CARY, N.C - On the first day at the 2018 USA Baseball 14U National Team Development Program (NTDP), the Stars earned a 13-7 victory over the Stripes in Game 1 of the three-game intrasquad series on Coleman Field at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina.

Anthony Martinez (Farfield, Calif.) was a force on offense for the Stars going 3-for-5 with two RBIs, while Christopher Paciolla (Temecula, Calif.) led the Stripes with one hit and two runs batted in.
After a scoreless first inning from both sides,the Stars put up a three-spot in the top of the second. A lead-off single from Derrick Mitchell (Tempre, Ariz.) followed by a walk put traffic on the bases. Jaden Anderson (Duluth, Ga.) advanced to second on a wild pitch while Mitchell scored from third to plate the first run of the game. A single by Jamie Felix (Kingsland, Ga.) moved Anderson over who then stole home. With Felix on second, a groundout to the right side advanced the runner, and a wild pitch brought home the third run of the innning.
The Stars added four more runs in the third to extend their lead to seven. Dimitri Diamant (Las Vegas, Nev.) would put two more on the board with a triple that scored Martinez and Kai Caranto (Santa Clarita, Calif.) after a walk and a single. Mitchell grounded out to the shortstop to plate another run before a pair of hits by Anderson and Jacob Randolph (Vero Beach, Fla.) brought home the seventh run. 
The momentunm would switch in the bottom half of the third frame thanks to a six-run inning from the Stripes that cut the deficit to one. An RBI triple by Aidan Miller (Trinity, Fla.) got things started before five more runs crossed the plate to bringthe Stripes within one. 
Two more runs would come across for the Stars in the fourth inning. A sacrfice fly from Steven Milam (Las Cruces, N.M.) would score Termarr Johnson (Atlanta, Ga.) who reached on a single and advanced to third on a double by Justin Crawford (Torrance, Calif.). A single up the middle from Martinzez plated the ninth run of the game for the boys in blue. 
Three insurance runs were added in the sixth for the Stars as a string of four hits extended their lead to 12-6 heading into the bottom half of the inning.
An additional run was added for the Stripes in the bottom of the seventh inning on a fielders choice that plated a runner who advanced to third on an error after a lead off single.
The Stars plated one more run in the ninth on a fielders chice after a lead-off walk followed by a bunt moved the runner to third, resulting in a 13-7 final score.
Kyle Crow (Linden, Mich.) earned the win, hurling 2.1 innings while allowing six runs on three hits with two strikeouts. Duke Ekstrom (San Diego, Calif.) and Louis Rodriguez (Long Beach, Calif.) combined for 6.0 innings of relief for the Stars, while allowing only one run on three hits. Ekstrom struck out three batters, and Rodriguez sat down two.
Brandon Barriera (Coconut Creek, Fla.) was given the loss throwing 2.2 innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits with two strikeouts. Dylan Lina (Carson, Calif) and Andrew Villalobos (Globe, Ariz.) came in relief for the Stripes, totaling three strikeouts between the pair.  
"I thought the kids played with a lot of energy today," said Stars manager Jim Koerner. "We want to see these guys do different things and if they can excel in a position they're not used to, it only adds to their value and shows some toughness."
Game two of the Stars vs. Stripes matchup is set for a 12:30 p.m. (ET) first pitch on Coleman Field tomorrow.