15U National Team Championships NC // Homepage // Schedule & Results (GameChanger)

CARY, N.C. -- Empire Baseball scored three runs in the top of the first inning and held on to win the bronze medal at the inaugural 15U National Team Championships North Carolina with a 3-1 victory over Team GA Baseball on Field 2 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.

Empire Baseball finished the tournament with a 5-2-1 overall record en route to its third place finish. Team GA Baseball ended the tournament with a 6-2 record.

Pitching was the name of the game on Sunday as both teams' pitching staffs combined to give up just six total hits. Empire Baseball starting pitcher Caleb Hoover picked up the win, giving up just one run in 2.1 innings pitched. He struck out two batters before Kimbru Pam came on in relief. Pam was masterful on the mound for Empire Baseball, giving up just two hits and striking out three batters in 4.2 innings to close out the game.

Tyrus Cobb suffered the loss for Team GA Baseball after giving up three runs in the first inning. AJ Rodriguez and Cooper Milford combined to strike out seven batters in relief, giving up just two hits over the last 6.2 innings.

Ian Duarte (1-for-1), Dean Moss (1-for-3, 2 RBIs) and Nicholas Montgomery (1-for-2) provided all the offense Empire Baseball would need on the day with a hit apiece. Milford (1-for-3), Anthony Tralongo (1-for-1; RBI) and Ben Hays (1-for-2) led the day offensively for Team GA Baseball.

Congrats to our 15U #ChampsNC20?? bronze medalists, Empire Baseball! pic.twitter.com/gCQiE8RnKU

- National Team Championships North Carolina (@USABChamps_NC) August 9, 2020

Key Moments

• Ian Duarte led the game off with a double and later scored on a bases loaded-walk by Jonathan Mendez to score the first run of the bronze medal game for Empire Baseball.
• Dean Moss tallied a two-RBI single to left field in the top of the first inning to score Evan Miranda and Ralphy Velazquez to give Empire Baseball a 3-0 lead.
• Team GA Baseball's Cooper Millford walked to lead off the bottom of the first inning and later scored on an Anthony Tralongo RBI-single to cut into the deficit, 3-1.
• Team GA Baseball reliever AJ Rodriguez struck out the side in the top of the third inning.

Notable Information

• Caleb Hoover picked up the win for Empire Baseball after striking out two batters and giving up just one run in 2.1 innings of work.
• Kibru Pam came on in relief and shut down the Team GA Baseball offense, giving up just two hits and striking out three batters for Empire Baseball in the final 4.2 innings of the game.
• Tyrus Cobb suffered the loss for Team GA Baseball after giving up three runs in the first inning of the game.
• AJ Rodriguez struck out five batters in 4.2 innings of relief for Team GA Baseball, including striking out the side in the the top of the third inning.
• Dean Moss led the Empire Baseball offense, going 1-for-3 with a two-RBI single in the top of the first inning.
• Empire Baseball won the bronze medal in the inaugural 15U National Team Championships North Carolina and finished the tournament with a 5-2-1 overall record.
• Team GA Baseball finished the tournament in fourth place with a 6-2 overall record.

On Deck

• The 16U age group of the National Team Championships North Carolina will begin on Tuesday, August 11.

Social

• Follow @USABChamps_NC on Twitter and visit USABaseball.com for the most up-to-date news about the 15U National Team Championships North Carolina.