PHOENIX — A crazy extra-inning affair highlighted a strong day of 17U bracket play action from the National Team Championships Arizona.

The field was narrowed down to just eight teams remaining in the winner’s bracket, as we break down some of the action from Friday morning.

Round of 32 — Team California Black 9, GBG Navy 2023 0

With a spot in the round of 16 on the line, Tyler Albanese delivered for the No. 15 seed going all five innings without allowing a run while striking out seven. The right-hander scattered three hits and surrendered just one walk in his first outing of the tournament.

Team California’s offense continued its momentum after scoring 28 runs through the first four games. Lauren Binney broke open the scoring with an RBI double in the second, which Matthew Bernath immediately followed up with an RBI single to grab a 2-0 lead.

After Albanese notched strikeouts five and six, Cole Kenrich ripped a bases-clearing double to left field to break the game open. It was one of the team’s five doubles on the afternoon, the most in any game they’ve played thus far.

Chaz Mcnelis and Trevor LaPres polished off the run-rule victory with a pair of RBI singles to propel Team California Black to a 9-0 win. It marked the fourth time in five games that the squad has held its opponents to under two runs in a game.

Afterwards, Team California Black fell in the round of 16 and will await its consolation opponent for Saturday.

Round of 16 — 3D Gold 7, Long Beach Bears 4

It took a while to determine a winner, but 3D Gold advanced to the quarterfinals after an extra-inning victory over the Long Beach Bears

The No. 13 seed, who knocked off the No. 20 seed Whitecaps Baseball Academy earlier in the day, rallied for five runs in the eighth and final inning. With runners on first and second base, due to the international tiebreaker rule, a pair of singles and a wild pitch plated the winning runs to push 3D Gold onward.

Both starting pitchers were phenomenal in a game that began as a pitcher’s duel through the originally scheduled seven innings. Combined the team’s had 21 strikeouts and didn’t allow many free passes to hurt their team.

Matthew Thomas got the party started with an RBI single for the Long Beach Bears to put his team up 1-0 early. A wild pitch then plated two for 3D Gold to push them into the lead with a 2-1 advantage in the second frame. Thomas then tripled, driving in the team’s second run to tie the ballgame at two apiece.

Neither team scored until the eighth, where 3D Gold exploded for five runs in the top half after notching four hits. The Long Beach Bears couldn’t match that, bringing across two runs but ending the game on a groundout to third. It marked their first loss of the tournament and the end of their journey in the winner’s bracket.

3D Gold will meet Diablo Valley Baseball Club on Saturday at 7 a.m. in the quarterfinals.

Quotes

• "Our guys competed well and that started with Tyler coming out and throwing strikes. We saw the ball well and Lauren Binney gave us a big knock with two outs that pushed our team forward and gave us confidence." — Team California Black head coach Mitch Spiers said.

Social

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

Phoenix – Joshua Rodriguez homered and drove home six runs in his only game for GBG Navy American 2023 to earn Player of the Day Honors in seeded play at the 17U National Team Championships Arizona.

Rodriguez left the yard in the top of the fifth inning when he hammered a three-run shot over the wall in right field to extend his team’s lead to 7-2. His two-run double earlier in the game opened the scoring, while his RBI single later in the game closed it with the final of 9-7.

In the tournament, Rodriguez is now 7-for-17 and has led GBG Navy American 2023 to a 3-1-1 record.

Carson Lane (Long Beach Bears) earned Pitcher of the Day honors after six scoreless innings on the mound against the GBG Renegades to advance to the round of 16 in bracket play. 

Lane allowed just four hits on the afternoon and fanned 11 in just under 90 pitches for his team. So far this tournament, he has not allowed a run over his two outings, going 9.0 innings and striking out a total of 13 hitters.

The righty guided the Long Beach Bears (5-1) to an easy 5-0 victory over the GBG Renegades in their game on Friday.

Honorable Mentions (Player of the Day)

Jonathan Rodriguez (TB SoCal Evo) – 2-for-3, HR, 4 RBI, R 

Henry Tripaldi (Diablo Valley Baseball Club) – 3-for-6, 5 RBI, R

Kai Hopfel (Canes West Black) – 3-for-6, 2B, 5 RBI, 2 R

Vaughn Stevens (Tustin Scorpions) – 2-for-5, 3B, 4 RBI, R, HBP

Honorable Mentions (Pitcher of the Day)

Brando Luu (TB SoCal Evo) – W, CG, 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 7 K, 0 BB

Coleton Dahl (Team California Black) – 6.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 13 K, 2 BB

Henry Souza (Zoots Baseball Club) – W, CG, 7.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 9 K, 2 BB

Shane Bailey (CBA Victus San Diego) – W, 6.2 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 6 K, 2 BB

Follow @USABChamps_AZ on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the 2022 National Team Championships Arizona.

CARY, N.C. – Dulins Dodgers Prime, eXposure Prime, Richmond Braves Platinum, and Texas Twelve advanced to Saturday’s 2022 16U National Team Championships North Carolina semifinals after winning their quarterfinal games on Friday.

eXposure Prime 11, Banditos Scout 1

eXposure Prime bats fired out the gates at Coleman Field and held the momentum the entire game to win the first quarterfinal game 11-1 over Banditos Scout. With the victory, eXposure advances to the semifinal on Saturday morning.

Ben Johnson collected the win dealing 3.1 innings with one hit allowed and two strikeouts. Tristan Bristow suffered the loss yielding nine runs, six earned, through two innings.

Game Highlights:

• Brennon Seigler led the game off with a single and came home on an RBI single by Chase Fralick for the 1-0 lead.
• Anthony Tralongo scored on a throwing error by the Banditos catcher making it 2-0 to end the first.
• Cayden Sheffield tacked on another in the top of the second pushing the lead to 3-0 on an RBI single.
• eXposure utilized a six-run inning in the top of the third enhancing their advantage to 9-0. Henry Allen and Jason Bello notched RBI singles with Fralick delivering a two RBI single for his third RBI of the game. Riley Luft followed Fralick up with an RBI triple to knock him in. Eli Evans capped off the scoring via an RBI fielder’s choice.
• Holden Harris recorded the Banditos’ lone run in the bottom of the fourth, driving in Alex Valentin on a fielder’s choice.
• Seigler picked up a two RBI double on a deep blast to the left field wall in the fifth to conclude the scoring in a 11-1 win.

Texas Twelve 7, Legacy Baseball Group 3

The Texas Twelve utilized a six-run outburst in the second inning and held off the Legacy Baseball Group winning 7-3 to clinch their semifinal spot.

Isaiah Castaneda earned the victory providing five innings of one hit ball and yielding just one run to Legacy. Grayden Levin took the loss tossing 2.2 innings and allowing seven runs.

Game Highlights:

• Mason Jacob tripled to center field in the second inning to bring home two for the 2-0 lead.
• Trace Meadows and Braylon Payne notched back-to-back RBI doubles increasing the lead to 5-0 in the second. Payne would come into score on a wild pitch for the 6-0 advantage.
• Gregory Rangel provided the first run of the game for Legacy on an RBI single in the top of the fith.
• Legacy attempted to rally in the top of the seventh pushing two runs across. Julian Areliz doubled to drive in the first run and Matthew Churchill followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 7-3.

Dulins Dodgers Prime 2, Knights Knation 1

Dulins Dodgers Prime locked in their place in the semifinals in walk-off fashion to beat Knights Knation 2-1. It was pitching duel for almost the entire game as neither side was able to score until the seventh inning.

Parker Bowman netted the win delivering a complete-game and yielding just one run. Bryce Navarre received the loss dealing 6.1 innings with six strikeouts and two runs allowed.

Game Highlights:

• Kyle Branch was the first runner in the game to reach third on either side as he led off the bottom of the fifth for the Dodgers with a triple to center field. Hayden Federico ended the inning for Knights Knation doubling Branch off at third after making a great catch in foul territory.
• Konnor Griffin hit a triple to right field in the top of the seventh setting up an opportunity for Knights Knation to strike.
• Trip Dobson brought Griffin home on a single for the 1-0 lead.
• Dulins Dodgers utilized small ball following the leadoff single by Michael Catalano as Matthew Mainord and Kendyl Johnson laid down bunt singles to load the bases.
• Owen Lee stepped up to the plate and sent the game-winning hit down the right field for the Dodgers 2-1 win.

Richmond Braves Platinum 7, Canes Prospects 4

Richmond Braves Platinum overcame an early three run deficit to beat Canes Prospects 7-4 and round out the quarterfinal games for the final semifinal spot.

Cord Yates entered in relief to earn the win silencing the Canes Prospects in 3.1 hitless innings and striking out three. Hogan Denny took the loss surrendering two runs in one inning pitched.

Game Highlights:

• With the bases loaded in the top of the first, Yoon Chae was hit by a pitch for a Richmond Braves 1-0 lead.
• Canes Prospects answered in the bottom of the first utilizing three RBI singles by Riley Williams, Tyler Inge, and JT Stiner for a 4-1 lead.
• Tanner Schaedel cut the deficit to 4-2 thanks to a sacrifice fly in the top of the second.
• In the top of the fourth, Preston Groves began the two-run inning with a sacrifice fly and Luke Harlow tied it 4-4 with an RBI single.
• Yoon Chae gave the Braves a 6-4 lead on a two RBI single and Dominick Cafferillo walked to bring in another run for insurance.

Richmond Braves Platinum takes on Dulins Dodgers Prime on Coleman Field at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 25 in the semifinals of the 16U National Team Championships North Carolina. On the other side of the bracket, eXposure Prime meets Texas Twelve for the semifinal on Field 2 at 8:15 a.m.

CARY, NC – Baseball is a game of failure – with as many ups as there are in the game, there are just as many downs. Konnor Griffin is a ball player who has experienced plenty of high moments in his young baseball career, but is learning to believe in his game when the going gets tough as he fights for an invitation to the 2022 16U/17U National Team Development Program (NTDP).

His mindset to accomplish this feat is simple.

“Playing hard every game,” said Griffin who returns to 2022 16U National Team Championships with Knights Knation. “Giving it all I’ve got and hopefully the success comes. Sometimes this game can be hard and come with a lot of failure. I know I’ve got to stick to my plan and give it my all.”

At the 2021 14U National Team Championships North Carolina, Griffin was a walking highlight-reel. Slashing .455/.533/.545 with five runs batted in for Knights Knation, he put the complex on notice by stealing home and helping the team narrowly defeat Richmond Braves Platinum 9-8.

Word of Griffin’s play traveled around to the USA Baseball Task Force as they sought the best individuals to invite to the 2021 15U National Team trials.

There was no better feeling than receiving the invitation for an opportunity to prove himself and hone his craft among the finest at his age.

“It was awesome. Getting recognized as one of the top players in the country is always an honor. I went to the trials and had a really great time. I came out of the trials a better baseball player by competing against all my teammates every single day.”

Griffin’s experience at trials allowed him to build up confidence and show he belongs among the best. As a member of the Stars at trials, Griffin displayed his game-changing ability by going 2-for-3 with two doubles and swiping three bags in five games played. He also dealt 2.2 innings and struck out four to not allow a run to score. The dynamic play earned him a spot as one of 20 athletes on the 2021 15U National Team.

The moment hearing his name called was a moment unlike any the Mississippi native has ever experienced.

“It’s one of the best moments I’ve had in my life with baseball. I’ve been working for it for so long. To represent not only my country but being the only guy from Mississippi to make the 15U National Team was an honor.”

Griffin is not complacent with the lone national team selection at 15U and is hoping to don the red, white, and blue once more. While a potential invitation to the 2022 16U/17U NTDP is the first step, he has an even bigger goal in mind.

“One of my biggest goals coming up is making the 18U National Team. I just recently re-classified to 2024, so I’ll be a 17-year-old trying to make the 18U National Team. That will be a big challenge for me, but I’m going to work hard and try my best.”

While making the 2022 18U National Team is going to be a hard mountain to climb, Griffin is certainly up for the task.

Phoenix – Tyler Stull went deep and drove home four runs in his only game for the GBG Renegades to secure Player of the Day Honors in seeded play at the 17U National Team Championships Arizona.

Stull left the yard in the bottom of the first inning as he smashed a two-run shot over the wall in left field to put his team up 3-0. His RBI single later in the game tied the contest at 11 and gave his team the opportunity to walk it off with a 12-11 victory.

Over his last two games, Stull is now 4-for-6 and has led the GBG Renegades to a 3-1 record as they await the bracket reveal.

Matthew Cons (California Armada 2023) earned Pitcher of the Day honors after a complete-game shutout on the mound against BPA Black to remain unbeaten after seeded play.

Cons allowed only three hits on the afternoon and fanned five in just under 100 pitches for his team. He got ahead of 18 of the 27 batters he faced and didn’t allow any runs in his first tournament outing.

The lefty guided California Armada 2023 (4-0) to a narrow 1-0 victory in their game on Wednesday.

Honorable Mentions (Player of the Day)

Colby Turner (Alpha SoCal 2023) – 3-for-3, 3 2B, 3 RBI, BB

Jason Arriola (Rios Baseball) – 2-for-3, 2B, 3 RBI, BB

Cam Hale (New Level Baseball) – 3-for-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, R

Dean Lopez (EJ Sports Warriors) – 2-for-4, 2 2B, 4 RBI, R

Honorable Mentions (Pitcher of the Day)

Jackie Palmer (FBK1 Baseball Club 17U) – 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 4 K, 2 BB

Julian Cuevas (Easton Prime Navy) – W, 4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 7 K, 2 BB

RJ Meyn (Diablo Valley Baseball Club) – W, 4.0 IP, H, 0 ER, 7 K, 0 BB

Maxwell Dering (TB SoCal White) – 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 K, BB

Follow @USABChamps_AZ on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the 2022 National Team Championships Arizona.

CARY, NC – At this week’s USA Baseball 16U National Team Championships North Carolina, Team USA alumni and event participants are everywhere.

And although they are wearing their respective travel team jerseys, the lessons they learned while wearing the Team USA uniform have stuck with them throughout their baseball careers.

Playing baseball with the United States across your chest comes with the responsibility of representing your country in a highest manner possible. For two-time Team USA alum Ben Reiland, that means having high character at all times.

“It’s very important to have great character because you don’t want your coaches to worry about what you’re doing on or off the field,” said Reiland, who is playing with USA Prime National in the tournament. “It’s good for your coaches to know you’re doing the right thing. You’re being polite, you’re being nice, you’re being respectful. It’s always a great example to set for little kids.”

Reiland, who has spent two summers in the stars and stripes and also participated in the 2019 14U National Team Development Program (NTDP), is well aware of the type of player USA Baseball looks for every summer. While talent on the field is important and a necessity, players must be good teammates and people in order to be selected to represent their country.

“The USA Baseball way is just doing everything right, from the little things to the big things on and off the field” Reiland said. “It’s about playing baseball the way it’s supposed to be played.”

Another Team USA alum who is in town for the 16U National Team Championships North Carolina is Julius Pfau, who played for the 12U National Team in 2018. Competing with Power Baseball this week in Cary, Pfau has taken what he learned about being the ultimate teammate and turned them into meaningful life lessons.

The middle infielder learned the value in being a team player during the 12U National Team’s trip to Mexico for the COPABE U-12 Pan American Championships in 2018, where the U.S. earned a gold medal.

“You’ve got to regulate your emotions,” Pfau said. “You have to always be picking up your teammates and being a great guy to your friends and even the other team. Showing respect to the umpires and other coaches is a big part of the way we play at USA Baseball.”

The USA Baseball way is instilled in players as soon as they take the field with the stars and stripes across their chest. From the moment they’re selected to wear the uniform, players are constantly learning key lessons about important values in the game of baseball.

For 2019 14U NTDP participant Ty Southisene, the key value that has stuck with him is respect.

“USA Baseball taught me a lot about respect,” said Southisene, who is in Cary with USA Prime National. “It’s about respecting the game and caring about each other. That’s what they instilled in me in 2019 and it’s still with me now.”

The 16U National Team Championships have now moved into seeded play and will crown a champion on Saturday. While the competing Team USA alums are now locked in on winning a gold medal and playing well in front of the USA Baseball Task Force, they take the field each time with Team USA both in their minds and in their hearts.

“The USA Baseball way is our way of life,” Pfau said. “It’s the way we play baseball and the way we treat people.”

Duke Ekstrom is no stranger to a week away from home.

In Point Loma, California, Ekstrom’s father owns a sport boat that he takes visitors and locals on for week-long trips throughout the year. While a pitcher on the field he’s a utility worker on the boat, filling in for anyone who can’t make it or needs some help on the waters.

With the 17U National Team Championships Arizona beginning this week, Ekstrom sees his role on the San Diego Show in a similar capacity to that of his work on the boat. Do his part on the mound and support his teammates any way he can.

The majority of Ekstrom’s team has played together since they were 12 years old, aside from a handful of new players who joined this season. While he knows the kind of attention he commands at games, he hopes for his teammates to get looks this weekend and have a good time doing it.

“The commitment thing means nothing to me when I’m on a baseball field and with my team,” Ekstrom said. “I am just a small part of this team, and we all treat each other same way, committed or not. Our goal as team is to win a championship.”

Although committed to Vanderbilt for his play within the chalked lines, he is committed to hard work, respect, and his family off it. It’s something he exemplifies through his work in the community and willingness to go the extra mile for all those in his family.

His sister plays beach volleyball at Stanford and is a person that Ekstrom always looked up to when he was younger. She’s been around his whole life before going to college, and they grew closer together over their passion for sports.

“She’s a hard worker so seeing her and all the accomplishments at Stanford is definitely inspiring to me,” Ekstrom said. “But I’m the younger brother and I always want to do better than her and she pushes me to do that.”

Playing for your home country on a national team is certainly a start.

Ekstrom is no stranger to gold within the USA Baseball landscape, as he is a former 13U/14U ADP participant and competed for Team USA on the 15U National Team in 2019.

Oddly enough, it was a consolation game that got Ekstrom noticed on the second-to-last day of the 2018 National Team Championships Arizona. He wore that never say die attitude on his sleeve when he threw 4.0 frames and struck out seven with nothing to play for besides pride.

Eckstrom spent the year at the 14U ADP and impressed the task force enough to represent Team USA on the 15U National Team the following year.

He was phenomenal for the stars and stripes in 2019, throwing 9.1 innings at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier. Ekstrom surrendered just two runs and struck out 11 en route to a gold medal in Mexico.

Ekstrom was the game one starter against Brazil in the tournament, throwing five innings of shutout baseball with as many strikeouts. On top of that, he pitched the final out to win the Americas Qualifier and can still recall the moment at the bottom of the dogpile on the mound.

“Our coach Troy Cameron said it was the best dogpile he’s ever seen since no one fell off,” Ekstrom said. “That was a super joyful moment, and that team is family. We all still talk to each other, and dream of doing it again

Flash forward to three years later, and the decorated pitcher is committed to play college ball for the powerhouse Commodores. Standing at 6-foot-2, Ekstrom can touch up to 90 mph on the fastball, with a handful of solid off-speed pitches to spin off it.

“I feel in control when I’m on the mound and it helps me command the game at my pace and my level,” Ekstrom said. “Pitching is just as much on the mental side as it is physical, and that’s something I always try and remind myself.”

Ekstrom made his first appearance at the National Team Championships Arizona on Tuesday, tossing 3.0 innings of shutout baseball and striking out three. He guided San Diego Show Black to a 9-0 victory over Canes Arizona 2023 to move them to 2-0 in pool play.

As the National Team Championships Arizona move forward, his main goal is to give his teammates the feeling he had of winning gold in Mexico three years ago. It’s a moment he, his family, and his teammates will never forget for the rest of their lives.

“I hope that our team can have the same experience that we did in Cancun with the dogpile at the end of the day,” Ekstrom said. “That’s all I really want for me and my teammates.”

Phoenix – Frankie Giacalone went a perfect 4-for-4 and drove home six runs in his two games for CBA Victus San Diego to secure Player of the Day Honors on day two of pool play at the 17U National Team Championships Arizona.

Giacalone reached base successfully in all five of his plate appearances on the afternoon. He tripled twice against the Colorado Gold and drove in five runs to lead his team to a 17-7 victory. Through three games he has reached base in seven of eight plate appearances and tallied nine runs batted in.

CBA Victus San Diego (3-0) awaits its matchup for seeded play on Wednesday morning.

Wyatt Nichol (Whitecaps Baseball Academy) earned Pitcher of the Day honors after a 6.2-inning effort on the mound against OC Premier Navy in the second day of pool play.

Nichol had to exit the game due to pitch count before the final out, notching nine strikeouts while allowing just four hits. He threw 109 pitches to get the job done and got ahead of 17 of the 27 batters he faced on the afternoon.

The righty guided Whitecaps Baseball Academy (3-0) to an easy 3-0 victory in their game on Tuesday.

Honorable Mentions (Player of the Day)

Tyler Howard (Team California Black) – 6-for-7, 2 2B, 2 3B, 4 RBI, 4 R

Matthew Radogna (BPA Black) – 4-for-4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 R

Jordan Otjen (San Diego Show Black) – 2-for-4, HR, 5 RBI, 3 R, BB

Blake Wilson (TB SoCal EVO) – 2-for-5, 2 2B, 5 RBI, 3 R, HBP

Honorable Mentions (Pitcher of the Day)

Evan Williams (Brushback Baseball Club Scout) – W, 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 4 K, BB

Oscar Hernandez (3D Gold) – W, 5.0 IP, H, 0 ER, 5 K, 2 BB

Coleton Dahl (Team California Black) – W, 4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 7 K, BB

Nathan Huy (GBG Renegades) – W, 4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 8 K, BB

Follow @USABChamps_AZ on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the 2022 National Team Championships Arizona.

CARY, N.C. – The 13U National Team Championships North Carolina All-Tournament team was announced today and features 16 athletes that competed in the event. The list is made up of eight hitters and eight pitchers and features a player from nine of the tournament’s 16 teams, including three from the gold medal winning Stacked Baseball.

Luke Armijo – Team Elite

Luke Armijo made two relief appearances for Team Elite dealing 6.2 hitless innings with 10 strikeouts.

Brant Bivens – FL Dodgers Scout Team

Brant Bivens led FL Dodgers Scout Team with six hits and two RBIs while flashing his speed on the base paths swiping three bags.

Jael Castillo – Canes National

Jael Castillo batted .857 with a team-best six hits and four runs batted in for Canes National.

Lucas Farrar – Kangaroo Court American

Lucas Farrar was dominant in his quarterfinal start against Dulins Dodgers Prime delivering a complete-game shutout in 5.0 innings pitched with seven strikeouts.

Will Hayes – Team Elite

Will Hayes delivered a win for Team Elite in his start against Top Tier Select tossing 5.1 shutout innings with nine strikeouts and only one hit allowed.

Lash Henderson – USA Prime National

Lash Henderson hit .571 (8-for-14) for USA Prime National and collected two extra-base hits while stealing two bases.

John Hucko – SBA Marucci

John Hucko led SBA Marucci with eight hits, four RBIs on his way to a .444/.524/.500 slash line to earn the silver medal.

Tristan Lange – Dirtbags

In his start against 5 Star National, Tristan Lange led Dirtbags to the win providing 6.1 shutout innings with five strikeouts and yielding four hits.

Joseph Newell – SBA Marucci

Joseph Newell excelling in his start for SBA Marucci with a no-hit complete-game shutout going 6.0 innings with eight strikeout against East Coast Sox.

Jose Partida – Stacked Baseball

Jose Partida appeared to pitch in three games for Stacked Baseball tying him for the tournament-best eight innings striking out nine with a 1.75 earned run average.

Kyle Plasman – Stacked Baseball

Kyle Plasman helped Stack Baseball win gold by hitting .450 (9-20) with three extra-base hits and six RBIs.

Joshua Priest – Stacked Baseball

Joshua Priest was the hottest hitter for Stacked Baseball leading the tournament with 12 hits, seven RBIs, and one home run.

Ervey Quijada Ceballos – Prime 27:17 Midwest

Ervey Quijada Ceballos was a workhouse for Prime 27:17 Mdiwest in his start against Kangaroo Court American going the distance with a 7.0 complete-game with three strikeouts.

Hudson Sapp – Kangaroo Court American

Hudson Sapp concluded with a team-best .545 batting average and five RBIs while walking six times for the bronze medalist Kangaroo Court American.

Blake Secrest – USA Prime National

Blake Secrest tossed 5.0 innings in his start for USA Prime National against DreamChasers Academy striking out eight batters and allowing one unearned run.

Hayden Talmage – SBA Marucci

Hayden Talmage slashed .467/.556/.467 contributing seven hits and three runs scored for the silver medal-winning SBA Marucci.

Phoenix – Cameron Casado tallied three extra-base hits and drove in seven runs in his two games for GBG Navy 2023 to secure Player of the Day Honors in pool play at the 17U National Team Championships Arizona. 

Casado went a perfect 4-for-4 in the first game against the California Bucs with a pair of doubles and four runs batted in. He followed that up with two hits in the next game, including a two-run triple in the first inning against Sticks Southwest CV 2023.

GBG Navy 2023 (2-0) will meet the Long Beach Bears (2-0) in its last pool play game, Tuesday morning at 9:45 a.m.

Adrian Garcia (Alpha SoCal 2023) earned Pitcher of the Day honors after a complete-game shutout on the mound against the CBA Warhawks in the first round of pool play.

Garcia hurled 7.0 innings of three-hit baseball with a tournament-high 12 strikeouts to just one walk in his first outing of the tournament. He got ahead of 15 of the 24 batters he faced on the afternoon and only let two runners reach scoring position.

The right-hander guided Alpha SoCal (1-0) to a narrow 1-0 victory in their game on Monday.

Honorable Mentions (Player of the Day)

Jacob French (Diablo Valley Baseball Club) – 3-for-6, 2 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, 2 R

Nolan Ganter (Marucci Athletics 2023) – 3-for-3, 2B, 4 RBI

Noel Alijah Ramos (CCB Prime) - 3-for-5, 2B, 4 RBI, R, BB

James Achen (Arizona Select Upperclass) – 2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, R

Honorable Mentions (Pitcher of the Day) 

Jace Gillmore, Noah Madsen, and Gabe Lauricella (Alpha Power 2023): combined no-hitter – W, 7.0 IP, CG, 0 H, 0 ER, 9 K, 2 BB

Jacob Anderson (Juggernaut Baseball Texas) – W, 5.0 IP, H, 0 ER, 10 K, 2 BB

Joshua Butler (Marucci Athletics 2023) – W, 6.0 IP, 2 H, ER, 9 K, 3 BB

Jaden Clifford (Chico Aces 2023) – W, 5.2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 5 K, BB

Follow @USABChamps_AZ on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the 2022 National Team Championships Arizona.

CARY, N.C. – Stacked Baseball used a five-run fifth inning to pull away from SBA Marucci and win gold with a 10-2 victory at the 13U National Team Championships North Carolina on Monday in Cary, North Carolina.

After scoring quickly in the top of the first on an inside-the-park homer by Joshua Priest, Stacked rallied for five runs in the top of the fifth to break the game open. Priest was in the middle of the run-scoring again, leading off the inning with a single and scoring later in the inning. Jose Partida, Ayden Coleman, Carson Sulsona, and Tanner Brown all had RBI hits in the inning for Stacked, which grew its lead to 8-1 in the frame.

Nine different players had at least one hit for Stacked, including Partida’s three-hit effort. Coleman paced the offense with three RBIs, while Priest added two hits and a pair of RBIs. John Hucko had three hits and an RBI to lead SBA’s offensive attack.

Aidan Kent hurled 5.2 innings and allowed two runs on seven hits to earn the win for Stacked. Nolan Riesenberg got the final out, entering in the sixth and coaxing a fly out to lock it down for Stacked. Witt McCammon surrendered the loss for SBA, allowing two earned runs in 2.2 innings on the mound.

Game Highlights

• After Tanner Brown walked to open the top of the first, Priest socked an inside-the-park homer to right-center field to give Stacked an immediate 2-0 lead.
• Justin Iannetto and Hucko both singled in SBA Marucci’s half of the first, but Kent escaped the jam to keep Stacked in front by two.
• Stacked manufactured a run in the top of the third on a double steal. Coleman scored from third in a rundown, giving Stacked a 3-0 edge.
• SBA cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Hayden Talmage, trimming the deficit to two. Kent then coaxed an inning-ending double play for Stacked to escape the inning without any further damage.
• Stacked began to pull way in the top of the fifth, plating five runs to take a seven-run lead. Priest started the rally with a leadoff single and came around to score on an RBI single by Partida, before Coleman drove in two runs on a single to make it a five-run advantage.
• Sulsona’s double to plate Coleman made it 7-1, and Brown capped the rally with an RBI single to give Stacked an 8-1 advantage.
• In the top of the sixth, Coleman grounded out to plate a run and Michael Flink added an RBI single as Stacked’s lead to grew 10-1.
• Hucko hit an infield single to shortstop to score a run in SBA’s final at-bats, making it a 10-2 final score in favor of Stacked.

Notable Information

• With the win, Stacked becomes the first-ever winners of the 13U National Team Championships North Carolina.
• The gold medal is Stacked’s first medal at the National Team Championships North Carolina in program history.
• Priest finished the tournament with a .522 (12-23) average, hitting a double, triple, and home run while driving in seven runs for Stacked.
• Partida and Kyle Plasman combined for 11 RBIs in the tournament to help pace the Stacked offense to a gold medal.
• Brown scored eight runs throughout the tournament, also drawing eight walks for Stacked.
• In the gold medal run, Stacked’s pitching staff combined for a 1.93 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP.
• Hucko, who hit a walk-off single in the semifinal round, led SBA’s offense in the tournament with a .444 (8-18) average and four RBIs.

Cary, N.C. – SBA Marucci and Stacked Baseball secured their spots into the 13U National Team Championship gold medal match after victories in their semifinal matches on Monday afternoon.

Stacked Baseball 6, Dirtbags 2

Stacked Baseball jumped on the scoreboard early with a pair of runs. The squad plated its first run thanks to an RBI single by Andrew Jimenez in the top of the first and tacked on its second run of the frame via a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded.

Kyle Plasman notched his first extra-base hit of the contest in the third, ripping a triple, and Jose Partida brought him home on a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.

Dirtbags kept battling and scored in consecutive innings in the fifth and sixth to cut its deficit to one. Carter Beck stepped up with the bases juiced and was hit by a pitch to get his team on the baord. Hayden Walker worked a walk to open the sixth and Anthony Zezza drove him in from second on an RBI single to make it 3-2.

Stacked Baseball was not satisfied with the one-run advantage in the top of the seventh. Back-to-back singles gave the team life, and they pressured the Dirtbags defense by attempting a double steal to get into scoring position. The throw down to third sailed into left field and allowed Nolan Riesenberg to score to give Stacked Baseball a 4-2 lead. After a Jimenez walk, Plasman stepped up to the plate and blasted a 2-RBI double deep to right field to provide insurance. Plasman had a game-high two runs batted in and two extra-base hits in the win.

Jose Partida started the game and was extremely efficient for Stacked Baseball, dealing four shutout innings and yielding only two hits. Joshua Priest picked up the save, delivering three innings and kept the Dirtbags offense at bay. Vince Coker was handed the loss after walking three in the first inning and giving up two runs in 0.2 innings pitched.

Game Highlights

• Jimenez picked up the first hit for Stacked Baseball on a RBI single in the top of the first, scoring Tanner Brown. Stacked Baseball worked three walks in the inning in addition to an RBI hit by pitch for a 2-0 lead.
• Dirtbags got their first runner in scoring position thanks to Caleb Lynn collecting the team’s first hit of the game and advanced to second on a walk by Noah Price.
• Plasman sent a triple to right field in the third and came home on a sacrifice fly by Partida, pushing the lead to 3-0.
• With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, Beck wore a pitch to give Dirtbags their first run of the contest.
• In the sixth a leadoff walk by Hayden Walker and a groundout put him on third, giving Zezza a chance to add a run with a runner in scoring position by lacing an RBI single for a 3-2 deficit.
• Zezza stole second with no one covering the base, but the catcher’s throw sailed into center field. Zezza attempted to advance to third on the throwing error, but Partida threw him out.

Notable Information

• Dirtbags came into the matchup averaging 6.5 runs a game, but Stacked Baseball’s pitching held them to just two runs.
• Dirtbags stole five bags in the game compared to Stacked Baseball’s two.
• Partida threw 72% strikes and needed just 43 pitches to get through four innings.
• Head Coach Drew Madrigal on the win: “It’s really good for these guys. It’s been a long, dragged-out weekend. These guys got marks and banged up bodies. I’m proud of them.”

SBA Marucci 8, Kangaroo Court American 7

A back-and-forth affair, SBA Marucci struck first in the bottom of the second on back-to-back RBI singles. Kangaroo Court answered in the top of the third with three runs of their own to take its first lead of the game. SBA Marucci was held scoreless in the bottom of the third and Kangaroo Court pushed another run across.

SBA Marucci broke out with another multi-run effort in the bottom of the fourth, plating four to extend the lead. Kangaroo Court added a run to the scoreboard for the third consecutive inning in the fifth, inching back closer to SBA Marucci.

With zeros being exchanged in the sixth, Kangaroo Court American entered the seventh down by one. They refused to go down without a fight and rallied for two runs, grabbing the lead from SBA Marucci. SBA readied themselves in the dugout to retaliate. Retaliate they did. An error and hit-by-pitch followed by another error loaded the bases. SBA drew a walk to tie the ball game., and then John Hucko stepped up to the plate with ice in his veins as he laced a single on the first pitch he saw to send his team to the gold medal match on a walk-off thriller.

Witt McCammon picked up the win in relief, shutting down the Kangaroo Court American bats with 0.2 innings and one strikeout. Hudson Sapp suffered the loss, despite allowing zero earned runs in 2.2 innings of relief.

Game Highlights

• Huck and Joseph Newell tallied consecutive RBI singles in the bottom of the second inning for a 2-0 lead.
• Hudson Sapp provided the first of three runs in the top of the third for Kangaroo Court American on an RBI double. Aidan Kearney followed that with an RBI groundout and then Alex Gomez singled to score Sapp for a 3-2 advantage.
• Kangaroo Court American made it 4-2 in the top of the fourth as Alan Zimmerman delivered another run on the Sapp walk with the bases loaded.
• SBA Marucci jumped on starter Wilson Shaw for four runs in the bottom of the fourth. After two walks put runners on base, Jaxon Haynes began the scoring with an RBI single followed by Newell’s RBI single. The inning was capped off with Haynes scoring on a wild pitch and Griffin McKain’s sacrifice fly for a temporary 6-4 lead.
• Ashton Cox trimmed the deficit to 6-5 for Kangaroo Court American on a bases loaded walk in the top of the fifth.
• Despite a strikeout to lead off the seventh, Kangaroo Court American recorded two consecutive singles before Zimmerman tied the game on an RBI single. The team would coordinate a double steal attempt to go up 7-6 with Leo Reina crossing the plate.
• Two errors and a hit-by-pitch would load the bases for Eli Webb before McCammon scored on the at-bat, tying the game 7-7 and Webb drew a walk to reload the bases.
• Hucko took the first pitch to center field for a base hit to end the game in walk-off fashion for SBA Marucci.

Notable Information

• Hucko (2-for-4) and Newell (2-for-3) delivered multi-hit efforts in the win for SBA Marucci.
• Gomez (2-for-4) and Sapp (2-for-3) paced the Kangaroo Court American offensively.
• Hudson Sapp threw 11 first pitch strikes to the 14 batters he faced.
• Both teams collected more walks than strikeouts.
• Kangaroo Court American out-hit SBA Marucci 9-8.
• Head Coach Collin Thacker on the win: “This group of boys has a character unlike any group I’ve ever seen. It’s a true joy to watch them on the field and off. I think that’s what makes the difference is they love each other as much off the field than they do on.”

Phoenix - CBA Marucci has been a well-known name in the National Team Championships Arizona for the past seven years. Two championships highlight a program built on the foundation of culture and resilience during the grueling week-long tournament.

The program only takes one “Marucci” team to the 17U age group for the Arizona Team Championships, but it’s one that has enjoyed success in bunches at the event. However, the past three seasons CBA Marucci has finished as the runners-up in the 17U division, coming closer and closer each year.

In 2021, they narrowly fell to the eventual champions Team Utah, 5-3, after late-inning heroics boosted Utah to the gold medal. The two years before that they were beaten by “better teams”, as head coach Jon Paino put it.

“I think this year it’s going to be about taking advantage of opportunities within the game, taking the extra base, and making the routine plays,” Paino said. “This team is close, and they’ve played together for some time so that’ll help us down the stretch of this tournament.”

The team boasts 17 college-committed athletes playing for the likes of Tennessee, LSU, and UCLA. However, one thing Paino said he’ll never do is over roster his team for the tournament no matter how much prospective talent is out there in California.

CBA Marucci has been the home of many current MLB players, including Nick Madrigal who competed in the National Team Championships Arizona in 2015. It’s a team that gets looks nationwide each year, and has brought a squad to the National Team Championships Arizona every year since the tournament’s formation in 2012

Along with the National Team Championships being one of the biggest and closest tournaments for CBA Marucci, Paino believes there’s more to take away from the tournament. It’s one of the reasons he continues to make the five-hour trip to Phoenix with a team ready to compete for hardware.

“Every kid growing up wants to be a part of USA Baseball so providing that opportunity for our kids is really something special,” Paino said. “With the increase of social media, what USA Baseball does is more visible than ever and we feel it’s our job to provide them that opportunity.”

Now with six days between the beginning of the tournament and the gold-medal game, Paino hopes to reverse history and leave the desert with his first gold medal since 2016. He knows what it takes, his players know what it’s going to take, and they’re ready to compete for the name on the front of the jersey.

“We’re excited more than anything to get out there and compete again after coming up a little short last year,” Paino said. This is a team that I know can get it done and now it’s time for us to prove it on the field.”

Cary, N.C. – Today was special at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. With all 16 teams competing in the 13U National Team Championships North Carolina, there was an abundance of action on Sunday. It is special any time baseball is playing at the National Training Complex, but today being Father’s Day made it that much more meaningful.

For many, baseball strengthens the bond between a father and son. Whether it is throwing around a baseball, working together in the batting cages, or watching the beautiful sport together, all of this time spent together creates incredible moments and memories that last a lifetime.

As you travel from field to field there are more than a few dads locked in passionately cheering on their sons, and there was no better way for them to be spending Father’s Day.

The opportunity Anthony Gomez, father of East Coast Sox Adrian Gomez, gets spending the day at the National Team Championships North Carolina brings him immense pride.

“On Father’s Day, it’s a great thing to watch my son do what he loves to do - be out on a baseball field,” said Gomez. “I’m so proud of not only him, but all the boys that have come with him. Watching the competition, I’m super happy to be out here and proud to watch them compete for the love of the game.”

For Shea Cox, father of Kangaroo Court American Ashton Cox, all opportunities to watch his son play are tremendous, but 13U National Team Championships North Carolina makes it sweeter.

“Any day to watch your kids play baseball is an honor, especially at the USA Baseball headquarters,” said Cox. “The complex is beautiful. The kids are having a great time and so are all the fathers.”

Eugene Clendinen, father of Top Tier Select Isaiah Clendinen, cherishes his baseball relationship with his son and this day reminds him to appreciate every second.

“I recall the moments watching the Los Angeles Dodgers with my dad and they were very special. My dad passed away when I was in high school, so I wasn’t able to share my experiences with him. I get to do that with my son and it’s very meaningful for me.”

With bracket play arriving tomorrow at 13U National Team Championships North Carolina, win or lose, every father is going to have a full heart watching their son on the diamond.

Cary, N.C. - National Team Championships North Carolina welcomed a brand-new age group to the tournament in 2022 with 13-and-under squads on Saturday. There was plenty of energy around the USA Baseball National Training Complex, as patrons were eager to see the opportunities the event presents for the young competitors.

Ira Rootman is one of the players who is excited to be a part of USA Baseball history as one of the first participants competing at the 13U National Team Championships North Carolina. The outfielder from Legacy Baseball has participated in the 2019 USA Baseball Futures Invitational and represented the 13U Southwest Stripes at the 2021 USA Baseball National Team Identification Series Champions Cup, and he is pumped up to add National Team Championships to his list of USA Baseball events that he has participated in.

“It was an amazing idea to expand the National Team Champions North Carolina to 13U,” said Rootman. “You come out here and it’s an amazing experience to be around all the top guys in the nation. We’re competing for gold. It’s making everyone better as a player.”

The atmosphere at Coleman Field is providing a big league feel for these young guns ready to prove themselves to the onlookers around the complex. With big-time names of baseball representing their country on these very same fields, it is no surprise there is a sense of euphoria overcoming the ballplayers. Knowing Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, and Trea Turner, as well as many others, have run around these diamonds can be surreal.

“I played on Coleman Field today and it was like playing in the MLB,” said Rootman. “You hear your name announced and you can feel the presence that superstars played here before. I’m thankful for the opportunity to be here and I’m going to keep balling out.”

The opportunity for the 13-and-under group to compete at the National Team Championships presented itself with the expansion of invitations to the 2022 13U/14U Athlete Development Program (ADP). With ADP increasing the number of invitations from 40 to 72, there was a missing piece at play - a true identification event for the 13U age group.

There was a perfect solution for the dilemma – adding a 13U tournament at National Team Championships North Carolina. This allows for an incredible chance for development at this age, and USA Baseball Task Force member Bryan Madsen sees a bright future in his sights.

“It gives them a chance to develop in an environment that is the best,” said Madsen. “The best training environment that this age group hasn’t had before, which is only going to help benefit the players and the USA Baseball program as they get older. I think you’re going to see a real advancement in the 13- and 14-year-old ages, as well as the 15U National Team, with the expansion of ADP this year.”

A familiar face at the complex echoed a similar message as Madsen’s. 2021 15U National Team Manager Jared Halpert is at the helm for Legacy Baseball hoping to secure a gold medal. While the tournament title is in his sights, Halpert believes this is a great place to begin the transition for younger players towards the next level.

“Giving these younger kids the ability to bridge the gap of high school, collegiate, and professional athletes to play on the same field that they are playing on is incredible,” said Halpert. “For them to have the opportunity to get on the National Training Complex and get comfortable with the dimensions that they’re going to have to play when they get of age is invaluable.”

With all the participants prepared to showcase their skills and keen on earning an ADP invitation, Halpert has words of wisdom for them all.

“My advice to all these players is play like you love it. Put your heart on your sleeve and go out here hard as you can. That’s what these coaches are looking for is kids who love this game and will do anything to get on this field to go compete.”

The love of baseball is here in Cary and USA Baseball is loving this new chapter in its organization.

Win: Owens Loss: Elchlepp Save: None

PHOENIX — OC Elite Baseball captured its first-ever gold medal with a 6-2 victory over NorCal U 2025 Black in the championship game of the 15U National Team Championships Arizona on Saturday at Peoria Sports Complex (Padres 2).

A five-run sixth inning propelled OC Elite Baseball into the lead, and they never looked back. Andre Owens was phenomenal in relief for the gold-medal winners, tossing 3.0 innings of shutout baseball to cap off the victory.

OC Elite Baseball got on the board first, as an RBI triple down the right-field line from Cole Weinstein plated a run to go up 1-0 in the first frame. NorCal U 2025 Black responded with two runs of their own, after a long home run from Hayden Elchlepp put them in front 2-1 after two.

The game remained 2-1 until the sixth when NorCal U 2025 Black’s Nathan Etchegoinberry committed a throwing error in right field that plated two runs to put OC Elite Baseball up 3-2 lead. Jason Rodriguez followed that up with an RBI single into left field that plated Hayden Woodson for a 4-2 lead.

OC Elite Baseball extended its lead to 6-2 in the sixth after a sacrifice fly from Jacob Celiz and another RBI single from Austin Boatright put OC Elite Baseball up by four. Owens slammed the door on any comeback attempts and sealed the gold medal victory allowing just one hit over the final three innings.

OC Elite Baseball concluded the 2022 15U National Team Championships with an 8-1 mark and a 66-32 run differential.

NorCal U 2025 Black suffered its first loss of the tournament and finished with an 8-1 record. The silver medal marks NorCal’s fifth Top 3 finish as a program at the National Team Championships Arizona, with a bronze-medal finish in the 15U tournament being their last podium finish.

Matadors 2025 (7-2) knocked off MVP Hustle (6-3) 12-9 to grab its first ever Top 3 finish and earn the bronze medal.

Key Moments

· Cole Weinstein (OC Elite) sent a triple down the right-field line to bring home the game's opening run in the top of the first inning.

· Hayden Elchlepp (NorCal) blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the second to put NorCal U 2025 Black out in front by a run.

· Hayden Woodson (OC Elite) got a huge strikout in the bottom of the third to strand runners on second and third for NorCal and keep it a 2-1 game.

· A fielding error plated two runs for OC Elite Baseball in the bottom of the sixth to reagin the lead 3-2.

· Jason Rodriguez (OC Elite) slapped an RBI single to left field in the sixth to make it a two-run ball game.

· Austin Boatright (OC Elite) put the final touched on the five-run inning with an RBI single to left field for a 6-2 lead.

Notable Information

· "I’m so proud of our guys to have gotten to this point, and after dropping one early they battled through a lot of adversity and earned this one." — OC Elite Baseball head coach Brian Loyd

· "We got another fantastic relief appearance today on the mound from Andre and he kept us in it. We’d been hitting balls hard all day, and finally they started dropping in the sixth inning to put us ahead" — OC Elite Baseball head coach Brian Loyd

On Deck

· OC Elite Baseball concluded the 15U National Team Championships with an 8-1 record and a .331 team batting average.

· NorCal U 2025 Black finished the tournament with an 8-1 mark and earned the program's fifth-ever medal at the National Team Championships Arizona.

Social

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

CARY, N.C. – The 17U National Team Championships North Carolina All-Tournament team was announced today and features 15 athletes that competed in the event. The list is made up of nine hitters and six pitchers and features a player from 11 of the tournament’s 16 teams, including two from the gold medal-winning Texas Twelve. 

Antonio Anderson - USA Prime National

Antonio Anderson batted .545 with a team-best six hits and six runs batted in for USA Prime National.

Jackson Blank - Texas Twelve

Jackson Blank delivered an elite pitching performance for Texas Twelve in the gold medal match dealing 5.1 scoreless innings and nine strikeout while yielding just three hits.

Blake Brown - Texas Twelve

Blake Brown finished the week with a .429 (6-for-14) batting average for Texas Twelve along with three stolen bags for the champions.

John Aballero - Elite Squad

John Aballero came ready to go for Elite Squad dealing 5.0 shutout innings in the first game of the tournament allowing just one hit and striking out nine.

Roch Cholowsky - Canes National / NY Mets Scout Team

Roch Cholowsky concluded with a team-best .500 batting average and two doubles with a tournament-best eight hits for the bronze medalist Canes National / NY Mets Scout Team.

Max Clark - Indiana Bulls National

Max Clark was an offensive weapon for the silver medal-winning Indiana Bulls National slashing .438/.550/.500 tying for a team-best seven hits.

Carson Messina - Canes Prospects

Carson Messina provided a tremendous start with a quarterfinal berth on the line for Canes Prospects pitching 4.2 shutout innings with seven strikeouts and only two hits.

Aidan Miller - Top Tier Roos American

Aidan Miller nearly led Top Tiers Roos American in every offensive category thanks to his tournament-best eight hits and team-best three extra-base hits for a slash line of .533/.563/.800.

Derrick Mitchell - East Coast Sox Scout

Derrick Mitchell led the tournament with eight runs batted in and two triples while flashing his speed on the base paths swiping two bags for East Coast Sox Scout.

Alex Naylor - Indiana Bulls National

Alex Naylor led the silver medal-winning Indiana Bulls National with a .500 (4-for-8) batting average as well as five walks and five runs scored. Three of his hits came in the quarterfinal game against Canes Prospects.

Alexander Petrovic - Artillery Baseball

Alexander Petrovic was the only pitcher in the tournament to strike out double digits in a single start as he silenced Team Elite with 10 strikeouts and one hit across 5.0 innings.

Jordan Perez - Elite Squad

Jordan Perez hit .412 (7-for-17) for semifinalist Elite Squad and collected five RBIs while also scoring four of the team’s runs. Additionally, he drew six walks and had a .579 on-base percentage.

Cal Randall - Canes National / NY Mets Scout Team

Cal Randall tossed a complete game shutout for Canes National / NY Mets Scout Team in the tournament, allowing just three hits while collecting six strikeouts in the win. 

Samuel Stafura - Dirtbags

Samuel Stafura batted .467 (7-for-15) for Dirtbags and had three stolen bases during the tournament.

Carson Timothy - Alpha Prime

Carson Timothy pitched 5.2 shutout innings for Alpha Prime, striking out eight batters while giving up just two hits and one walk.

PHOENIX — NorCal U 2025 Black and OC Elite Baseball advanced to the gold-medal game at the 15U National Team Championships Arizona with a pair of wins apiece Friday.

The two sides will square off with a championship on the line Saturday at in the Peoria Sports Complex (Padres 2) with first pitch set for 9 a.m. MT.

Semifinal — NorCal U 2025 Black 9, Matadors 2025 1

NorCal U 2025 Black used a four-RBI performance from Hayden Elchlepp and a combined four-hitter to top Matadors 2025 by a 9-1 final and earn a spot in the gold-medal game of the 15U National Team Championships Arizona.

Dylan Wood, who scattered three hits across four innings of work, allowed just one run to earn the victory. After he surrendered an RBI single and allowed the first run of the game to cross the plate, Wood settled in to limit the damage and allow his offense to work.

Elchlepp, who also came in to close the game, posted two scoreless frames out of the bullpen in his second appearance on the mound at the tournament. The 5-foot-10 right-hander fanned two batters while only allowing one hit to secure the championship appearance for NorCal.

Wyatt Prieto and Julian Cambra recorded two-hit days for NorCal, combining to drive in two of the team’s nine runs. Elchlepp drove in three of his runs in the first inning as he cleared the bases with a three-bagger for his third triple of the tournament.

Coming off a win earlier in the morning, Matadors 2025 had runners in scoring position in four of the six innings but could only push across one run. Moe Aguirre recorded the team’s only RBI, with a single in the first inning to open up scoring.

NorCal responded quickly however with nine straight runs across the next six innings, racking up five extra-base hits. As a team, they’re hitting .439 with 77 runs batted in and 34 extra-base hits over their eight games at the National Team Championships Arizona.

Semifinal — OC Elite Baseball 3, MVP Hustle 2

A fantastic start from Miles Scott powered OC Elite Baseball to the gold-medal game at the 15U National Team Championships Arizona with a narrow 3-2 semifinal win against MVP Hustle.

Scott allowed only one earned run, three hits, and struck out five over his 5.1 innings of work. It was his longest outing of the tournament and has now gone 9.2 frames while only surrendering one earned run.

Hayden Woodson delivered the big blow in the first inning, coming through with a two-run single to give OC Elite a 2-0 advantage in the first inning. They also plated another run in the fourth frame to go up 3-0 after a double-play ball scored a run.

MVP Hustle showed some resistance in the fifth inning, rallying for two runs on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly to draw the game within one. In the last two innings, MVP Hustle left runners in scoring position, failing to capitalize on several scoring opportunities late.

Cole Weinstein came on in relief for OC Elite Baseball and worked 1.2 innings while not giving up a hit. He struck out the side in the seventh inning to send OC Elite Baseball into the gold-medal game against NorCal U 2025 Black.

Dugout Chatter

• "The main thing about this group is that everyone here picks the other guy up. They’re a gritty group, they’re big, and they can hit so this is definitely one of the better teams we’ve ever brought to this tournament and we’re excited for a chance to win it tomorrow.” — NorCal U 2025 Black head coach Hank Loforte
• "That was a really well played baseball game. We got ahead early and stepped to it and manufactured some runs late in the game. Miles got out there and pitched a gem and that’s what we needed today and we’re looking forward to tomorrow" — OC Elite Baseball head coach Brian Loyd.

On Deck

• NorCal U 2025 Black (8-0), the fifth seed, will face OC Elite Baseball (7-1), the 26th seed, in the gold-medal game of the 15U National Team Championships Arizona at 9 a.m. MT at Peoria Sports Complex (Padres 2).
• Matadors 2025 (6-2) and MVP Hustle (6-2) will square off for bronze at 9 a.m. MT at Peoria Sports Complex (Padres 6).

Social

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

Win: Blank Loss: French Save: None

Cary, N.C. – Texas Twelve’s offense showcased their composure at the plate and shut out Indiana Bulls National, 5-0, to claim gold at the 17U National Team Championships NC at the National Training Complex.

Texas Twelve took advantage of wild pitching by Indiana Bulls National to jump out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Three walks loaded the bases for Landon West, and he was hit by starter Carson French to provide the first run of the game. Blake Brown and Jaquae Stewart then scored on back-to-back wild pitches to extend the lead to 3-0.

Jack Bell worked a walk in the second inning and traveled around the bases on three straight wild pitches, making it 4-0.

Jackson Blank did exactly what his last name states – he blanked Indiana Bulls National for 5.1 innings as he fanned nine batters and yielded just three walks and three hits.

The only sign of trouble Blank faced was in the sixth inning after he walked Max Clark and Carter Murphy in consecutive at bats. Head coach Zach Dillon turned to Jackson Wilkerson in relief, who proceeded to fan two to end the inning and halt the threat.

Brown entered to pinch hit and added an insurance run in the sixth inning, driving an RBI single to center field to allow Stewart to slide under the throw from Clark and score.

Despite a single by Alex Naylor leading off the seventh inning, Wilkerson refused a potential seventh inning rally. He induced three straight outs with a strikeout to end it, securing the gold medal to complete Texas Twelve’s undefeated 6-0 tournament run.

Notable Information

• Despite being outhit 4-3, Texas Twelve fueled its offense by working eight walks.
• Blank and Wilkerson combined for 12 strikeouts in the win.
• Blake Mitchell led Texas Twelve with two extra-base hits, a 1.248 OPS, and four runs batted in for the tournament.
• Texas Twelve’s pitching staff allowed just eight earned runs across 40.1 innings for a combined 1.39 earned-run average.

Quotes

• Kendall George - Texas Twelve
• On how it feels to win the gold medal…
• “It feels great. We came out here last year with the same goal and fell a little short. It was really personal this year to come out here and win.”