GLENDALE, Ariz.- In a late inning thriller at Dodgers 5 at Camelback Ranch, NCTB Prime outlasted Sports Academy Dukes, 3-2, to advance to Friday's Gold Medal Game.
Entering the bottom of the sixth down 2-0, Prime scored three runs to take the lead, highlighted by Vytas Valincius' two-run double, putting his team over the top.
Dukes jumped out on top early, scoring a run in the top of the first after Antonio Meza lined an RBI-single to center, scoring Ruben Hernandez.
After no action in the second, Hernandez added another run to the Dukes tally in the third, doubling to center and allowing Liam Rocha to score after being hit by a pitch.
Prime briefly threatened in the bottom after Charlie Saum walked to lead off the inning. Blake Burke then singled, putting runners on first and second with nobody out. Jake Sapien then grounded into a double play to kill the rally. Joseph Brown then flew out to help Dukes starter Jacob Vargas neutralize the chance.
After quiet bats and dominant pitching in the fourth and fifth, Vargas came into the sixth having allowed just one hit. Burke walked with one out, and Brown reached on an error with two away, scoring Burke before Vargas had to leave due to the pitch count limit with just the unearned run.
Ryan Verdugo entered for Dukes and walked Cody Schrier, bringing Valincius to the plate to drive in the game-tying and game-winning runs.
Prime starter Jaron Nevarez sealed the victory, pitching a scoreless seventh inning and finishing his complete game. He allowed two runs on eight hits, walking one and striking out five.
NCTB Prime improves to 8-0 on the tournament. They will take on Pacific Baseball Academy at 10:00 a.m. on Friday at Peoria Stadium for the 15U Championship.