PEORIA, Ariz. - Punching their ticket to the championship game of the 2019 15U National Team Championships in Arizona, the GBG Renegades easily run-ruled Team Utah, 8-0, on Friday morning at the Peoria Sports Complex. The Renegades are set to take on NorCal Baseball 2022 Blue tomorrow morning at 10 a.m.
The Renegades got on the board in the first chance they got, putting up two runs off two singles and two walks. They set Utah down scoreless in the home half of the frame and then came out firing again in the second, taking advantage of three walks and a hit-by-pitch to start the inning, having three runs cross the plate. They led 5-0 through the first two innings.
Kyle Calzadiaz started on the bump for the Renegades, tossing a complete game shutout while scattering six hits and six strikeouts throughout his afternoon. He kept Utah relatively off the base paths, never allowing a runner to reach third base.
In their third-straight scoring inning, the Renegades started off on a hot note. A walk and an error brought one run in and a sacrifice bunt, double and single later, the Renegades found themselves with a lofty 8-0 lead.
Utah threatened in the home half of the third, knocking back-to-back singles to put two one with none out. Calzadiaz locked in to record a fly out, strikeout and ground out to send Utah down without a run, keeping his shutout intact.
Both teams went scoreless in the final two frames and Calzadiaz worked around a leadoff double to set the side down in order in the bottom of the fifth to secure the run-rule victory.