CASTAIC, Calif. - Dylan Green (Roseville, Calif.) struck out the final two batters with the bases loaded and the USA Baseball 12U National Team Trials Blue Team was able to escape with a 5-4 victory over the Red Team Friday at VTV Baseball Complex. The win evens the three-game series at 1-1.
The Red Team, trailing 5-4 in the top of the ninth inning, received singles from Ernie Echevarria (Miami, Fla.), Cole Bernstein (Santa Monica, Calif.) and Brock Thompson (Bakersfield, Calif.) with one out to load the bases. Green, who entered the game in the eighth inning, was able to recover and strike out the following two hitters to keep the tying run stranded at third base. The pair of strikeouts provided Green with the save and a game-high four strikeouts over his 2.0 innings of work.
The Blue Team was able to bounce back after falling behind 2-0 in the top of the first inning. Five of the first six Red Team batters reached base, with a Kailand Halstead (Aberdeen, Wash.) RBI-single and a bases-loaded-walk issued to Travis Friend (Whittier, Calif.) leading to the 2-0 lead. Pitcher Talin Gardini (San Diego, Calif.) was able to prevent any further damage by receiving an inning-ending double play.
Kayson Cunningham (San Antonio, Texas) opened the scoring for the Blue Team in the bottom of the second inning with a sacrifice bunt to score Ethan Puig (Miami, Fla.). Blue took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, with a double from Dean Moss (Hillsborough, Calif.) setting the stage for runs-batted-in by Ross Felder (Springdale, Ark.) and Puig for a 3-2 lead.
Following a sixth inning home run by Halstead, tying the game at 3-3, the Blue Team regained the lead in the seventh inning with an infield single by Moss resulting in a 5-3 advantage. Red began their comeback bid in the eighth inning with a bases-loaded bunt by Brady Strohm (Winchester, Calif.), cutting the Blue lead to 5-4. Strohm's bunt-single was the only bases-loaded hit for the Red Team, who had five bases-loaded at-bats in the contest. Green again escaped a bases-loaded jam by forcing a ground ball double play to hold the lead.
Moss led Blue with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate. Elija Selga (Chula Vista, Calif.) also had a multi-hit performance for Blue, going 2-for-3. Paul Dominguez (Anaheim, Calif.) and Homestead paced the Red with 2-for-3 outings at the plate. Homestead led Red with a pair of RBI.

Noah Libed, one of five pitchers used by Blue, was credited with the win on the hill. He allowed one run off two hits in 2.0 innings. The Blue Team pitching staff combined for 11 strikeouts.
The two teams close their 12U trials Saturday with a training session and their final game of the series at VTV Baseball Complex. The game has been moved to a 1 p.m. (PT) start time.
For more information on the 12U National Team Trials, please visit USABaseball.com or follow along on Twitter, at @USABaseball12U.