Some of the best 13u teams in the state and region descended upon Pineville to compete for a spot in the Perfect Game Super 25 National Championship next Summer. 5 of our top 10 12u teams from last year were in action with many going head-to-head. In the end, Dirtbags MVP (previously Minion) established themselves as perhaps the 13u team to beat in North Carolina with a 5-0 weekend and a tournament title. Here we recap the games from this past weekend in Pineville.
Pool Play
Pool play games started Friday night with Canes Charlotte - Wearing notching an 8-7 win over Ultimate Performance Griffin and Carolina Rockies - Wilson, who finished 5th in our final 2017-2018 12u rankings, and Dirtbags Nationals ending their contest in an 8-8 tie. The Rockies fell 9-5 against TPA Nationals - Christman in their other pool play game on Saturday. On Saturday, Ultimate Performance Griffin notched an 11-1 win over Carolina Elite Gold to finish 1-1 in pool play. Dirtbags MVP, who finished #2 in our final 12u rankings last year, scored a 10-5 win over Carolina Elite Gold and an 11-1 win over the Upward Stars in their two pool play games. Dirtbags TBM, who finished #6 in our final 12u rankings last year, notched a 15-5 win over Canes Charlotte - Wearing and a 2-1 win over Upward Stars in pool play. The Sanford Cobras, who finished 10th in our final 12u rankings last year, went 2-0 in pool play with a 15-0 win over Loco Stealth - Rodriguez (SC) and a 6-3 win over the TPA Nationals. Golden Spikes went 0-2 in their pool play games on Saturday, falling 10-8 against the HPT HiToms and 13-4 against Dirtbags Nationals, who finished 1-0-1 in pool play. The HiToms fell 5-2 against Loco Stealth in their other pool play game on Saturday.
Based on the results from Saturday, the Sanford Cobras earned the top seed for bracket play, and the only bye into the semifinal round.
Bracket Play
In the consolation games on Sunday, Upward Stars scored a 6-5 win over Carolina Elite Gold, Golden Spikes rolled to a 16-6 win over Loco Stealth - Rodriguez, and Carolina Rockies - Wilson scored a 5-2 win over Canes Charlotte - Wearing. In the quarterfinal round of bracket play, TPA Nationals - Christman notched a 4-2 win over Dirtbags TBM, Dirtbags MVP scored a 6-3 win over the HiToms, and Dirtbags Nationals edged past Ultimate Performance - Griffin 7-6. In the first semifinal game, Dirtbags MVP and the TPA Nationals went 8 innings, with TPA taking a 5-4 lead in the top of the 8th, only to be answered by 2 runs from the Dirtbags to take a 6-5 win and move onto the finals. In the other semifinal matchup, the Sanford Cobras got out to a 9-6 lead through 3 innings and held on for a 10-8 win over Dirtbags Nationals. In the finals, Dirtbags MVP finished off a 5-0 weekend and punched their ticket to the Super 25 National Championship next summer blowing open a tight game with 7 runs in the top half of the 7th inning to take a 10-2 win over the Sanford Cobras.
**Admin Note: we received an update from a reader that in the finals, the lights at the park went out in the 7th inning. Consequently, the game was called prior to the Cobras getting their at bat in the 7th innings. The game was called and Dirtbags MVP was declared the winner as they held a 3-2 lead after the 6th inning, which was the final, full completed inning.**