PEORIA, Ariz.- Completing an undefeated run in the 15U National Team Championships, Pacific Baseball Academy downed NCTB Prime to capture gold in four innings, 12-2, at Peoria Stadium on Friday.
Capped by a 10-run third, PBA used six walks and four hit-by-pitches in the contest to build up the insurmountable lead.
After NCTB went quietly in the top of the first, Sam Biller walked to open the bottom of the inning. A sacrifice bunt moved him to second before Max Muncy stepped in a drove an RBI-triple over the left fielder's head. Muncy scored later in the inning on a wild pitch to make the score 2-0.
"They were throwing a lot of fastballs to me and I was trying to stay short and give my team some runs," Muncy said. "It just took off and went off the wall."
PBA would lose the lead in the second after an error by right fielder Jordan Kang allowed Brewster Mott to reach. Charlie Saum then walked to put more traffic on the bases before Stefan Foley singles to drive in Mott. Tommy DiLandri would follow suit with a single of his own to tie the game at 2-2.
Both PBA and NCTB would go quietly in the bottom of the second and top of the third, respectively, before the game would be opened up in the bottom of the third by a flurry of walks by the Prime pitching staff.
Joe Grode and Biller both walked to start the frame, and a perfect bunt by George Cooper loaded the bases with nobody out. Muncy then walked to force a run home. Jacob Galloway would be hit by a pitch to drive in the second run of the inning, and a chaotic sequence of defensive miscues following a wild pitch allowed two more runs to score. Another hit by pitch would bring NCTB started Blake Burke out of the game.
Scott Young would enter the game for NCTB, but would find no better luck. He hit his first batter, loading the bases again for PBA. Another walk would score another run and give Young an early exit.
Daniel Shackelford would replace Young, and after walking the first batter to send home another run, it appeared as though he may settle in, striking out Grode. But, Biller and Cooper would line back-to-back singles to drive home three more. Another run would score on a delayed steal before the fire would finally be put out.
NCTB came up in the fourth needing a run, but a trio of flyouts ended the game.
PBA starter Nick Hawkins threw well in just 4.0 innings. Hawkins allowed just three hits and two runs while striking out three and walking two.
"We have a comradery on this team because we've been around each other for a long time that I think goes a long way," PBA Head Coach Matt LaCour said. "Winning certainly goes into building that comradery in the dugout."
PBA finishes the National Team Championships at an impressive 9-0, outscoring their opponents 62-20 on the way.