The second game of the 12U National Team Training Camp Stars vs. Stripes series on Wednesday afternoon at Thomas Brooks Park was a defensive-lead contest, seeing 17 hits with three runs being scored in total. The Stars managed to win the tight contest, 2-1, through seven innings.

The Stars got on the board early in the bottom of the second inning thanks to the bat of Noah Fountain and his RBI single, putting his squad up by one.

With his squad up one, Stars’ pitcher Nolan Bracewell went to work on the bump as he recorded three strikeouts in the first three innings to keep the Stripes off of the board.

Joshua Park continued the Stars’ offensive attack as he stepped up to the plate and delivered an RBI single on a full count to add on another run for the Stars.

After going to two, the Stripes knew they needed to get on the board to keep their hopes at a win alive. Josh Pierre put the team on his back, smacking a line-drive single to right field. Pierre demonstrated his elusiveness, stealing both second and third base to put himself into scoring position. With Pierre primed to score, Jace Winston drove him in to cut the deficit to just one after the fifth frame.

With victory in sight, Stars pitcher Levi Hendrick was called to the mound to complete the final two innings. Hendrick was a force on the bump, securing three outs in three straight at-bats in the sixth to keep the Stripes at bay. Hendrick kept his team afloat in the seventh, registering his first strikeout of the day and clinching the win for the Stars.

Despite the loss, Stripes’ pitcher Hudson Bills had a game-high four strikeouts on the bump in two innings of work while only allowing a single run. Stars’ Bracewell followed with three punchouts of his own.

At the plate, Stars’ Brett Hamlin and Stripes’ Carlo Rivero led all players with two hits apiece in the contest.

The Stars and Stripes will meet up again on Thursday at Thomas Brooks Park starting at 2:00 p.m. to play game three of the series.