Although many of the top teams are in action in the USSSA Beast of the East this weekend, there is still a lot of baseball going on at the various Top Gun sites this weekend. We will preview some of the action here:
Charlotte
9u
New #4 Piedmont Panthers will look to stay hot this weekend, and they’ll face #8 Lake Norman Thunder and the LKN Hurricanes in pool play on Saturday. The Panthers are 19-1 this fall but have not yet met up with the Thunder, so this should be an excellent game between these two teams. The Thunder will also face the LKN Hurricanes in pool play. The MARA Thunder are also in the field and will go up against Elite 9 and the OTK Saints.
10u
#13 Triple Crown Lookouts are the highest ranked 10u team in the field, and will face Elite 9 – Moore and Team 24 Gamecocks – Bailey (SC) on Saturday. Aces – Edwards, who have been on the cusp of a top 20 spot all season, will face the On Deck O’s and Concord Comets in pool play. This should be a very competitive division, as many of these teams have faced off already this fall. Notably, Aces – Edwards could stake their claim to a top 20 spot with a strong weekend. They already own a 19-3 victory over the Triple Crown Lookouts this fall.
11u
This is a big, 15-team field in the 11u Open division this weekend. The highest ranked team in the field is the #10 Park Sharon Nationals. They’ll face the SBA Canes and Rivals Baseball in pool play. They are 2-0 against the Canes this fall with two close victories (14-9, 9-8) and 1-0 against Rivals Baseball (14-13) so both of these games should be competitive. Team USA Diamond King will look to stabilize what has been an inconsistent fall for them, and they’ll face the Triple Crown Lookouts and Carolina Heat SC on day 1. The LKN Attack should also be in the hunt for the championship this weekend, and they’ll start with Rivals Baseball and YC in pool play.
12u
With no top 20 teams in the 12u field this weekend, this should be a very competitive division. Pro-Fit Spartans should be one of the top teams in the field and will face the Stealth Elite Thunderbirds and Team Carolina in pool play. Elite – Storm should also be in the mix for the title on Sunday and will face the LKN Hurricanes and the Hickory Hurricanes on Saturday.
13u
There are both 54/80 and 60/90 13u divisions this weekend. Similar to the 12u field, there are no top 20 teams in the 54/80 13u age group this weekend. Elite Baseball should be competitive in the 54/80 division and will face the Carolina Bears (SC) and Muddogs Baseball in pool play. In the 60/90 division, Copperheads – Evernham have been in and out of the top 20 throughout the fall. They’ll start their tournament run against the Concord Athletics and Aces – Moon in pool play. The On Deck O’s Black should also been in the mix for the championship this weekend and will face Cherryville Baseball and the Lake Wylie Warriors (SC) on Saturday.
Goldsboro
9u
This will be a small, 3-team field featuring #18 Neuse River Broncos going up against the Carolina Freedom and Greenville Athletics – Givens
10u
This will be a very competitive 5-team division with #4 Port City Rebels, #17 Stix, and #18 Wendell Knights all in the field. The Stix will face both the Port City Rebels and the Wendell Knights on Saturday. The Knights will also go against the East Carolina Bombers and the Rebels will face the New Bern Flames in their other pool play game. All five teams will play in the Gold bracket on Sunday so all of these teams will be in the mix for a title regardless of the outcomes on Saturday.
12u
None of our top 20 in the 12u age group are in this field. Carolina Titans Blue have been in top 20 one week this fall, and will face Akadema Baseball and Greenville Athletics – Everette in pool play. Akadema will also go against the Pitt County Diamond Dogs in pool play.
13u
After a tough showing at the Winter World Series, #11 Diamond Thieves will look to get back to their top form this weekend. They’ll face off against the South Wake Blue Storm and the Clayton Stampede this Saturday. I would expect to see the Diamond Thieves roll this weekend as this is a largely D3 field outside of the Diamond Thieves.
Fayetteville
9u
None of our top 20 are in the 9u field this weekend in Fayetteville. This is a D3 division and will be very competitive. The NSA Bombers should have a good shot to win this weekend and will face the Richmond County Diamondbacks and the MVP Warriors on Saturday. Outside of the Bombers, this division should be wide open.
10u
Much like the 9u age group, the 10u age group is a largely D3 division with no top 20 teams in the field. The Richmond Rockies are perhaps the top team in this field and will face Bomb Squad and Sandhills Stingrays Blue in pool play. I’d expect to see the Rockies roll into bracket play on Sunday. Despite the Rockies appearing to be the prohibitive favorite in this age group, anything can happen as evidenced by the NSA Prospects 10-7 win over the Rockies earlier this fall. The Prospects will face the Palmetto State Copperheads and CDP – Derick in pool play.
11u
The 11u age group does not have any top 20 teams in the field, and should also be very competitive. The NSA Thunder look to be one of the favorites this weekend, carrying a 26-7 record this fall into the weekend. They’ll face Raptors Baseball and the Sandhills Stingrays on Saturday. Outside of the Thunder, this will be a largely D3 field.
13u 54/80
There are both D2 and D3 divisions at the 13u age group this weekend. The D2 tournament is a 4-team field with none of our top 20 in the field. Heat Baseball will go up against CDP – Roper and CDP – Graham on Saturday, while the West Raleigh Warriors will face CDP – Roper and CDP – Graham as well.