PHOENIX — Adrian Lopez posted five hits, two RBI and three runs scored across a pair of games to help guide Dukes Baseball to the quarterfinals of the 2021 17U National Team Championships and earn Player of the Day honors for June 27.
Lopez, an infielder, delivered a 4-for-4 effort in Dukes Baseball's 6-0 win against CBA Marucci American in the Round of 32. The leadoff man scored the game's opening run and later delivered a pair of run-scoring base knocks, which included his second of two doubles in the sixth.
He followed the impressive performance by reaching base twice in Dukes Baseball's 10-5 victory against MBA Navy 2022 in the Round of 16. Lopez again scored the first run of the game for the Dukes.
Lopez has hit safely in five of Dukes Baseball's six games at the National Team Championships Arizona and owns a standout .429/.455/.619 slash line at the tournament.
Dukes Baseball (6-0) is set to face CBA Marucci National (6-0) in a quarterfinal matchup at 7 a.m. MT on Monday at Peoria Sports Complex (Padres 4).
Shaydon Benson delivered a complete-game, three-hit shutout in the Round of 32 to help Team Utah 2022 advance in the bracket with a 2-0 win against Zoots Baseball Club Black. The shutdown performance helped the 6-foot-6 southpaw earn Pitcher of the Day honors for June 27.
Benson struck out nine in a stellar start, which included striking out the side in the third inning. He threw 64 percent of his 105 pitches for strikes and retired 11 of the final 12 batters he faced.
The strong showing marked Benson's second pitching appearance of the tournament after the left-hander posted four hitless, scoreless innings with six strikeouts in a 3-0 win against Baseball Factory on Thursday.
Team Utah 2022 (5-1) will square off with Zoots Baseball Club (5-1) with a trip to the semifinals on the line at 7 a.m. MT on Monday at Peoria Sports Complex (Padres 6).
Honorable mentions (Player of the Day):
Mark Baca (Legacy Baseball Group 17U Gold) — 2-for-2, 3B, 3 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB, SB
Luke Scherrer (CBA Marucci 2023) — 3-for-5, 2B, 5 RBI
AJ Armstrong (Slammers Asnicar 2022s) — 2-for-3, 2B, 5 RBI, SB
Mason Sukigara (Colorado Gold) — 3-for-3, 3B, 3 RBI, R, SB
Honorable mentions (Pitcher of the Day):
Luke Hanson (San Diego Longhorns) — W, CG, 2 H, 0 R, 5 K, 0 BB
Henry Stewart (Slammers Holzemer) — W, 5.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 8 K, 2 BB
Hudson Barrett (PFA Matadors) — W, 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 11 K, 1 BB
Zachary Geiss (OC Ducks Elite) — W, CG, 2 H, 0 R, 9 K, 1 BB
Stay tuned to @USABChamps_AZ on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the National Team Championships Arizona.
