Cary, N.C. - 5 Star MVP won the gold medal at the 2018 11U Futures Invitational, defeating reigning 2017 champions Top Tier Americans by a score of 9-5 on Sunday at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary, North Carolina. 
Both offenses came out to play in the championship game. The two teams combined to score 14 runs in the ballgame and runners crossed the plate in all but the fourth and seventh innings. 

5 Star MVP jumped out to an early lead after Kibru Pam singled to center field to drive in Paul Dominguez. By the end of the third inning, 5 Star MVP had extended their lead to 8-1.
Despite the early deficit, Top Tier Americans never showed signs of giving up. They began to battle back in the top of the fifth inning, scoring two runs to cut the deficit to five. They would add another two runs in the sixth inning to make it an 8-5 ballgame, but their comeback would stop there. 
Kibru Pam of 5 Star MVP turned in a solid start, striking out six while allowing just two hits and one earned run. He was opposed by Top Tier Americans starter Trey Morris who struggled getting batters out. Morris surrendered 10 hits and allowed eight runs (three earned) in 2.1 innings. 
The 5 Star MVP lineup was led by right fielder Paul Dominguez. Dominguez had three hits in four at-bats, tallying two RBI and a run scored. Domiguez was also the finishing pitcher for 5 Star MVP, getting better as the game went on and recording two strikeouts in two innings with a well-located fastball. He recorded a clean seventh inning to help 5 Star MVP claim the gold medal.
Overall in the tournament, 5 Star MVP scored 57 runs in total while allowing just 10 opposing runs. They went an undefeated 5-0