West Palm Beach, Fla. - A sixth-inning surge helped Meridian Panthers power past Columbus HS Blue 5-0 to take home the gold medal at the 14U National Team Championships in Florida on Sunday at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.

Both teams were held scoreless through the first five and a half innings, tallying only four hits, two on each side. The bottom of the sixth inning brought in five runs for Meridian Panthers, ultimately giving them the shutout win.

Jackson Collett (1-for-2) started the efforts by hitting a one-out single to center field. Grant Garrett (1-for-3) hit a single of his own to join Mason McCree, a courtesy runner, on base for Meridian. Bernard Moon (0-for-3) reached next on a fielder's choice to load the bases.

A double from Colin Houck (2-for-3) brought all three runners in for Meridian to take a 3-0 lead. A groundout advanced Houck to third and Garrett Lambert (1-for-2) drew a walk put runners on the corners with two out in the inning.

Back-to-back singles from Landon Stripling (1-for-2) and Cade Brown (1-for-3) scored Houck and Kyle Arrowood, courtesy runner for Lambert, to increase Meridian's lead to 5-0. Columbus HS hit a single to put a runner on first base in the top of the seventh inning, but couldn't bring the runner in.

Julian Gonzalez (2-for-3) led Columbus HS behind the plate with two singles. Santiago Carriles-Alvarado (1-for-2) had the third of the team's three hits with a double in the top of the fifth inning.

Garrett Lambert (2-0) pitched all seven innings for Meridian Panthers, securing the win. He threw for no runs on three hits and struck out four of the batters he faced. The loss went to Columbus HS's Julian Gonzalez (1-1) for tossing five runs on seven hits and striking out three in six innings on the mound.

The bronze medal went to Bronx Bombers after a five-run effort in the bottom of the sixth inning and walk-off run in the seventh led to a 6-5 victory over East Orlando Tigers.