Top Gun Winter World Series (10u & 12u) Recap 2018

The second weekend of the Top Gun Winter World Series (WWS) was another outstanding weekend of baseball. There were dozens of ranked teams in action with loads of games between some of the best teams in the Southeastern United States. Here we recap the weekend's games and highlight the play of some of the best teams from the weekend.

10u
D1

5 of our top 12 teams were in this 8 team field this past weekend in Rocky Mount. #3 West Raleigh Blue started on Friday night but had their game against #12 Dirtbags East postponed until Saturday due to rain. On Saturday, West Raleigh fell against #11 NCDB Rivercats before scoring a 13-8 win over Dirtbags East. This left West Raleigh with the #5 seed heading into bracket play. The Rivercats fell 11-9 against the Aldie Senators (VA) and Dirtbags Bags dropped a 9-8 contest against Stars Baseball - Colangelo (VA) in their other pool play games. #4 Greenville Athletics - Scott went 0-2 in pool play, falling 10-2 against #7 Dirtbags Black and 8-0 to the Aldie Senators. Dirtbags Black scored a 13-6 win over the Frederick Hustlers in their other pool play game to finish with the top seed for bracket play.

All 8 teams made the Gold bracket for play on Sunday. In the quarterfinals, top seed Dirtbags Black fell 14-6 against #8 seed Frederick Hustlers, #7 seed Dirtbags East scored an 11-7 win over #2 Aldie Senators. #3 seed Stars Baseball - Colangelo rolled to an 11-1 win over Greenville Athletics - Scott, and #5 seed West Raleigh Blue blasted their way to a 16-1 win over the NCDB Rivercats. In the semifinals, Stars Baseball - Colangelo blanked Dirtbags East 7-0 and West Raleigh Blue scored a 14-6 win over the Frederick Hustlers. In the finals, West Raleigh Blue proved to be too much for Stars Baseball as they dominated their way to a 16-2 win to take home the D1 10u WWS title.

Our champion prediction: West Raleigh Blue

Champion: West Raleigh Blue

D2
The Wilson Reds posted an impressive 6-0 record on their way to the 10u D2 WWS title this weekend.

#6 Rock Solid Red was our highest ranked team in the 16-team D2 field. They went 2-0 in pool play with an 8-0 win over the Garner Royals and a 9-7 win over Royals Baseball. #14 Carolina Titans also went 2-0 in pool play, scoring a 15-3 win over the HYAA Hawks and an 8-6 win over Area Stars - Roberts. #17 Smash Baseball went 1-1 in pool play, notching a 7-3 win over the Myrtle Beach Rays (SC) and a 12-6 loss against the Wilson Reds. The Reds scored an 11-0 win over the Carolina Thunder in their other pool play game and earned the #2 seed for bracket play.

Match ups for the play-in games:

#1 Suffolk Surge Elite (VA) vs. #16 Renegades Baseball (VA)

#2 Wilson Reds vs. #15 West Raleigh Red Select

#3 Rock Solid Red vs. #14 Carolina Thunder

#4 Carolina Titans vs. #13 Myrtle Beach Rays

#5 Riegelwood Lumberjacks vs. #12 New Kent Giants (VA)

#6 Warriors Baseball vs. #11 HYAA Hawks

#7 Area Stars - Roberts vs. #10 Garner Royals

#8 Carolina Freedom vs. #9 Smash Baseball

In the play-in games, Suffolk Surge Elite notched a 6-2 win over Renegades Baseball, the Wilson Reds rolled to an 11-1 win over West Raleigh Red, Rock Solid Red topped the Carolina Thunder 11-1, and the Carolina Titans fell in a close 7-6 game against the Myrtle Beach Rays. #5 Riegelwookd Lumberjacks rolled to a 15-0 win over the New Kent Giants, Warriors Baseball scored a 7-1 win over the HYAA Hawks, Area Stars - Roberts notched a 14-10 win over the Garner Royals, and the Carolina Freedom edged past Smash Baseball 12-11. In the Gold bracket quarterfinals, Suffolk Surge Elite blanked the Carolina Freedom 4-0, the Lumberjacks scored a 7-3 win over the Myrtle Beach Rays, Rock Solid Red edged past Warriors Baseball 7-6, and the Wilson Reds rolled to a 15-0 win over Area Stars - Roberts. In the semifinals, Suffolk Surge Elite edged past the Lumberjacks 5-3, and the Wilson Reds edged Rock Solid Red 7-6. In the finals, the Wilson Reds finished off a 6-0 weekend with a 4-0 win over Suffolk Surge Elite.

Our champion prediction: Carolina Titans

Champion: Wilson Reds

D3

Carolina Rampage Baseball earned the top seed in the 18-team D3 division after a 16-2 win over the Carolina Diamondbacks and a 15-1 win over the Zebulon Rampage. The NC Young Guns scored the #2 seed after a 7-6 win over the Carolina Chargers and a 9-1 win over Diamond Life Athletics in pool play. The Rocky Mount Marshals 2027, our predicted champion, went 1-1 in pool play with a 9-3 loss against Rock Solid Blue and a 9-7 win over Triangle Sports Hawks Blue.

Match ups for the play-in games:

#1 Carolina Rampage Baseball vs. #14 Carolina Flash

#2 NC Young Guns vs. #13 Diamond Life Athletics

#3 Rock Solid Blue vs. #12 Cleveland Wildcats

#4 Greenville Athletics - Givens vs. #11 Team Ghost

#5 Eastern Impact vs. #10 NSA Straight Gas

#6 Winterville Knights vs. #9 Rocky Mount Marshals 2027

#7 Carolina Chargers vs. #8 Stars Baseball - Nardone (VA)

In the play-in games, Carolina Rampage Baseball notched a 16-8 win over the Carolina Flash, NC Young Guns edged past Diamond Life 8-7, Rock Solid Blue scored a 5-3 win over the Cleveland Wildcats, and Team Ghost rolled to a 14-4 win over Greenville Athletics - Givens. Eastern Impact blasted their way to a 15-1 win over NSA Straight Gas, the Rocky Mount Marshals notched a 12-5 win over the Winterville Knights and Stars Baseball - Nardone scored an 11-4 win over the Carolina Chargers. In the quarterfinals, Eastern Impact edged Team Ghost 8-7, Rocky Mount Marshals 2027 scored a 12-4 win over Rock Solid Blue, and the NC Young Guns were able to squeeze out a 4-1 win over Stars Baseball - Nardone. In the semifinals Carolina Rampage Baseball topped Eastern Impact 7-5 and the NC Young Guns notched a 10-5 win over Rocky Mount Marshals 2027. In the finals, the NC Young Guns completed a 6-0 weekend with 9-1 win over Carolina Rampage Baseball.

Our champion prediction: Rocky Mount Marshals 2027

Champion: NC Young Guns

 

12u
D1

A 28-team division with 8 of our top 10, and 13 of our top 20 did battle this past weekend in Rocky Mount. With only 16 teams making the Gold/Silver bracket play-in games, many top teams were not going to have a shot at the Gold bracket after pool play. Our #1 team, SBA Premier, playing the weekend after a championship at the USSSA BoE, went 0-2 in pool play with an 11-4 loss against the Huguenot Red Legs (VA) and a 6-0 loss against #6 NCDB Rivercats. This earned SBA the #25 seed and a spot in the Copper bracket. The Rivercats scored a 14-7 win over #13 Dirtbags East in their other pool play and earned the #3 seed for the play-in games. Dirtbags East topped #4 Dirtbags Charlotte 10-8 in their other pool play game, but failed to earn a spot in the play-in games. Dirtbags Charlotte topped the Mid Atlantic Red Sox 7-3 in their other pool play game and finished with the 16th and final seed for the play-in games. #2 Canes Baseball NC - Hood went 2-0 in pool play with a 6-4 win over Hit Doctor (VA) and a 15-13 win over EC Diamondbacks - Bass and earned the #6 seed for the play-in games.

#5 Canes Baseball NC - Simpson went 2-0 in pool play with a 12-4 win over #7 Five Star Carolina - Neyra and a 5-2 win over the Huguenot Red Legs and earned the #2 seed for the play-in games. Five Star - Neyra scored a 12-6 win over 11u #2 TPA Nationals in their other pool play game but didn't qualify for the play-in games. #9 LBC Attack went 2-0 in their pool play games with a 7-6 win over the Western Tidewater Rage (VA) and a 6-4 win over the Riptide and earned the #5 seed for the play-in games. #12 Cleveland Wildcats Elite went 0-2 in pool play, falling 4-3 against the Riptide and 9-7 against Canes Baseball VA - Serrano and did not qualify for the play-in games. #15 SBA Canes - Erwin went 1-1 in pool play, notching a 1-0 win over #16 Rock Solid Red and falling 13-3 against the Western Tidewater Rage, but did not qualify for the play-in games. Rock Solid Red scored a 5-4 win over Tidewater Drillers Gray in their other pool play game and earned the #7 seed for the play-in games. #19 Carolina Blue Sox earned the #4 seed for the play-in games after an 8-4 win over #10 Big Game 2025 and a 7-3 win over Rock Solid Black (VA). Big Game 2025 scored a 10-3 win over NSA 06 Elite in their other pool play game and earned the #13 seed for the play-in games.

Match ups for the play-in games:

#1 Team Dirty South Bats Venom (VA) vs. #16 Dirtbags Charlotte

#2 Canes Baseball NC - Simpson vs. #15 Tailormade Mizuno (VA)

#3 NCDB Rivercats vs. #14 Mid Atlantic Red Sox

#4 Carolina Blue Sox vs. #13 Big Game 2025

#5 LBC Attack vs. #12 Rock Solid Black

#6 Canes Baseball NC - Hood vs. #11 Western Tidewater Rage

#7 Rock Solid Red vs. #10 Riptide

#8 Huguenot Red Legs vs. #9 Tidewater Drillers Gray

In the play-in games, Team Dirty South fell 5-3 against Dirtbags Charlotte, Canes - Simpson notched a 6-1 win over Tailormade Mizuno, the NCDB Rivercats rolled to an 11-3 win over the Mid Atlantic Red Sox, and the Carolina Blue Sox edged past Big Game 2025 3-1. Rock Solid Black notched a 1-run 6-5 win over LBC Attack, the Rage scored a 10-2 win over Canes - Hood, Rock Solid Red took home a 9-3 win over the Riptide, and the Huguenot Red Legs notched a 7-2 win over Tidewater Drillers Gray. In the Gold bracket quarterfinals, Dirtbags Charlotte scored an 11-2 win over the Huguenot Red Legs, Rock Solid Black blanked the Blue Sox 8-0, the WT Rage notched a 5-2 win over the Rivercats, and Canes - Simpson blanked Rock Solid Red 15-0. In the semifinals, Dirtbags Charlotte rolled to a 12-0 win over Rock Solid Black and Canes - Simpson notched an 8-5 win over WT Rage to set up a showdown of our #4 and 5 teams. In the finals, Canes Baseball NC - Simpson completed a 6-0 weekend with an 11-5 win over Dirtbags Charlotte.

Our champion prediction: SBA Premier

Champion: Canes Baseball NC - Simpson

D2

#8 Kernersville Bulldogs were our top ranked North Carolina team in the 28-team D2 field this weekend in Rocky Mount and they opened up their WWS going 2-0 in pool play with an 11-2 win over Mid Atlantic Orioles - Namkoong (VA) and a 14-3 win over the 11u Loudoun South Eagles (VA). This earned them the #5 seed for the play-in games. #17 Carolina Rage also went 2-0 in pool play with a 13-2 win over the Cleveland Wildcats and a 10-7 win over Triangle Sports Hawks Blue, and earned the #9 seed for the play-in games. The Carolina Bombsquad (SC) went 2-0 in pool play with an 8-0 win over the Aldie Senators (VA) and a 12-1 win over the SP Vipers to earn the top seed for the play-in games.

Match ups for the play-in games:

#1 Carolina Bombsquad vs. #16 HYAA Hawks

#2 VA Seminoles - McQueen vs. #15 Triangle Sports Hawks Blue

#3 TPA Nationals - Zuber vs. #14 Cleveland Wildcats

#4 Greenville Athletics vs. #13 Wendell Sharks

#5 Kernersville Bulldogs vs. #12 Stars Baseball - Justice (VA)

#6 Carolina Titans Blue vs. #11 Mid Atlantic Orioles - Caraher (VA)

#7 South Johnston vs. #10 NCABC Fungo - Waltman

#8 Team Ghost vs. #9 Carolina Rage

In the play-in games, the Carolina Bombsquad scored a 13-3 win over the HYAA Hawks, VA Seminoles - McQueen edged past Triangle Sports Hawks Blue 8-7, TPA Nationals - Zuber notched a 12-5 win over the Cleveland Wildcats, and Greenville Athletics made their way into the Gold bracket with a 9-6 win over the Wendell Sharks. Stars Baseball - Justice notched a 10-8 win over the Kernersville Bulldogs, Mid Atlantic Orioles - Caraher advanced with a 10-7 win over Carolina Titans Blue, NCABC Fungo - Waltman notched a 13-10 win over South Johnston, and Team Ghost scored a 9-5 win over Carolina Rage.

In the Gold bracket quarterfinals, the Carolina Bombsquad edged past Team Ghost 12-11, Stars Baseball - Justice notched a 13-3 win over Greenville Athletics, Mid Atlantic Orioles - Caraher scored a 7-3 win over TPA Nationals - Zuber, and NCABC Fungo - Waltman advanced with an 8-5 win over VA Seminoles - McQueen. In the semifinals, the Bombsquad notched another 1-run win, with a 10-9 win over Stars Baseball - Justice and NCABC Fungo - Waltman scored an 11-6 win over Mid Atlantic Orioles - Caraher. In the finals, the Bombsquad finished off a 6-0 weekend and scored a 9-3 win over NCABC Fungo - Waltman.

Our champion prediction: Kernersville Bulldogs

Champion: Carolina Bombsquad

D3

26 teams faced off in the 12u D3 division this past weekend. 11u #4 Rawlings Prospects NC earned the #1 seed for the play-in games with a 24-1 win over the Carolina Generals and a 16-0 win over RBI Raptors - Guise. The Carolina MudDawgs went 2-0 in pool play with an 8-3 win over the Wilson Naturals and an 18-12 win over the Walk Off Warriors and earned the #4 seed for bracket play. The Perquimans Rivercats went 2-0 in pool play with a 6-4 win over Sandhills Stingrays - Mark and a 10-3 win over the Carolina Raiders and earned the #4 seed for the play-in games. 11u #7 Dirtbags East went 2-0 in pool play with a 7-6 win over the Zebulon Cougars and a 10-5 win over the Benson Bulls. They earned the #6 seed for the Gold/Silver bracket play play-in games. 11u #10 NCDB Rivercats went 1-1 in pool play with an 8-6 win over Team Ghost - John and an 18-5 loss against Carolina Rage Red, and did not qualify for theGold/Silver bracket play play-in games.

Match ups for the play-in games:

#1 11u Rawlings Prospects NC vs. #16 Triangle Sports Hawks Black

#2 Carolina Storm vs. #15 Roanoke Rapids Yellow Jackets

#3 Carolina Pirates vs. #14 CB Chaos

#4 Perquimans Rivercats vs. #13 Sandhills Stingrays - Mark

#5 North Wake Avalanche vs. #12 Carolina Armor

#6 11u Dirtbags East vs. #11 Carolina Shockwave

#7 Carolina MudDawgs vs. #10 Carolina Rage Red

#8 Zebulon Cougars vs. #9 Hit and Run Select - Fuquay Varina

In the play-in games, 11u Rawlings Prospects NC scored an 11-5 win over Triangle Sports Hawks Black, the Carolina Storm notched a 10-6 win over Roanoke Rapids Yellow Jackets, the Carolina Pirates topped the CB Chaos 14-5, and the Perquimans Rivercats rolled to a 15-4 win over Sandhills Stingrays - Mark. The Carolina Armor topped the North Wake Avalanche 9-6, 11u Dirtbags East scored a 6-3 win over the Carolina Shockwave, the Carolina MudDawgs edged past Carolina Rage Red 9-7, and Hit and Run Select - Fuquay Varina got into the Gold bracket with an 8-2 win over the Zebulon Cougars.

In the Gold bracket quarterfinals, 11u Rawlings Prospects NC topped Hit and Run 10-2, the Perquimans Rivercats rolled to a 10-0 win over the Carolina Armor, the Carolina Pirates got past Dirtbags East 5-3, and the Carolina MudDawgs scored an 11-4 win over the Carolina Storm. In the semifinals, the Perquimans Rivercats topped the Rawlings Prospects 10-4 and the MudDawgs rolled to a 15-7 win over the Carolina Pirates. In the finals, the Perquimans Rivercats completed a 6-0 weekend with a 3-2 win over the Carolina MudDawgs.

Our champion prediction: Carolina Muddawgs

Champion: Perquimans Rivercats