11u #1 SBA Futures made the trek down to Viera, Florida to compete against some of the best teams in Florida this weekend. Included among the 23 teams in the 11u Majors division were 9 teams in Perfect Game's 11u National top 100, and another 4 teams from their "Regional Teams to Watch List." Needless to say, this was a loaded field that the SBA Futures were going up against to start their spring season.
This was as good a field as you might be able to come by for an event taking place in February. The number #1 team in the United States in Perfect Game's (PG) National top 100, the Kangaroo Court Roos American (FL) was in action as were PG #12 Gulf Coast Monarchs (FL), #13 East Cobb Astros Navy (GA), #28 FCA Blue Claws - Hannah (FL), #31 Brandon Blazers Black (FL), #58 Tampa Bay Legends (FL), #59 Elite Squad (FL), and #60 Florida Xtreme.
Pool Play
On day 1, NC #1 SBA Futures scored a 13-7 win Industriales but fell 9-6 against Ballers Baseball Academy (FL) in their second pool play game. This left them with the 13th seed and a game against Wesley Chapel Storm (FL) in bracket play. Elite Squad earned the top seed for bracket play with an 11-1 win over Okeeheelee Outlaws (FL) and an 11-0 win over Fielders Choice JSB (OH). PG's #1 team in America, Kangaroo Court Roos American scored a 9-2 win over Wesley Chapel Storm in their opening pool play game, but fell 6-3 against Five Star Demarini in their second pool play game to earn the #10 seed for bracket play. Five Star Demarini scored a 12-7 win over Wesley Chapel Storm to finish 2-0 in pool play and earned the 7th seed for bracket play.
Bracket Play
9 teams earned a bye into the round of 16: Elite Squad, Tampa Bay Legends, FCA Blue Claws - Hannah, Inferno Black, Phipps Park Barracudas, Ballers Baseball Academy, Five Star Demarini, Margate Legacy, and Miami Phenoms Prime. Playing as the 13th seed, the SBA Futures were forced to play an opening round game to reach the round-of-16. In their opening round bracket play game, SBA scored a 6-2 win over Wesley Chapel Storm to set up a game against Inferno Black, who had rolled to an 11-2 win over Five Star Tigers - Dye and a 10-4 win over CBC Riverhawks - Henson in their pool play games. In their round-of-16 game, the Futures held off Inferno Black for a 2-0 win to earn a spot in the quarterfinals. The other quarterfinal match ups saw Miami Phenoms Prime notch a 7-5 win over Brandon Blazers Black, Ballers Baseball Academy score a 7-4 win over FCA Blueclaws - Hannah, and Five Star Demarini (who again defeated Kangaroo Court Roos American by the score of 4-2 in the round-of-16) top the Tampa Bay Legends 9-5. In their quarterfinal game, SBA Futures got out to a 6-3 lead through 3 innings over the Gulf Coast Monarchs. However, the Futures gave up 6 runs in the bottom of the 4th inning and two more in the 5th to lose 11-6 against the Monarchs.
In the first semifinal game, the Monarchs topped Miami Phenoms Prime 8-1 to reach the finals. In the other semifinal, Five Star Demarini took a 12-6 lead into the bottom half of the 6th inning. However the Ballers were able to get across 5 runs before Five Star could end it to secure a 12-11 win and punch their ticket into the finals. In the finals, Five Star Demarini completed an impressive 6-0 weekend with a 9-1 win over the Gulf Coast Monarchs to take home the Elite World Series bid.