Phoenix – Chris Espinoza launched a grand slam over the wall in left field and drove home five runs in his only game for Juggernaut Baseball to grab Player of the Day honors in pool play at the 14U/16U National Team Championships Arizona.

Espinoza homered in the bottom of the first inning and then singled later in the game to bring home his fifth run and give his team a 9-2 lead. They would go on to defeat the California Bears handedly, 13-3.

Juggernaut Baseball is now 2-1 after the first two days of pool play and await their seeded matchup for Thursday.

Gavin Simurdiak (Zoots Baseball Club) earned Pitcher of the Day honors after seven shutout innings on the mound against MBA Navy 2024 to get their first win of pool play.

Simurdiak allowed three hits on the afternoon and fanned six in a complete-game shutout. He threw over 100 pitches en route to the victory and got ahead of 15 of the 27 batters he faced on the afternoon.

The right-hander guided Zoots Baseball Club (1-2) to a routine 3-0 victory over MBA Navy 2024 in their game on Wednesday.

Honorable Mentions (Player of the Day)

14U Christopher Moore (New Level Baseball 14U) – 4-for-8, 3 2B, 6 RBI, 2 R

14U Aciel Guillen (FS21 Stars – GBG 2026) – 3-for-3, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, 2 R

16U Andrew Torres (Bombers Baseball Club) – 2-for-4, 3 RBI

16U Dylan Smith (TB SoCal Evo) – 2-for-3, 3B, 4 RBI, R

Honorable Mentions (Pitcher of the Day)

16U Matthew Niezgodzki (Swarm Red Elite 2024) – 6.0 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 4 K, BB

16U Max Arlich (Trosky National 2024) – 5.0 IP, H, ER, 8 K, 2 BB

14U Alex Blount (Total Baseball Vipers 2026) – 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 8 K, BB

14U Alyis Hernandez (GBG Renegades) – 5.2 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 4 K, 3 BB

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