Cary, N.C. - Tank Espalin and Taylor Johnson tallied two RBIs apiece, and Southern California overcame an early deficit to win the gold medal at the 2017 USA Baseball 16U National Team Identification Series (NTIS), 6-2 over Northwest, on Coleman Field at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.
Northwest got the scoring started in the home half of the first inning on a couple of wild pitches by Southern California starting pitcher, Fraser Bohm, to take a 2-0 lead. But it was all the offense it could muster.
Southern California took the lead in the top of the fourth inning after Espalin got the inning started with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Michael Campagna followed with a single of his own before Charles Acker laced a ball to right to score Southern California's first run. Johnson then followed with a two-RBI single to center to take the 3-2 lead.
They added another three runs in the very next inning behind a two-RBI triple by Espalin and an RBI-single by Keoni Cavaco for the 6-2 lead after five innings.
The Southern California pitchers managed to keep the Northwest offense at bay after the first inning, striking out eight batters. Bohm picked up the win, pitching three innings and striking out five batters. Aker finished the game on the bump, throwing four scoreless relief innings and striking out three.
Dylan Beavers led the Northwest offense with a 2-for-2 day at the plate and a walk. Starting pitcher Kohl Petersen was tagged with the loss, giving up three runs in 3.2 innings of work.
2017 16U NTIS Standings:
1. Southern California
2. Northwest
3. Ohio Valley