martin, a UCLA commit, reached base safely three times in the win, scored twice and also stole his sixth base of the tournament.

Right-hander Andrew Bertolette scattered four hits across four innings of work and allowed just one run to earn the victory in relief. He struck out four and did not walk a batter.

TB SoCal Easton, the tournament's No. 1 seed, is set to face MBA Navy 2023 in Monday's gold-medal game. First pitch is set for 9 a.m. MT at Peoria Sports Complex.

Key Moments (MBA Navy 2023 vs. Canes Arizona)

• Jacob Faust (MBA Navy) delivered an RBI-single to give MBA Navy the lead in the second inning.
• Reese Orrison (Canes) doubled home a pair of runs to tie the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the third.
• Ryder Robinson (MBA Navy) ripped a go-ahead three-run double to left to put MBA Navy ahead 7-6 in the fourth.
• Kaden Hodson (MBA Navy) hit a grand slam to extend MBA Navy's lead to 14-7 in the sixth inning.

Key Moments (USA Prime National 16U vs. TB SoCal Easton)

• Ashton Larson (USA Prime) recorded an RBI-groundout to open up scoring in the first inning.
• Nazzan Zanetello (SoCal) singled through the left side to get TB SoCal Easton on the board in the top of the second.
• Jackson Freeman (SoCal) leveled the score with a two-run single to center in the fourth.
• Roman Martin (SoCal) gave TB SoCal Easton its first lead of the game with a two-run double down the left-field line in the fourth.
• Andrew Bertolette (SoCal) induced a groundout with the potential tying run at the plate for USA Prime National in the sixth.

Notable Information

• "The whole week we've gotten better and better with our at-bats and we've been attacking fastballs. It seems like anything people have been throwing up there we've been hammering. We've had a bunch of really, really good at-bats the entire week." — MBA Navy 2023 head coach Murph Norris
• "It's pretty incredible (to reach the gold-medal game). It's a pretty incredible feat for these kids and I'm really proud of them." — MBA Navy 2023 head coach Murph Norris
• "It's awesome (reaching the gold-medal game). We came in looking to do exactly what we're going to do tomorrow. It's great getting to do it with all my guys here." — TB SoCal Easton infielder Roman Martin
• "These kids like to compete. We have a lot of quality players on this roster, but we just like to have fun and that's the biggest thing. These kids feel like we're always going to find a way, even if it's not the prettiest." — TB SoCal Easton head coach Benny Bonilla

On Deck

• Top-seeded TB SoCal Easton (8-0) will face fifth-seeded MBA Navy 2023 (8-0) in the gold-medal game of the 16U National Team Championships at 9 a.m. MT on Monday at Peoria Sports Complex.

• Second-seeded Canes Arizona (7-1) clinched the bronze medal, but will still face Team Kado Hawaii in a consolation game at 9 a.m. MT on Monday at Peoria Sports Complex. 

Social

• Stay tuned to @USABChamps_AZ on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the National Team Championships Arizona.

CARY, N.C. – After a week of competition and 40 games, the 14U National Team Championships North Carolina announced its All-Tournament team. The list features eight pitchers and nine hitters with 13 of the tournament’s 16 teams represented.

• Hunter Atkins – East Cobb Astros
• Hunter Atkins gave up just two hits in four innings pitched while collecting three strikeouts. He finished the tournament with a 1.76 ERA for the Astros.

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• Malachi Boone – TBT National
• Malakhi Boone posted a .571 batting average (8-for-14), driving in six runs and adding a walk. Boone hit a team-best two doubles and scored four runs.

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• Blaine Bullard – Texas Twelve
• Blaine Bullard had a hit in exactly half of his at-bats, posting a .500 (8-for-16) batting average. He drove in four runs and scored six of his own, while also adding two doubles.

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• Tommy Cernius – MVP Hustle
• Tommy Cernius owned a .571 batting average (8-for-14), striking out just once in five games. Cernius drove in four runs and scored a team-best seven.

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• Cooper Clemmons – East Coast Sox
• Cooper Clemons threw six shutout innings in his start against the Cangelosi Sparks to finish the tournament with a 0.00 ERA. He allowed six hits while striking out three batters and giving up just two walks in the tournament.

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• Emery Coleman – 5 Star National
• Emery Coleman tossed a complete game shutout for 5 Star National in its opening game of the tournament. He allowed just four hits while striking out six for the eventual gold medalists.

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• Pressly Courville – Knights Knation National
• Pressly Courville batted .667 (6-for-9) with four RBIs for Knights Knation, adding a double and three walks. Courville reached base in nine of his 12 plate appearances.

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• Gavin Flores – MVP Hustle
• Gavin Flores pitched in eight innings throughout the week, the majority of which came in his start against Texas Twelve in the quarterfinal match up. The righthander tossed a complete game one-hit shutout and finished the tournament with a 0.88 ERA and four strikeouts.

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• Samuel Harris – South Charlotte Panthers
• Samuel Harris threw 6.2 innings in two appearances, allowing no runs to finish the week with a 0.00 ERA. Harris gave up just five hits in the tournament while picking up two strikeouts.

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• Mercer Hudson – East Cobb Astros
• Mercer Hudson owned a .500 batting average (6-for-12) at the 2021 14U National Team Championships North Carolina, picking up two doubles and driving in a run. Hudson also scored three runs and added a stolen base.

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• Donavan Jeffrey – Richmond Braves Platinum
• Donavan Jeffrey led the Richmond Braves with a .692 batting average (9-for-13) over five games. Jeffrey had two three-hit games in the tournament, driving in six runs without striking out a single time.

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• Jaiden Lo Re – Scottsdale Dirtbags
• Jaiden Lo Re struck out nine batters in just 5.1 innings of work, picking up the win against the East Coast Sox. Lo Re gave up three hits while finishing with a 2.63 ERA.

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• Ethan Moore – Cangelosi Sparks
• Ethan Moore compiled a .714 batting average (5-for7), scoring four runs. Moore drove in two runs and reached base at an .818 clip.

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• Kelvyn Paulino Jr. – 5 Star National
• Kelvyn Paulino Jr. batted .556 (5-9) for the tournament champions, notching a pair of doubles and driving in six runs. Paulino also scored seven runs and walked five times. 

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• Mavarek Russell – MVP Hustle
• Mavarek Russell batted .571 (8-for-14) for MVP Hustle, scoring five runs with a pair of extra base hits. Russell had four multi-hit games, and reached base at a .600 clip.

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• David Shields – Canes National
• David Shields made two appearances and one start on the mound, finishing with a 1.40 ERA in five innings pitched. Shields struck out nine batters while surrendering just one hit in the tournament.

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• Ethan Trivison – Elite Squad
• Ethan Trivison allowed just three hits and one earned run in two appearances and 7.1 innings pitched. He finished the tournament with a 0.96 ERA and four strikeouts.

•  

The National Team Championships North Carolina will continue with the 17U age group from June 22-25 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina. To stay up to date on all the action, follow @USABaseball and @USABChamps_NC on Twitter.

CARY, N.C. – The 14U National Team Championships North Carolina came to a close on Sunday as the semifinals and gold medal game had to be canceled due to inclement weather. Based on final seeding from the week, 5 Star National was awarded the gold medal. MVP Hustle was awarded the silver medal while the Cangelosi Sparks took home bronze.

5 Star National finished the week with a 5-0 record, outscoring opponents 43-5. The team opened up with an impressive 4-0 win on Wednesday over the South Charlotte Panthers as Emery Coleman tossed the complete game shutout while collecting six strikeouts.

With a doubleheader on Thursday, the team’s bats came alive as they picked up 8-0 and 12-3 wins over the Dulins Dodgers and MVP Hustle, respectively. In the game against MVP Hustle, seven 5 Star National players collected RBIs, led by Jacob Kendall who went 3-for-3 at the plate and drove in four runs.

In the team’s 11-2 win over Texas Twelve on Friday to claim the one seed in bracket play, Randy Ruiz, Jackson Roper, and Luke Pappano all had multi-RBI performances. The team then followed with a convincing 8-0 victory over the Scottsdale Dirtbags to advance to the semifinals.

Kelvyn Paulino Jr. had a multi-hit game and led the way at the plate all week for 5 Star, hitting .556 (9-for-15) with six RBIs. Kendall had a team-high nine RBIs in five games. Coleman, Pappano, and Dillon Askew all had shutout performances on the mound en route to the team’s gold medal.

MVP Hustle finished the week 4-1 to earn the silver medal, and the team’s lone loss of the tournament came to the eventual champions. MVP Hustle responded to the loss with a 4-3 walk-off win over the East Cobb Astros in seeded pool play. Brandon Gomez drove in Tomas Cernius on a double into center to win it. Cernius batted a team-high .571 (8-for-14) during the week with a triple and four RBIs to lead the team offensively.

In its quarterfinal game, MVP Hustle got an outstanding performance on the mound from Gavin Flores, who tossed a one-hit complete game shutout. Flores was the team’s best pitcher during the tournament, also appearing in one relief outing and finishing the week with a 0.88 ERA.

The Cangelosi Sparks collected the bronze medal for the tournament. With a 3-2 tournament record, they advanced to the semifinals after a tight 3-2 victory over Knights Knation National on Saturday. Ethan Moore finished the tournament with a team-high batting average of .714 (5-for-7) while also drawing three walks and scoring four runs. The team pitched by committee with ten different players stepping on the mound for the Sparks, combining for a 3.78 team ERA.

The National Team Championships North Carolina will continue with the 17U age group from June 22-25 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina. To stay up to date on all the action, follow @USABaseball and @USABChamps_NC on Twitter

PHOENIX — Tanner Beltowski collected six hits and five RBI across a two-game stretch for Ventura County Baseball Academy (VCBA) to earn Player of the Day honors on Day 1 of bracket play at the 16U National Team Championships Arizona.

Beltowski, who reached base four times in VCBA's 11-7 win against BPA SD in the Round of 32, followed with another three-hit performance in a Round of 16 victory against GBG Renegades.

Beltowski, a 6-foot-1 infielder, owns a standout .591/.625/.682 slash line through six games for VCBA at the National Team Championships Arizona and has hit safely in all six contests, which includes three consecutive three-hit efforts.

VCBA (5-1) is set to face Canes Arizona (6-0) in Sunday's quarterfinal matchup.

Gabriel Hernandez (Dukes Baseball) captured Pitcher of the Day honors with a stellar performance on the mound against Trosky National 2023 in the Round of 32.

Hernandez spun 6.2 innings of three-hit, one-run ball and showed tremendous command with nine strikeouts and no walks in his first appearance on the mound at the tournament.

The 5-foot-10 right-hander's strong effort helped Dukes Baseball (4-2) squeeze past Trosky by a 2-1 final score and earn a spot in the Round of 16 against Alpha Prime 2023 (6-0).

Honorable mentions (Player of the Day):

Owen Egan (GBG Renegades) — 4-for-6, 2 2B, 2 RBI, R, 2 BB, SB

Nathanial Wagner (Team Kado Hawaii) — 4-for-5, 3 RBI, R, 2 BB

Luke Johnson (Saddleback Cowboys Black) — 4-for-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB

Kevin Braun (CBA Victus North) — 2-for-4, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, 2 R

Honorable mentions (Pitcher of the Day):

Jace Gillmore (Alpha Power 2023) — W, CG, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 7 K, 1 BB

Tyler Ball (MBA Navy 2023) — W, 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 10 K, 0 BB

Tyler Albanese (Team California Black) — W, CG, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 12 K, 1 BB

Andrew Krodel (TB SoCal Easton) — W, CG, 3 H, 0 R, 9 K, 3 BB

Stay tuned to @USABChamps_AZ on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the National Team Championships Arizona.

PHOENIX — Saddleback Cowboys Black used a seven-run first inning to advance to the Round of 16 with a 12-1 win against Juggernaut Group Baseball Academy on the first day of bracket play at the 2021 16U National Team Championships Arizona.

Saddleback's first eight batters reached base safely (six hits, one HBP, one error) in the bottom of the first after Juggernaut opened the scoring with a run-scoring double in the top half of the frame. The Cowboys took the lead on an RBI-single from Luke Johnson (3-for-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI) and broke the game open when Zach Fjelstad plated three runs with a base knock through the right side.

Saddleback added to its commanding lead with another run in the second courtesy of Johnson's first double of the day, and extended it to 12-1 with four more runs in the third.

Cowboys right-hander Jack Svinth kept Juggernaut's bats at bay and allowed just one unearned run in three innings of work. He struck out three. Austin Palmares fanned a pair in the final inning before a run-rule was initiated. Nine of his 11 pitches went for strikes.

Saddleback Cowboys Black (5-0) advances to the Round of 16 to play Total Baseball Vipers (4-1).

Juggernaut Group Baseball Academy (3-2) awaits its next opponent in the consolation bracket.

Key Moments

• Gavin Williams (Saddleback) leveled the score in the first inning with a single through the left side.
• Luke Johnson (Saddleback) provided the Cowboys with their first lead of the game with an RBI-single through the left side.
• Zach Fjelstad's (Saddleback) three-run base knock to right extended the Cowboys' lead to 5-1 in the opening frame.
• Jackson Kemmerer (Saddleback) ripped an RBI-single to left to plate Saddleback's seventh run of the first inning.
• Luke Johnson (Saddleback) recorded his first of two doubles and brought home a run in the second inning.

Notable Information

• "The bats came alive in the bottom of the first and we strung some quality at-bats together, stung some baseballs and some others found holes. We were able to come up with a couple clutch hits and came away with a good win." — Saddleback Cowboys Black head coach Mitch Holland
• "One at a time. I think we have a good chance. I think if we play good baseball and clean baseball, we have a good chance to play with anybody. If we take care of business on our end, I think we'll be okay." — Saddleback Cowboys Black head coach Mitch Holland

On Deck

• Saddleback Cowboys Black (5-0) will face Total Baseball Vipers (4-1) in the Round of 16.

• Juggernaut Group Baseball Academy (3-2) awaits its next opponent (TBD) in the consolation bracket.

Social

• Stay tuned to @USABChamps_AZ on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the National Team Championships Arizona.

PHOENIX — There’s a missing piece to the puzzle for the Placentia Mustangs.

Nate Alam, head coach of the California-based organization, is determined to find it.

Placentia has appeared in the championship game of the National Team Championships Arizona at the 14U, 15U, and 17U levels, which included a pair of gold-medal finishes in 2013 (14U and 17U). Reaching the final game of the 16U tournament, however, has been a bit more elusive since USA Baseball added the age group to the event in 2018.

“Pitching-wise, we have what it takes (to win gold at 16U),” Alam said. “We have a lot of arms this year. We just have to swing the bat a bit and that’s what we’re looking to do.”

The Mustangs’ rotation features a talented group of players, including past National Team Championships participant Ayden Holker. The 6-foot-4 right-hander and first baseman returns to the summer showcase in Arizona after he captured Pitcher of the Day honors on July 3, 2019, as a member of JG Juggernaut Group at the 14U National Team Championships. Holker spun a complete-game, four-hit shutout and struck out five in a 10-0 win against GBG Marucci Blue.

“That was really fun and one of my greatest baseball experiences,” Holker said. “It really drove me to keep playing this sport and it was fun to go out there and shut down a team and really be ‘that guy.’”

Holker hopes to be next in a long line of major-league and USA Baseball alumni who have passed through the Placentia Mustangs program on their way to success at the professional, national, and international levels. Texas Rangers southpaw Kolby Allard, Rangers closer Ian Kennedy and seven-year MLB veteran Hank Conger are all former first-round selections who suited up for the red, white, and blue after they donned the Mustangs’ red jersey with black and white trim.

“(The National Team Championships) are a great opportunity for exposure and getting seen,” Holker said. “I really want to test myself and get some work in.”

Placentia has won three of its four games in pool play at the 2021 National Team Championships, which included a 5-0 shutout of Beach City Prospects 16U on the first day of competition. Holker fired three scoreless frames and allowed just one hit to earn the win. He commanded his pitches well to the tune of a 76 percent strike rate and tossed another 1.1 hitless innings against undefeated Canes Arizona (4-0) two days later.

“This is a great group of guys,” Holker said of the relationships he’s developed with his teammates throughout the tournament. “I really like playing with them.”

Holker and Alam aim to win a championship with their squad and have Placentia set on the right path. The Mustangs will face San Diego Show (3-1) in the Round of 32 at 7:30 a.m. MT on Saturday and look to advance to the quarterfinals.

“We just tell our guys to come out here and compete,” Alam said. “We just let them play their game and the rest takes care of itself.”

Much like a puzzle, once you find the first handful of pieces, the rest seems to take care of itself.

CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball today announced the naming of Chris Lionetti as its Director of Player Identification. Following six years of scouting experience with the Atlanta Braves, Lionetti will be responsible for identifying candidates for the Collegiate National Team, 18U National Team, and 16U/17U National Team Development Program. He will also identify candidates for joint MLB and USA Baseball events such as the Appalachian League, MLB Draft Combine, Prospect Development Pipeline (PDP) League, and PDP Premier events.

Lionetti will also be the organization’s liaison with the 30 MLB Clubs related to player identification and performance analysis, and assist all youth national team and development programs with player selection.

"We are extremely excited to welcome Chris Lionetti to the USA Baseball family as our first Director of Player Identification,” said USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO Paul Seiler. “Chris brings invaluable experience scouting the amateur baseball landscape on behalf of a Major League Club. We look forward to following his lead in the creation of a player identification system at USA Baseball and enhancing the talent pool for our identification events and national team programs.”

“I am both excited and honored to be named USA Baseball’s first Director of Player Identification,” said Lionetti. “The scouting community helped raise me in baseball and I look forward to using those experiences to contribute to USA Baseball’s standard of excellence. I cannot thank my mentors enough for making this opportunity a reality and I am ready to hit the road in search of players to represent our country.”

Lionetti began his professional career as a scouting intern with the Braves in January 2015 before being promoted to a scouting assistant in October. While in that position, he helped create an in-house scouting system, oversaw recruiting of players for the Braves Scout Team, and scouted more than 100 athletes annually, including Ian Anderson, Austin Riley, and Kyle Wright.

In January of 2018, Lionetti was once again promoted within Atlanta’s organization, serving as a scouting coordinator until he was named the Area Supervisor for the State of Georgia in October 2019. In his past few years with the Braves, he recruited players for “The Prospect World Series,” served as a liaison between the front office and athletes during contract negotiations, filed scouting and character reports, and assisted in creating camp and showcase opportunities for underserved athletes.

Lionetti received his bachelor’s degree in science and sports management in 2014 from the University of Georgia.

For more information on USA Baseball, visit USABaseball.com and follow @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

PHOENIX — Matt Moses posted three hits and five RBI in a must-win game for Sacramento Sports Center 2023 to capture Player of the Day honors on Day 3 of pool play at the 16U National Team Championships Arizona.

Moses, who also scored twice, ripped a three-run triple to break the game open for SSC in the second inning. The 6-foot-1 outfielder later plated a pair of runs with a single up the middle to extend SSC's lead to 12-1.

Moses owns a standout .667/.733/.917 slash line through four games at the National Team Championships Arizona for SSC (3-1) and has hit safely in all four contests.

Samuel Round (Canes West Gold) spun six scoreless innings of two-hit ball to earn the Pitcher of the Day award.

Round, a right-hander, struck out nine and walked just two batters as Canes West Gold topped CBA Victus North by a 5-1 count to collect its first win at the National Team Championships Arizona.

Round maintained a 66 percent strike rate in the win, which marked his second appearance on the mound in the tournament.

Honorable mentions (Player of the Day):

Damian Cabrera (Aggies National) — 4-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R, SB

Carter Wood (Easton Prime Navy) — 3-for-3, HR, 5 RBI

Austin Stapleton (Chico Aces 2023) — 3-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R

Jacob Hong (Dolphins Black) — 3-for-4, 2 RBI, R, 4 SB

Honorable mentions (Pitcher of the Day):

Roman Magana (T2) — W, CG, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 8 K, 4 BB

Brian Chin (Show Cali National) — W, CG, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 6 K, 0 BB

Rory Minty (California Warriors 16U Elite) — W, CG, 4 H, 0 R, 8 K, 2 BB

River Diaz De Leon (Force Baseball Club 16U Elite) — W, CG, 6 H, 0 R, 5 K, 2 BB

Stay tuned to @USABChamps_AZ on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the National Team Championships Arizona.

PHOENIX — River Diaz De Leon fired a complete-game, six-hit shutout to guide Force Baseball Club Blue to a 3-0 win against Zoots Baseball Club on Thursday at the 2021 16U National Team Championships Arizona.

Diaz De Leon struck out five in the standout performance and kept Zoots at bay by inducing three double-play grounders. The right-hander escaped multiple jams with the help of his defense, which included a 1-6-3 double play with the potential tying run at the plate in the sixth inning.

Zoots also loaded the bases in its final at-bats in the seventh, but Diaz De Leon struck out consecutive batters to seal the win for Force Baseball Blue. He needed just 76 pitches to work through the seven innings and maintained a 71 percent strike rate.

The lone offense in the game came in the third frame when Gabriel Camacho tripled to bring home a pair of runs. Adrian Macias followed with a single through the right side to plate Camacho and extend Force Blue's lead to 3-0.

Right-handed reliever Cole Ehrhorn kept Zoots within striking distance and tossed four hitless, scoreless innings with four strikeouts and no walks.

Diaz De Leon earned the win for Force Baseball Blue, while Lucas Dennis suffered the loss for Zoots.

Force Baseball Club Blue improved its mark to 2-2 at the National Team Championships Arizona. Zoots Baseball Club dropped to 1-3 at the event.

Key Moments

• River Diaz De Leon (Force Blue) started a 1-5 double play to escape a first-inning jam.
• Gabriel Camacho (Force Blue) delivered a two-RBI triple to right field to open scoring in the third inning.
• Adrian Macias (Force Blue) singled through the right side to extend Force Blue's lead to 3-0 in the third inning.
• River Diaz De Leon (Force Blue) retired seven consecutive batters between the third and fifth innings.
• Rivera Diaz De Leon (Force Blue) struck out consecutive batters looking to end the game with the bases loaded.

Notable Information

• "(Diaz De Leon) had traffic on the bases all day, but I think when guys got on base, he really buckled down. The three double plays were huge for him and he threw all three pitches for a strike. For him, in those pressure situations, he actually got better throughout the game. He was a bulldog on the mound, for sure." — Force Baseball Club Blue head coach Brandon Decker
• "This is what we prepare our guys for. We want to play against the best and we believe our team has gotten to that level. In order for our young guys to develop and get eyes on them, we have to play the best teams and be in this type of environment." — Force Baseball Club Blue had coach Brandon Decker

On Deck

• Force Baseball Club Blue improved to 2-2 at the event and awaits its next opponent (TBD).

• Zoots Baseball Club fell to 1-3 at the event and awaits its next opponent (TBD).

Social

• Stay tuned to @USABChamps_AZ on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the National Team Championships Arizona.

CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball today announced the 2021 18U National Team coaching staff that will assist manager Jason Maxwell at the 2021 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup from September 10–19 in Sarasota and Bradenton, Florida. Adam Moseley joins the staff as the team’s pitching coach while Michael Cuddyer and Jack Wilson will serve as assistant coaches.

“We are very excited to have this experienced group join Jason on the 18U National Team staff this summer as we work toward reaching our goal of claiming another world championship,” said Ashley Bratcher, USA Baseball’s 18U National Team General Manager. “The baseball experience and knowledge that these coaches bring to the table will be a huge benefit to our players as they develop both on and off of the field and strive toward winning gold.” 

Moseley, who served as Maxwell's pitching coach for the World Cup-champion 15U National Team in 2018, will return in the same position for the 2021 18U National Team. His USA Baseball coaching experience also includes stints at the 2017 14U National Team Development Program (NTDP) and 15U National Team Trials, and he was also named to the 2020 15U National Team staff before the 2020 WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup was postponed. Moseley is currently the head coach at Hoover High School (Hoover, Ala.), where he led the Buccaneers to an Alabama State Baseball Championship in 2017. Before taking the head coaching position at Hoover following the 2014 season, Moseley led his former high school, Grissom High School (Huntsville, Ala.), to the state quarterfinals in four of his final five seasons. Moseley has coached high school baseball for 15 seasons and has compiled an overall record of 429-244.

Cuddyer will make his USA Baseball coaching debut in 2021 but is no stranger to the stars and stripes, having played on both the 1996 and 1997 18U National Teams. He hit .367 and recorded the second-most RBIs (5) on the 1996 squad. In 1997, he hit .397 with a .853 slugging percentage while leading the team in RBIs (26) and home runs (7). In that same year, he was named the Virginia Player of the Year, Gatorade National Player of the Year, and a USA Today All-Star. Cuddyer was selected ninth overall by the Minnesota Twins in the 1997 MLB Draft before making his MLB Debut in 2001. In his 15-year MLB career, he played in over 1,500 games, spending the first 11 seasons of his career with the Twins where he was named to his first All-Star team in 2011. From 2012 to 2014, Cuddyer played for the Colorado Rockies and was selected to his second All-Star team in 2013. Cuddyer was also a 2013 Silver Slugger and finished the season with the National League batting title, hitting a league-best .331 with a career-high 162 hits. Cuddyer was only the 30th Major League player to hit for the cycle twice in his career and was just the third to accomplish the feat in both the American and National Leagues. Since retirement, Cuddyer contributes a weekly online video series called “Cuddyer’s Corner” for the USA Baseball Develops blog, covering topics surrounding the game to help young athletes grow both on and off the field.

Rounding out the staff is Wilson who also makes his USA Baseball coaching debut this summer. Currently the head coach at Thousand Oaks High School (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), Wilson led the Lancers to a 24-6 overall record, including a 10-2 mark in league play, en route to winning the Marmonte League championship in 2019. He followed that by managing the squad to an 8-0 start to the 2020 season and a No. 1 CIF-SS Division 2 ranking before the pause in play caused by COVID-19. Under Wilson’s guidance, the program picked up where it left off in 2021 as the Lancers claimed another Marmonte League championship and finished with a 27-1 record. Before beginning his coaching career, Wilson played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners, and Atlanta Braves for over 12 years in the big leagues. He led the National League with 12 triples in 2004, earning a spot on the National League All-Star team and a Silver Slugger award for his efforts. In 1,370 MLB games, Wilson recorded a .265/.306/.366 career slash line with 61 home runs and 426 RBIs. 

The 2021 18U National Team identification process begins with the 2021 Prospect Development Pipeline (PDP) League at the USA Baseball National Training Complex from July 23–31. The invitation-based development opportunity will feature approximately 96 top high school baseball players ahead of the 2022 MLB First-Year Player Draft. The 16U/17U NTDP also serves as an identification event for the 18U National Team and will take place from August 6-9 at the National Training Complex.

Invited players will then participate in the 18U National Team Trials from August 29-September 3 in Tampa, Florida, before naming the final 18-man 18U National Team roster. The 18U team will continue to train in Tampa from September 4-8 before competing at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup from September 10-19 in Sarasota and Bradenton, Florida.

For more information on the 18U National Team, follow along on Twitter @USABaseball and @USABaseball18U.

PHOENIX, — Owen Carlson delivered a four-hit, five-RBI performance to guide Legacy Baseball Group Black to a pair of wins and earn Player of the Day honors on Day 2 of competition at the 16U National Team Championships Arizona.

Carlson, who also scored three runs, walked once and stole one base, owns a standout .667 clip at the plate through three games at the tournament. The 5-foot-10 shortstop delivered a game-tying sacrifice fly in the seventh inning of Legacy's early-morning game against Long Beach Bears and followed by reaching base four times (three hits, one walk) in the second game of the day against Arizona Travel Ball.

Carlson and Legacy Baseball Group Black sit at 2-1 following Day 2 of competition at the event.

Southpaw Myles Standish collected Pitcher of the Day honors after he logged four hitless frames and struck out eight in a 7-0 win for CCB National against Legacy Baseball Group Gold.

Standish, who struck out four of the first five batters he faced, combined with right-hander Paul Montgomery to pitch the shutout. He maintained a 65 percent strike rate and helped lead CCB National to its first win at the National Team Championships Arizona.

Standish also contributed on the offensive end in CCB National's second game Wednesday with one walk and one run scored in an 11-3 victory against USA Prime American.

Honorable mentions (Player of the Day):

Demetriz Lewis Jr. (Top Tier Americans) — 2-for-3, 3B, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 SB

Anthony Martinez (Sacramento Sports Center 2023) — 6-for-8, 2B, 7 RBI, SB

Jackson Freeman (TB SoCal Easton) — 4-for-6, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 3 R, BB, 2 SB

Van Coughlin (Quakes Baseball) — 4-for-6, 3 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB

Honorable mentions (Pitcher of the Day):

Holden Hungerford (Trosky Southern California - Antelope Valley) — W, 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 9 K, 3 BB

Adam Harper (Dolphins Black) — W, 6.1 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 9 K, 3 BB

Tanner Beltowski (VCBA) — W, 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 7 K, 2 BB

Mooman (USA Prime American 16U) — W, CG, 3 H, 0 R, 9 K, 2 BB

Stay tuned to @USABChamps_AZ on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the National Team Championships Arizona.

PHOENIX — Team Trinity collected its first victory at the 2021 16U National Team Championships Arizona in comeback style after it erased a three-run deficit to top CBA Wave by a 6-4 final Wednesday at Peoria Sports Complex.

Trinity strung together three consecutive hits to take a 5-4 lead. Luis Arias' RBI-single through the right side proved to be the spark plug. He later came around to score on a two-run single off the bat of George Banuelos. Gavin Klennert then gave Trinity the lead with his second hit of the afternoon, a single to left to plate Banuelos.

Klennert has two multi-hit efforts through three games at the National Team Championships Arizona for Team Trinity.

Marcos Cisneros, who entered the game trailing 4-1, earned the win in relief for Trinity. The right-hander surrendered just one hit across 3.2 scoreless frames and struck out five batters, including two in the seventh inning.

CBA Wave put the potential tying run aboard in the sixth after Colton Miller reached via an error, but Cisneros induced a fielders' choice groundout and a strikeout to negate the threat.

Team Trinity sits at 1-2 following the first two days of games at the National Team Championships Arizona. CBA Wave (0-3) remains in search of its first win of the event.

Key Moments

• Gerardo Munoz (Trinity) delivered a sacrifice fly to open up scoring in the second inning. Jesiah Zamora scored the game's first run.
• Donovan Ward (CBA Wave) laced a double to right field to score a pair of runs and give CBA Wave its first lead of the game in the second inning.
• William Cruz (CBA Wave) brought home a pair of runs with a single through the right side and extended CBA Wave's lead to 4-1 at the time.
• Luis Arias (Trinity) delivered a run-scoring single through the right side to ignite Team Trinity's fifth-inning rally.
• George Banuelos (Trinity) leveled the score with a two-RBI single in the fifth inning.
• Team Trinity regained the lead for good after Gavin Klennert roped a single to left to score Banuelos.
• Marcos Cisneros (Trinity) worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning, including a pair of strikeouts.

Notable Information

• "We've got a young team. We just have to keep them focused, keep them driving and make sure they're having fun. We want our guys to learn from this and enjoy it. The (National Team Championships Arizona) is a good experience for them, develops them and it makes them strive harder." — Team Trinity head coach Roy Borgersen

Social

• Stay tuned to @USABChamps_AZ on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the National Team Championships Arizona.

Clear skies, 80-degree weather, and for the first time in nine months, the National Team Championships North Carolina returned to the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina. 

The morning got started early with each team going through a pro-style workout and getting testing feedback in several areas of the game. Outfielders got the chance to track their velocities on throws to third and home, while hitters took swings in the cages using Diamond Kinetics technology. The SwingTracker gives real-time data on various parts of a batter’s swing, and this morning it made for great friendly competition amongst teammates as they got ready for the day ahead.

“It’s good for everybody to let us know where we’re at and where we stand against other competition,” said Micah Matthews, a member of the Canes National team. Seeing these assessment results gives players tangible things to work on to improve their game. The goal? To keep getting better in every aspect of the game. Seeing these results pay off makes all the hard work worth it. 

And 12U National Team alum Dillon Adkins has experienced this firsthand. After impressing at the National Team Identification Series (NTIS) in 2018, Adkins got the chance to play for the 2019 12U National Team at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-12 Baseball World Cup. Now, he’s back this year at the National Team Championships with Knights Knation National and ready for more.

“We’re really excited to compete with other big teams, a lot of people think we’re underdogs,” Adkins said of his Knights team. “I think we have a pretty good chance at doing good while we’re here. We’re really excited to compete and showcase our talent.”

Alandez Blaylock shared the same sentiment about his East Coast Sox Franchise team. “I’m excited to be playing better competition, this field of teams is stacked, so you just have to expect the best,” he said.

After a morning of testing, the teams took the field ready to prove themselves. With 16 of the premier clubs from across the country, the competition is stout and the teams are ready to show they belong here.

Not only are these teams getting the opportunity to play against some of the best competition in the country, but they are also getting to do it at one of the finest facilities in the country. The USA Baseball National Training Complex is home to four major league-quality fields, highlighted by the 1,754 seat Coleman Field. Getting the chance to play where MLB All-Stars and Team USA alums like Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Marcus Stroman, and many more have played is an opportunity the players are grateful for.

“These are the best fields I’ve ever seen, I’ve never seen anything like it, and I can’t wait to get out there,” said David Shields, a Pittsburgh native playing for Canes National this week. Shields’ teammate Micah Matthews added, “It’s big for us. For us young kids getting to experience this, it’s really special and I’m really excited.”

The stage is set. Teams got started their journey to gold today and with a full week ahead, players will have plenty of chances to put their talents on display.

Aidan Nohava from the Cangelosi Sparks summed it up well, saying “I’ve never played on any fields like this and never seen any competition like this either. I’m ready to play.”

A full slate of game action will highlight day two of the event on Thursday as each team will play twice to finish out pool play before the bracket is set on Friday.

Let’s play ball.

Who will be next? The 2021 National Team Championships Arizona will welcome 327 teams from 11 states to four of the premier Spring Training facilities in the Greater Phoenix area to compete for gold and play for the opportunity to represent the red, white, and blue on the diamond..

Beginning June 14 and running through July 7, the National Team Championships in Arizona will serve as the primary identification event for players to be considered for the 2021 15U National Team, as well as this year’s 13U/14U Athlete Development Program (ADP) and 16U/17U National Team Development Program (NTDP).

NOTEWORTHY

• 16U Starts it Off
• The National Team Championships Arizona is set to begin June 14 with the 16U age group, which enters its third year as part of the event. MVP Hustle won the inaugural tournament in 2018 and will look to recapture gold in 2021. Individual athletes will be evaluated and invited to the 2021 13U/14U ADP. The schedule for the 16U National Team Championships Arizona can be accessed here. The slate of preliminary-round games for the ensuing age groups can be found here (17U), here (15U) and here (14U), and will be updated as each event nears its start date.

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• Spring Training in Summer
USA Baseball’s National Team Championships Arizona are held at the Spring Training homes of today’s brightest stars in Major League Baseball: Camelback Ranch, home of the Chicago White Sox and reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers; Goodyear Ballpark, home of the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians; Peoria Sports Complex, home of the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners; and Surprise Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers. 

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• Also in Arizona
• While this is only the second year that the National Team Championships North Carolina will take place, the event has been successful in Arizona for nearly a decade. Since 2012, some of the country’s finest young players have earned spots on USA Baseball national teams thanks to their performances at the National Team Championships Arizona.

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• How About Some History?
• From 32 teams in one division to 327 teams across four age groups, USA Baseball’s National Team Championships have enjoyed tremendous growth since the event debuted in 1996. Arizona (since 2012) is one of four states to host the event, along with North Carolina, Florida and New Jersey. GBG Renegades (15U) and Zoots Baseball Club (17U) return to the tournament as the reigning gold medalists at their respective age groups after being crowned champions in 2019.

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• Travel Plans
Different journeys. Same goal. Teams from 11 states will travel as many as 3,600 miles to play for gold in the summer heat. The state of California features the greatest number of teams at the event (258), while host state Arizona will see 23 programs take the field. In addition, the lineup of participants includes teams from Texas (9), Utah (9), Washington (8), Nevada (7), Colorado (6), Hawaii (4), Alaska (1), Missouri (1) and New York (1).

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• Remarkable Resume
• Entering its 25th year as an identification event for Team USA, the National Team Championships have provided a plethora of future top prospects and MLB stars with an opportunity to showcase their talent, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw, reigning National League MVP Freddie Freeman and six-time All-Star Bryce Harper.

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• Opportunity Knocks
• In addition to on-field evaluation across the week-long event, USA Baseball’s task force of scouts and coaches will identify potential talent for the red, white, and blue through comprehensive PDP testing and character evaluation. The primary goal of testing day is to equip athletes with tangible evaluations of their skills and abilities, and offer the players an opportunity to create a positive first impression upon the USA Baseball task force in a non-game setting.

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• Quick Quotes
• “Having an opportunity to go play against teams that are filled from top-to-bottom with some of the best athletes in the world at this age group for the National Team Championships in Arizona is challenging and fun. A ton can be learned.” — Jared Halpert, assistant coach of the 2019 15U National Team

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• “The USA Baseball National Team Championships consistently deliver on every team being very competitive year after year.” — Jamar Hill, head coach of Gamers/RBI Alaska

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• COVID-19 Protocol
• USA Baseball will follow all current, federal, state and local government-mandated guidelines regarding COVID-19 with relation to the location of the facilities hosting its events. USA Baseball encourages all participants and guests to practice social distancing of at least six feet from other people. Spectators and guests are strongly encouraged to wear a cloth face covering which covers both the nose and mouth while attending USA Baseball events. Face coverings will be required in enclosed areas.

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FOLLOW ALONG

• All games will be scored live on GameChanger. Links to up-to-the-second scoring and statistics will be posted on USABaseball.com. You can also find media coverage and updates via social media by following @USABChamps_AZ on Twitter and USA Baseball on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.