Cary, N.C. - The Southwest Stripes emerged as the winners of the 15U National Team Identification Series (NTIS) Champions Cup on Sunday morning, crowned as the gold medal winners after a walk-off double from Oliver Allen ended an absolutely riveting 7-6 ballgame against the Midwest Stripes at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.
The Southwest Stripes dominated the opening four innings, with Keith Clark scoring the opening run in the first inning after crossing home on a stolen base. Jake White lofted a sac fly into center field to allow a second run to score in the frame.
Orion Gonzalez tacked a third run onto the lead by smacking an RBI single into right in the third inning, followed by an error and yet another steal of home as the lead for Southwest Stripes grew to 5-0. After Logan Osmundson raked an RBI single to make it 6-0 in the fourth inning, it looked as though the Midwest Stars were going to be overwhelmed by the Southwest Offense.
Southwest starter Chase Fillman was matching his side’s production at the plate through the first four frames, keeping Midwest scoreless and preventing the Stripes from finding any offensive rhythm. Until the fifth inning.
Out of seemingly nowhere, the Midwest Stripes’ lineup suddenly found its footing in the fifth inning to roar back with six runs and end Fillman’s time on the mound. Loading the bases thanks to singles from Joshua Oimette and Tristan Steger on either side of a walk, Tellan Long delivered the first Midwest run of the day on an RBI single through center. James Van der Post blasted a double into deep right that scored two more runs, and an errant throw allowed yet another to reach home.
Now suddenly trailing by just two runs, 6-4, Anderson Kaufmann capped off the fifth inning outburst from the Midwest Stripes with a two-RBI single on a line drive into single that tied the game. With the score now 6-6 with two innings to go, the momentum looked as if it had entirely swung away from the Southwest Stripes in the blink of an eye.
Midwest Stripes relief pitchers Henry Semans (1.2 IP) and Carver Cohn (2.0 IP) dueled against Austen Ahu (2.1 IP) of the Southwest Stripes over the final two innings, with both teams seeking a late lead for the 15U gold. Cohn and Ahu were both able to escape difficult jams during their respective times on the bump as what looked to be extra innings began to loom.
But it never came down to extra innings, thanks to the two-way play of Joaquin Covarubias and Oliver Allen for the Southwest Stripes. After patrolling center field well over seven innings, Covarubias remained calm at the plate to earn a lead-off walk in the bottom of the seventh after being hit by a pitch. Allen’s defense at second base had been lights out for the Stripes, though he was hitless over the first six innings. That changed in the bottom of the seventh when he ripped a laser of a hit into the gap in right center, allowing Covarubias to speed home and the water baths to begin for the Southwest Stripes.
“Before that, I was just visualizing it, hoping to get a good swing on it and help the team out,” Allen said postgame as he took everything in.
Asked what about the team itself had set them apart this week on the way to the gold medal, Gonzalez offered his thoughts.
“Immediately, we had a really good bond and the energy was always there. We worked really well, it’s a good group.”
It’s also been a good week for Allen, Gonzalez, and the rest of the Southwest Stripes’ 15U squad, made even better with victory in the gold medal game. Allen likely spoke for the rest of his now-golden teammates when describing what this year’s NTIS Champions Cup experience has been like.
“The environment, playing here, this is such a beautiful complex. I love it here. The service and the people at USA Baseball are super nice, and I’m just very grateful for the experience and it’s super fun being here,” the second baseman said.
While the Southwest Stripes were claiming the gold medal over the Midwest Stars, the Northwest Stars claimed the 15U bronze medal with a 7-2 win over the Southeast Stripes.
