DURHAM, N.C. - The first phase of the 2017 15U National Team Trials came to a close on Tuesday afternoon as the final two games were played at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.
The Brave starting the day off with a 25-combined-hit affair as they downed the Eagles before Game 2 featured the Pride defeating the United, 9-5.
Game One: Brave 12, Eagles 11
Despite a relatively slow start to the game, the first game of the day would wind up being the highest scoring game of Phase I.
The Eagles were able to score one run in the second and third innings but then the Brave fought back to take a lead in the bottom of the third with a three spot.
Jordan Thompson doubled to right center to start things off, scoring Parker Welch from second before Roc Riggio got a groundout RBI to plate Trevor Haskins. Alek Boychuk also got a groundout RBI to score Thompson, giving them the 3-2 lead.
The Eagles would score one in the fourth, but really geared up in the top of the fifth when, with two outs, Masyn Witt knocked one through the left side. Then, Giuesppe Ferraro singled up the middle to score Tommy Troy. Ian Moller then got one of his three hits on the day, blasting one to center to bring in Ferraro.
The Brave responded in the bottom of the sixth, putting up three runs before both teams scored three runs in the seventh.
The seventh opened with the Eagles' Troy singling up the middle before Witt hit one through the left side to score Troy. Moller then doubled to score both Ferraro and Witt. The Brave had two walks to set them in prime position, followed by a Boychuk triple that plated two and a Petey Halpin pushed one into right field to bring Boychuk home.
The Eagles went up 11-9 in the top of the eighth when Winn hit a sac fly to center field before Luke Leto tripled to left field to plate Blake Burke.
The Brave battled back to win in the final at-bat, having Lucas Costello hit a leadoff, RBI single before advancing on a throwing error. Jordan Thompson then hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Hunter Haas before Riggio rocketed one to center field, scoring Costello and sealing the win.
Nelson Berkwich led the day on the Eagles' staff, fanning four and allowing just one earned run in the first three innings. Nicholas DeMarco led the Brave going the first three and striking out two batters, only allowing two hits and one earned run.
Game Two: Pride 9, United 5
A four-run fourth for the Pride doomed United in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader as both teams traded runs to start.
With back-to-back leadoff walks by Dylan Crews and Jackson Miller before Mac Guscette reached on a fielding error to bring home Crews. Michael Brooks then doubled to the left center gap to score Guscette and Miller.
Davis Diaz then hit a double of his own to right center, plating Brooks to give Brave the distance they needed to hold the win.
United's best offensive effort came in the bottom of the sixth when they put up two to close the gap to 8-4.
Joshua Hartle fired one through the right side to bring home Maxwell Shor - placed on second due to tiebreaker. Cooper Vest then hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home Alberto Rios.
On the mound, every pitcher for Pride failed to allow an earned run with Jackson Miller leading with four punchouts and only one hit allowed through three.
United's staff featured Matthew Bardowell striking out three and only allowing one hit and one unearned run.
