CARY, N.C. – Carter Cox grounded a walk-off single up the middle in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift Venice High School (Venice, Fla.) to a 3-2 victory over Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.) in the championship game of the 2025 National High School Invitational presented by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance and Netting Pros on Saturday afternoon at Coleman Field.
The win gives Venice its first-ever NHSI title in the program’s third trip to Cary.
After falling behind 2-0 just three batters into the game, Venice notched one run in the bottom of the first and another in the fourth to tie the game late. Then, after Brodie Whitlock began the bottom of the seventh with a single and advanced to third on two passed balls, Cox singled right back up the middle to bring Whitlock home as the winning run to secure the NHSI title.
The walk-off was the first at the NHSI since the inaugural tournament in 2012.
"I'm really proud of these guys," said Craig Faulkner, Venice's head coach. "Today was a battle. We struggled early in the game but we knew we could come back and it was just a matter of time. I'm really proud of how the guys played. This was fun to be a part of."
The scoring started immediately in the championship contest, as Trinity Christian was able to chase Venice starter RJ Shields out of the game after just three batters. Aiden Arnett and Jordan Martinez each drew walks before a double steal put both runners in scoring position. Tyler Ellis followed by fouling off a pair of pitches and then singling back up the middle to plate the first two runs of the game. But Venice's Kohen Poplin then entered in relief and weathered the storm, notching a strikeout and a groundout to keep the Indians in the game.
Venice responded to cut its lead in half in the bottom of the frame. After August Backman walked and David Dubrule singled, an RBI groundout by Jackson Lucas made it a 2-1 deficit after the opening inning. Both pitchers took command of the game from there as Poplin and Reali set the side down in order in the second inning. Venice then collected three consecutive singles in the third, but Trinity backstop Brennan Bachtell Jr. threw out a would-be base stealer to keep the Conquerors in front.
Venice was finally able to knot the score at two in the bottom of the fourth. Eddie Zaun hit a sharp line drive to center field that was misplayed, allowing him to reach second before advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt. Zaun then sprinted home a few pitches later on a passed ball, tying the score and sending the Indians’ dugout into a frenzy.
Trinity Christian almost responded immediately in the top of the fifth with a two-out rally. Arnett worked a four-pitch walk and Martinez singled to bring Ellis to the plate; he hit a hard ground ball towards the middle of the diamond that hit Arnett on the basepaths and ended the inning. Backman replaced Poplin on the hill in the middle of the fifth and kept the Conquerors bats at bay while Trinity’s Reali continued his strong performance, sending the tied game into the seventh.
Backman then worked around a one-out single in the seventh to get the Indians back to the plate, where Cox delivered his single up the middle to walk-off Trinity and win the NHSI.
"At first I was trying to bunt him over, and I almost had a perfect bunt," said Cox. "I was telling myself to keep the train rolling. I was just thinking 'hit the ball hard on the ground.' I knew I could do the job."
Poplin, who was named tournament MVP after his title-game performance, pitched 4.2 hitless innings and struck out four. Backman was credited with the win and Reali suffered the tough-luck loss after a strong six-inning start in which he allowed three runs (two earned).
"I just came in and tried to throw strikes and let them put it in play," said Poplin. "We have a lot of intensity in the dugout and a lot of integrity on the field. This is a great place to come play."
At the plate, Venice got two-hit efforts from Dubrule and Whitlock as part of a seven-hit team effort. Trinity collected four hits as a team and all were singles; Martinez reached base twice, picking up a hit, drawing a walk, and scoring a run for the Conquerors.
Venice’s title was the third all-time by a Florida program at the NHSI. The Indians are now 8-4 in three trips to Cary.
Following the conclusion of the game, USA Baseball announced the 12-player all-tournament team, which included representatives from nine different programs.
2025 NHSI All-Tournament Team
Ryne Barker - Casteel - INF/P
Trey Ebel - Corona - 2B/3B
Ryan Harwood - Casteel - OF/P
Seth Hernandez - Corona – UTL
Ben Jacobus - Corona del Sol – OF
Jackson Lucas - Venice – UTL
Kasen Poplin - Venice - P/3B
MVP: Kohen Poplin - Venice - P/INF
Ethan Porter - Huntington Beach - INF/P
Dayan Viciedo - Christopher Columbus - SS/P
Peyton Richards - Granada – OF
Ethan Wheeler - Trinity Christian - P/OF
Anthony Zezza - Holly Springs - P/OF
