The race to a gold medal at the 2024 14U Champs North Carolina has gotten even tighter, as four teams made their way to the semifinals on Sunday morning. Catch up on the action to see how each team punched their ticket to the semifinals.

UDACF Evolution 8, Sports Academy Legends 7

In an exhilarating eight-inning game, Evolution plated four runs in the bottom of the eighth to secure an 8-7 walk-off win over the Sports Academy Legends and a trip to the semifinals. The Legends started off hot with two runs in the opening frame via a Sammy Garcia single and a wild pitch. Evolution responded in the bottom of the second inning with two runs of its own courtesy of a Terrell Otis single and a two-out sacrifice fly from Siale Kafoa Tulua, knotting the score at two. Legends’ Austin Rodriguez regained the lead for his squad, slashing a single to center field to drive in two runs and give the Legends a 4-2 advantage. Easton Brunson took matters into his own hands and tied the game 4-4 after crushing a two-run homer to left field. After a scoreless sixth and seventh frame, the two teams found themselves in an extra inning. With runners on base, Legends’ Brennan Mustard collected two RBIs on a line drive double, moving the score to 6-4. Angel Gonzalez tacked on another run for the Legends after reaching on an error to increase the lead to three runs. Instead of harping on the three-run deficit, Evolution got to work quickly at the plate by registering back-to-back RBI singles to cut the deficit to just one. With two outs, Colin Raymond tied the game at seven runs each with his single to center field. With the score tied at seven, Madden Pike came through in the clutch and walked off the game with a line drive single to secure Evolution the 8-7 win.

Team Elite 10, Wow Factor Nation 0

Team Elite cruised to a 10-0 victory over Wow Factor Nation in a match that only went six innings thanks to a stellar pitching performance on the mound from Peyton Osheaski. Elite’s offense notched the first run in the game in the top of the first frame on a Brennan New single to left field. Both teams were held scoreless over the next few innings, as it wasn’t until the fourth that either team scored. Breck Hemphill tacked on two more runs for Team Elite with a base-clearing triple, allowing Osheaski to work on the bump with a three-run advantage. The scoring affair didn’t stop there as Elite tacked on four runs and three runs in the fifth and sixth, respectively. Osheaski finished his day on the mound just one out shy of six innings, collecting two strikeouts while only giving up two hits.

SBA Bolts National 5, USA Prime National 4

After a scoreless first inning, the SBA Bolts rattled off three runs in the top of the second which was capped off by a Julian Martinez RBI single. USA Prime National tallied a run of its own, seeing Cruz Chavez smack a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to two. The Bolts went up by three runs again in the top of the fifth thanks to Trendyn Motley showing his elusiveness and stealing home plate. Jake Welch and Orlando Oates evened the score, driving in three runs to even the score at four runs. Both defenses held strong through seven frames, leading the contest to be pushed into an eighth inning. Bolts’ Rylan Jenkins saved the day and drove in the winning run in the top of the eighth to secure the Bolts a win.

Midland Redskins 1, Texas Twelve Red Sox 0

The Midland Redskins squeaked past the Texas Twelve Red Sox in a 1-0 contest, paving their way to the semifinals. Both teams were held scoreless through five innings as both pitchers commanded the mound effectively. The top of the sixth frame saw what proved to be the lone run of the game thanks to the bat of Brett Paciorek and his sacrifice fly. Midland pitcher Colby Clark was credited with the win, tossing five innings while garnering three punchouts. Clark held the Red Sox scoreless and was impressively efficient as he did not allow a single walk in his five frames of work.