It was a big weekend of action at the USSSA sites this past weekend. 9u #1 Park Sharon and 11u #1 SBA Canes – Ross were both in action this weekend. The 10u age group had multiple ranked teams in action, including a matchup of 9u #1 Park Sharon and #2 SBA Canes – Simmons. The 12u age group in Charlotte featured a match up of #2 Minion and #3 Park Sharon Nationals. Check out our recap of the weekend’s games.
Charlotte
8u
Team 24 Gamecocks went 2-0 on Saturday with a 10-8 win over Cherryville Bulldogs and an 8-5 win over the Hub City Hops. Cherryville topped the Carolina Reds in their other pool play game 9-1 while Hub City scored a 17-1 win over the Reds. In bracket play, Team 24 topped the Reds 14-1 while Hub City beat Cherryville 9-1. In the finals, Team 24 completed a 4-0 weekend with a 14-6 win over Hub City.
9u
Athlete’s Lab Crushers went 2-0 on Saturday in this 3-team field scoring an 11-3 win over Team 24 Gamecocks – Wilson and a 10-2 win over Cherryville Baseball. Cherryville topped Team 24 5-4 in their other pool play game. On Sunday, Cherryville scored a 10-2 win over Team 24 to reach the finals. In the finals, Athlete’s Lab edged out Cherryville 6-5 to take home the title. Athlete’s Lab Crushers also scored an 11-5 win over Team 24 in a consolation game to finish 4-0 for the weekend.
10u
9u #1 Park Sharon Nationals went 1-1 on Saturday playing up in the 10u age group, scoring an 11-3 win over the South Park Warriors but falling 5-4 to the Carolina Reds. 9u #2 SBA Canes – Simmons also played up this weekend and went 1-1 on Saturday with a 9-1 win over the Carolina Red Sox, but falling 11-9 to #13 Carolina Havoc. The Havoc fell 8-7 to the Carolina Reds in their other pool play game. #18 Mission Vipers Black went 2-0 on Saturday with a 9-7 win over CBC and an 18-3 win over the LKN Dingers. #19 Mission Vipers Gold went 1-1 in pool play with a 12-11 win over CBC and a 7-4 loss to the Tega Cay Titans (SC).
Bracket play was divided into three brackets for Sunday. In bracket #1, Canes – Simmons topped the Carolina Red Sox 10-2 to set up a match up of the top two 9u teams in the state, Park Sharon and SBA Canes – Simmons. In the finals of bracket #1, Park Sharon got the better of Canes – Simmons with a 9-1 win. In bracket #2, Mission Vipers Gold topped CBC 8-0 in the play-in game. In the semifinals, Mission Gold scored an 11-0 win over the Tega Cay Titans while the Carolina Havoc notched a 6-4 win over Mission Vipers Black. In the finals, Mission Gold scored their third shut out of the day with a 9-0 win over the Carolina Havoc. In bracket #3, the SBA Canes topped the South Park Warriors 9-7 to reach the finals against the Carolina Reds. In the finals, the Reds notched a 9-1 win over the SBA Canes.
11u
#1 SBA Canes – Ross went 1-0 on Saturday with an 11-6 win over #12 Vision Bandits as their afternoon game appears to have been rained out. The Vision Bandits topped SBA Canes – Jones 19-4 in their other pool play game. #10 Carolina Athletics scored a 16-0 win over Elite 9 (SC) in their only pool play game, while the Carolina Astros notched a 13-3 win over Elite 9 in their only game on Saturday. In bracket play on Sunday, the Vision Bandits edged the Athletics 3-2 while SBA Canes – Ross narrowly defeated the Astros 8-7. In the finals, Canes – Ross completed and undefeated weekend with a 10-2 win over the Bandits.
12u
#2 Minion did not get to play any pool play games on Saturday. #3 Park Sharon Nationals went 2-0 on Saturday with a 10-0 win over Carolina Vipers – White and an 8-0 win over South Athletics. 11u #2 Carolina Blue Sox went 1-1 on Saturday playing up with a 9-7 win over Carolina Prime and a 7-1 loss to Heat Baseball. Prime fell 8-4 against Academy Baseball – WCWAA in their other pool play game. The On Deck O’s Black scored a 16-0 win over the BlackSox in their only game on Saturday. In bracket play on Sunday, Minion topped Team 24 Gamecocks – Wilson 9-3 while Southern Athletics scored a 5-2 win over the Blue Sox. In the semifinals, Minion defeated the On Deck O’s Black 7-4 and Park Sharon rolled to a 12-2 win over Southern Athletics to set up a match up of the #2 and #3 teams in the 12u age group. In the finals, Minion got out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning only to surrender their own 3 run inning in the 4th and took a 4-3 lead into the 6th. In the top of the 6th, Minion added 3 insurance runs and held on for a 7-4 win.
13u
SBA Canes – Cruz went 2-0 on Saturday with an 8-0 win over Heat Baseball – Black and a 9-0 win over Gators Baseball. Copperheads – Barozzino went 2-0 with a 16-5 win over Heat Baseball – Red and an 8-4 win over the Carolina Prospects. In the semifinals, SBA Canes – Cruz topped the Charleston Mud Dogs 7-1 and Copperheads – Barozzino scored a 5-1 win over Heat Baseball – Black. In the finals, Canes – Cruz was able to take an 11-7 win over Copperheads – Barozzino to finish 4-0 for the weekend.
Greensboro
8u
#5 Carolina Vandals and #6 Reidsville Luckies faced off in pool play on Saturday and the Luckies came away with an 11-6 win. The Luckies topped the Summerfield Stars 9-6 and the Vandals scored a 4-3 win over the Stars in their other pool play games. GRIT 8u also went 2-0 in pool play with a 13-12 win over Rogue Baseball and a 12-4 win over GRIT 7u. In the play-in games, the Vandals topped GRIT 7u 15-1 and the Summerfield Stars scored an 11-0 win over Rogue Baseball. In the semifinals, GRIT 8u topped the Vandals 13-8 while the Stars got revenge on the Luckies with a 10-3 win. In the finals, the Stars completed a 3-0 day and a comeback from an 0-2 pool play showing with a 14-1 win over GRIT 8u.
9u
The Summerfield Stars went 2-0 on Saturday with a 13-4 win over Dirtbags VA and a 12-3 win over the Davidson County Rippers. The Diamond Deacons also went 2-0 in pool play scoring a 10-5 win over the Carolina Red Sox and a 7-3 win over the Pfafftown Raiders. In the play-in game, the GBC Prospects rolled to a 28-2 win over the Carolina Strikers. In the semifinals, the Diamond Deacons notched a 14-4 win over Proehlific Power while the Summerfield Stars scored a 9-0 win over the Prospects. In the finals, the Stars completed an undefeated weekend with a 9-8 win over the Diamond Deacons.
10u
#9 GRIT – Koonin went 2-0 in pool play with a 12-1 win over the GBC Prospects and a 12-3 win over Proehlific Power. The Sandhills Stingrays also went 2-0 on Saturday with a 12-6 win over the Diamond Deacons and a 10-4 win over GRIT. The Carolina Patriots also went 2-0 in pool play with a 9-1 win over the Knockouts and a 13-6 win over the Triad Thunder. In the Gold bracket play-in game, GRIT edged out Proehlific Power 6-5. In the semifinals, the Sandhills Stingrays topped the Carolina Patriots 5-2 and GRIT – Koonin topped GRIT 12-4. In the finals, the Sandhills Stingrays scored an 11-8 win over GRIT – Koonin to finish 4-0 for the weekend.
11u
The Pilot Mountain Dirtbags went 2-0 on Saturday with a 9-7 win over the NCBA Tar Heels and a 7-6 win over the Kernersville Bulldogs. The Virginia Militia also went 2-0 on Saturday with an 8-5 win over the Stokes Sox and a 6-1 win over the Triad Thunder. In the play-in games, Power Baseball topped GRIT – Jones 7-6 and the Kernersville Bulldogs scored a 6-2 win over the Knockouts. In the semifinals, the Pilot Mountain Dirtbags topped Power Baseball 7-2 while the Militia scored an 11-3 win over the Bulldogs. In the match up of unbeatens in the finals, the Militia edged out the Dirtbags 2-1 to take home the 11u title.
12u
#4 Five Star Carolina – Shelton went 2-0 on Saturday with a 13-2 win over Carolina Premier and a 14-6 win over the NCBA Royals. 11u #3 Five Star Carolina – Neyra went 1-1 on Saturday with a 13-10 loss to the Reidsville Luckies and a 9-8 win over the Carolina Red Sox. PBC also went 2-0 in pool play with a 10-3 win over Power Baseball and a 15-6 win over GRIT. In the play-in games, Carolina Premier topped Power Baseball 15-1 while the Luckies topped Proehlific Power 9-6. In the semifinals, Five Star – Shelton scored a 17-2 win over Premier while PBC blanked the Luckies 8-0. In the finals, Five Star Carolina – Shelton finished off a dominating weekend with a 9-1 win over PBC. Of note, in the Silver bracket Five Star Carolina – Neyra topped GRIT 9-2 in the semifinals, but fell 13-12 to the NCBA Royals in the finals.
13u
#3 Knights Prime went 2-0 on Saturday with a 4-0 win over Rural Hall Express and a 8-4 win over King Kryptonite. The Pilot Mountain Dirtbags also went 2-0 on Saturday with a 6-0 win over the NCBA Yankees and a 14-0 win over Rockies – Hawks. In the quarterfinal play-in games, Knights Prime scored an 8-1 win over the NCBA Yankees, Rural Hall Express topped King Kryptonite 10-7, and Proehlific Power beat Rockies – Hawks 11-8. In the semifinals, the Dirtbags topped Proehlific Power 5-2 while Knights Prime rolled to a 10-2 win over the Express. In the finals, Knights Prime completed a 5-0 weekend with an 8-0 win over the Pilot Mountain Dirtbags. For the weekend, the Knights outscored their 5 opponents a combined 38-7.
Morganton One Day
8u
The WNC Braves went 2-0 in pool play with a 19-5 win over the RBA Heels and a 16-1 win over Equip. The Lincoln County River Rats also went 2-0 in pool play with a 14-4 win over Equip 7u and a 15-9 win over Equip 8u. In the finals, the River Rats scored a 15-3 win over the Braves.
9u
Equip went 2-0 in pool play with a 18-3 win over the CCBA Bombers and a 9-7 win over the Venom Stars. The Stars topped the Ashe Aces 24-1 in their other pool play game and earned a spot in the finals. In the finals, Equip topped the Stars again, this time by the score of 10-2.
In the Canton bracket, Diamond Mine went 2-0 in pool play scoring a 14-2 win over McDowell Braves Red and an 11-0 win over the Asheville Braves. RBA also earned a spot in the finals with a 5-1 win over the McDowell Braves and an 11-5 win over the Asheville Braves. In the finals, RBA blanked Diamond Mine 4-0 to take home the title.
10u
American
Crosstrain went 2-0 in pool play with a 12-7 win over Heat Black and a 6-2 win over the EW Havoc. They matched up against RBA Heels White in the finals after RBA scored a 5-5 tie against Heat Black and a 6-6 tie against EW Havoc. In the finals, Crosstrain edged out the Heels 6-5 to finish 3-0 for the day.
National
The Carolina Crusaders went 2-0 in pool play with a 19-1 win over the Venom Stars and an 8-2 win over McDowell. They met Diamond Mine in the finals after Diamond Mine went 2-0 in pool play with a 17-8 win over Ashe Aces 2026 and a 24-4 win over McDowell. In the finals, Diamond Mine scored a 9-5 win over the Crusaders.
11u
American
NC SWAT went 2-0 on Saturday with an 8-2 win over Carolina Travelers Blue and an 8-1 win over AC Outlaws. The Travelers topped WCW Red 13-1 win in their other pool play game and qualified for the finals. In the finals, the Travelers got revenge on SWAT with a 5-3 win.
National
WCW Black went 2-0 in pool play with a 9-1 win over the Blue Ridge Bomb Squad and a 12-4 win over RBA Heels White. RBA scored a 9-1 win over the Bomb Squad in their other game in pool A. In pool B, the McDowell Titans went 2-0 with a 9-5 win over Carolina Renegades and a 12-10 win over RBA Heels Blue. The Renegades topped Heels Blue 8-3 in their other pool play game. In the finals, the Titans scored a 12-0 win over WCW Black.
12u
American
In pool play, Cougars Baseball went 1-0-1 with a 6-6 tie against WCW and an 11-1 win over the Belmont Kingsmen. The Kingsmen scored a 5-4 win over WCW in their other pool play game. In the finals, Cougars Baseball notched a 15-0 win over the Belmont Kingsmen.
National
RBA White went 1-1 in pool play with a 12-1 win over Equip Sports and a 9-1 loss to Ashe Aces. RBA Blue also went 1-1 with an 11-9 win over the Ashe Aces and a 7-3 loss to Equip Sports. RBA White and Ashe Aces both qualified for the finals, despite 1-1 records for all four teams in the field. In the finals RBA White scored a 13-5 win over the Ashe Aces.
13u
RBA Heels White went 2-0 in pool play with a 14-10 win over WCW and a 15-6 win over RBA Blue. Athlete’s Lab Crushers went 1-1 in pool play with a 7-5 win over RBA Heels Blue and a 7-2 loss to WCW. Apparently no final was able to be played.
In Canton, the McDowell Titans went 2-0 with a 4-1 win over Diamond Mine Camo and a 7-2 win over Inferno. Diamond Mine Camo topped the Carolina Travelers 10-2 in their other pool play game. In the finals, Diamond Mine Camo scored a 4-2 win over the McDowell Titans.
Newtown
10u
The AC Sluggers went 2-0 on Saturday with a 20-1 win over the Morganton Venom and a 10-7 win over Cougars Baseball. Heat Baseball Red also went 2-0 in pool play with a 10-8 win over Cougars Baseball and a 7-6 win over Heat Black. In the play-in game, Cougars Baseball scored a 13-0 win over the Morganton Venom. In the semifinals, Heat Baseball Red topped Heat Baseball Black 11-9 while the Sluggers scored an 11-4 win over Cougars Baseball. In the finals, Heat Baseball Red was able to secure a 9-5 win over the AC Sluggers to take the 10u title.