Feels good to be doing a recap again. This past weekend, several teams from North Carolina made the trip down to Lake City, Florida to compete in the Perfect Game Battle of Lake City. This event, included nationally ranked in multiple age groups, and our #2 11u team (Park Sharon Nationals - Pirro), our #4 12u team (SBA Futures), and our #1 13u team (SBA Futures). He we recap the action from Lake City this past weekend.
**Admin update: we were informed that in the 13u age group, 5 Star National - Schlosser - who originally won the championship - had to forfeit due to use of an ineligible player. The player was apparently too old, however the infraction was not discovered until the finals. We have left the recap as it was, but just wanted to offer this clarification to our recap. Thanks to the readers who let us know.**
11u
On Saturday, the NC #2 Park Sharon Nationals rolled through their first 3 pool play games, notching a 10-2 win over 5 Star Tigers - Alvelo (FL), an 11-2 win over the Georgia Batmen, and a 9-1 win over Premier (FL). The Nationals finished off pool play with a 19-1 blowout of Jr. Mavz Red (SC) and earned the #1 seed for bracket play. In the semifinals, however, the Nationals fell against national #14 Tampa Elite by the score of 9-5. In the other semifinal, the Georgia Batmen topped Gatorball - Sapp (FL) 5-4. In the finals, the Georgia Batmen finished off the weekend with an 11-8 win over Tampa Elite.
12u
North Carolina's #4 team, the SBA Futures, posted a 1-1 record in pool play on Saturday, notching a 12-3 win over Temple Terrace Seminoles (FL) before falling by the score of 14-3 to national #5 FCA BlueClaws - Hannah. In their final two pool play games on Sunday, the Futures topped the GBSA Rays (FL) 9-1 before falling 11-2 to the Southern Nationals (GA). This left them in 5th place after pool play, and out of the championship bracket.
Canes SC - Staats, made up largely of players from previous SC #2 Charleston Revolution - Whittle, will be a team to watch in South Carolina this summer. They went 1-1 on Saturday with an 8-0 win over Temple Terrace Seminoles before falling 9-1 against FCA BlueClaws - Hannah. The Canes went 2-0 on Sunday in pool play with a 16-10 win over the GBSA Rays (FL) and a 12-3 win over the Gulf Coast Monarchs (FL). This earned the Canes the #2 seed in bracket play. In the semifinals, FCA BlueClaws - Hannah topped the Southern Nationals 7-3 and Canes - Staats scored a 3-2 win over the Gulf Coast Monarchs. In the finals FCA BlueClaws - Hannah finished off an undefeated weekend with a 9-0 win over Canes - Staats.
13u
The 13u age group featured 19 teams spread across 3 pools, including NC #1 and national #10 SBA Futures, who were in pool C. The SBA Nationals also made the trip down to Lake City, and were in pool C for pool play. Pool C also featured national #22, the Ohio Spiders. Pool A was led by Team Warstic Hawk Clan - Harmon (FL), who went 3-0-1 in pool play, as well as Team Georgia National, who finished 3-1 in pool play. Pool B was highlighted by national #4 5 Star National - Schlosser (FL), as well as national honor roll members Gulf Coast Monarchs (FL) and 5 Star National - Haynes (GA). The Gulf Coast Monarchs led the way in pool B, going 3-0-1, and were followed closely by Kangaroo Court Roos - National 2025 and 5 Star National - Schlosser, who both finished 3-1 in pool play.
In pool C, the SBA Nationals finished 2-2 with a 14-4 win over Team Georgia Gold and an 8-6 loss against the Ohio Spiders on Saturday, followed by a 6-5 loss against Chet Lemon's Juice and a 10-3 win over 5 Star - Olive on Sunday. This, however, left them out of the championship bracket on Sunday afternoon. The SBA Futures were impressive in pool C, going 4-0 on Friday and Saturday to finish as the only team in the event to end pool play with a 4-0 record. They started pool play on Friday night with an 8-2 win over 5 Star - Olive (FL) and a 4-2 win over Chet Lemon's Juice. On Saturday, they notched a 10-2 win over Team Georgia Gold before a come from behind 9-6 win over the Ohio Spiders to finish with top seed in bracket play for Sunday. Unfortunately for the Futures, their run came to end in the quarterfinals with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of 5 Star National - Schlosser. 5 Star National - Schlosser went on to defeat Kangaroo Court Roos - National 2025 15-2 in the semifinals, and the Gulf Coast Monarchs by the score of 10-6 in the finals.