There were a lot of top 20 teams in action at the Top Gun sites this past weekend as over 200 teams were in action across multiple age groups. 12u #7 Five Star Carolina – Shelton was impressive in their debut this spring. Here’s a brief recap of the weekend’s North Carolina Top Gun games.
Charlotte
9u
#11 Lake Norman Thunder was the highest ranked team in the field and they got things started on Saturday with a 12-11 win over LKN Hurricanes – Phillips and a 10-2 win over SBA Canes – Callahan. #10 Mount Holly Lightning went 1-1 in pool play with a 7-6 win over Storm and a 3-2 loss to the OTK Saints. The Roberson Ramblers took the top seed in bracket play, going 2-0 on Saturday with a 8-0 win over the Belmont Bandits and an 8-3 win over the OTK Saints. Stealth Elite Eagles grabbed the #2 seed with a 7-2 win over LKN Hurricanes – Phillips and a 13-3 in over SBA LKN Canes – Rinaman. On Sunday, the Thunder topped the Lightning 7-3 in one play-in game, while the OTK Saints took out the Bulldogs 10-5 in the other play-in game. In the semifinals, Stealth Elite edged the OTK Saints 3-2 while the Ramblers took a 1-run 7-6 win over the Thunder. In the finals, Stealth Elite was able to complete the 4-0 weekend with a 7-4 win over the Ramblers.
10u
American
#4 Rawlings Stars went 2-0 on Saturday with a 15-6 win over the Lake Norman Hammerheads and a 15-5 win over the Mallard Creek Miners. #6 Belmont Bandits went 1-1 in pool play with a 9-6 loss to Team 24 Gamecocks – Bailey (SC) and a 5-2 win over the Roberson Ramblers. The Kannapolis Cannons earned the #1 seed after going 2-0 in pool play with a 19-3 win over the Mallard Creek Miners and a 22-3 win over the Hammerheads. On Sunday, Team 24 topped the Rawlings Stars 13-8 in one semifinal, while the Bandits blasted the Cannons 19-2 in the other semifinal. In the finals, Team 24 was able to get out to a big lead on their way to a 16-6 win over the Bandits.
11u
American
#10 LKN Attack was the highest ranked team in the field and went 2-0 on Saturday, scoring a 15-2 win over Copperheads – Russ and a 15-5 win over Black Mambas. #12 LKN Hurricanes went 2-0 on Saturday with a 12-4 win over Copperheads – Russ and a 14-9 win over Black Mambas. The #2 seed went to the On Deck O’s, who notched a 14-4 win over Team 24 Gamecocks – Latham (SC) and a 8-3 win over Copperheads – Russ. In the semifinals on Sunday, the On Deck O’s took out the LKN Hurricanes 6-5 while the LKN Attack topped Copperheads – Rowland 5-4. In the finals, LKN attack was able to get by the On Deck O’s with a 5-3 win to finish 4-0 for the weekend.
12u
American
#7 Five Star Carolina – Shelton was in action this weekend and was put the 12u age group on notice early on with a 13-3 win over the SBA Canes and a 10-0 win over Copperheads – Gaffney which earned them the top seed for bracket play. #12 SBA LKN Carolina Cobras also went 2-0 on Saturday with a 17-2 win over Copperheads – Shabosky and a 14-4 win over 11u #2 SBA Canes – Ross, who was playing up this weekend. Canes – Ross won their other pool play, scoring an 8-3 win over Copperheads – Gaffney. #20 Carolina Prime 2024 went 1-1 on Saturday with a 10-2 win over Copperheads – Shabosky and a 13-1 loss to Team 24 Gamecocks – Stiles (SC). On Sunday, Team 24 topped the Cobras 4-3 while Five Star beat Carolina Prime 2024 8-0. In the finals, Five Star outlasted Team 24 for a 15-12 win. Canes – Ross lost their first Silver bracket game 8-2 to Copperheads – Shabosky on Sunday.
13u
Copperheads – Barozzino went 1-1 on Saturday with a 14-2 win over the Triple Crown Lookouts and a 12-10 loss to Karolina Kraken, which earned them the #2 seed for Sunday. The Kraken also suffered an 8-7 loss to the Lookouts, which dropped them to the #4 seed for Sunday. Elite Baseball EBC earned the top seed in bracket play following a 12-3 win over Fury Baseball and a 13-3 win over HQ4 Clippers Blue. On Sunday, Elite Baseball rolled in their semifinal against the Kraken with a 10-0 win, while the Copperheads pulled out a 14-6 win over Stingrays Baseball. In the finals, the Copperheads were able to get by Elite Baseball with a 9-7 win.
Goldsboro
9u
The Carolina Freedom went 2-0 in pool play with a 20-9 win over the JoCo Spartans and a 19-0 win over the North Wake Force. The Carolina Armor also went 2-0 on Saturday scoring a 17-6 win over the Carolina Raiders and a 13-5 win over the Force. On Sunday, the Freedom edged past Bomberz Baseball 9-8 in one semifinal, while the Armor defeated the Force 16-0 in the other semifinal. In the finals, the Freedom got the best of the Armor with a 10-7 win to complete a 4-0 weekend.
10u
The 10u field was a 15-team D3 field this weekend in Goldsboro. The Carolina Muddawgs went 1-1 on Saturday with an 18-4 win over the OC Sluggers followed by an 11-4 loss to the Cleveland Wildcats. The Wildcats went 2-0 in pool play with a 14-4 win over the OC Sluggers in addition to their win over the Muddawgs. In bracket play, the Muddwags defeated the Clinton Colts 8-4 in one play-in game, while PITT413 defeated the Carolina Pilots 10-6 in the other play-in game. In the semifinals, the Muddawgs defeated the Wildcats 8-6 in their rematch, while PITT413 fell 6-5 to the Rocky Mount Raiders. In the finals, the Muddawgs outlasted the Raiders with an 8-6 win to finish 4-1 for the weekend.
12u
The Trent River Stingrays went 2-0 on Saturday, scoring an 8-3 win over the Carolina Rage and a 6-3 win over Gettin Dirty. On Sunday, Gettin Dirty defeated the Jacksonville Generals 9-2 in the play-in game. In the semifinals, the Stingrays again defeated Gettin Dirty this time by the score of 5-3, while the RBI Raptors defeated the Carolina Rage 7-4. In the finals, the Stingrays completed their 4-0 weekend with a 13-3 win over the RBI Raptors.
Indian Trail
8u
Union County Crush – Gadd went 2-0 on Saturday with a 12-8 win over the Union County Crush – Bennett and an 11-3 win over Anson Raptors. On Sunday, Crush – Gadd defeated the Anson Raptors 9-8 to take the title, but fell 10-6 to the Lake Norman Lightning, who were playing Sunday-only games
9u
#13 Piedmont Panthers went 2-0 on Saturday, scoring a 14-2 win over #19 Carolina Blue Mizuno and a 17-16 win over #14 Union County Crush – Walker. Carolina Blue also scored a 19-2 win over the Crush – Walker in their other pool play game. In bracket play, Carolina Blue scored another win over Crush – Walker by the score of 13-7. In the semifinals, the Panthers notched a 20-0 win over Copperheads – Moffitt while Carolina Blue scored a 14-1 win over Union County Crush – Walker. Unfortunately, the finals rematch between Carolina Blue and the Piedmont Panthers was rained out.
10u
In the D1 division, #17 Aces – Edwards went 1-1 on Saturday with a 20-13 win over Panthers and a 13-11 loss to the Sandhills Stingrays. The Stingrays were defeated 9-6 by the Union County Crush – Homewood in their other pool pay game. In bracket play, Aces – Edwards topped Crush – Homewood 18-6 while the Stingrays blanked the Pantheres 15-0. In the finals, the Stingrays again edged out Aces – Edwards 10-9.
11u
Team Husqvarna went 2-0 on Saturday with a 13-2 win over Carolina Fury – Matthews and a 15-0 win over Concord Athletics. Aces – Thompson also went 2-0 in pool play with a 16-3 win over the Carrbus Knights and a 13-1 win over Stars Baseball, which was enough to earn them the #2 seed. In bracket play, the Fury defeated the Knights 14-4 in the play-in game. In the semifinals, Team Husqvarna defeated the Fury 10-4 while Aces topped Stars Baseball 12-4. Unfortunately much like the 10u’s, the 11’s had their final rained out.
Wake County
8u
It was an absolutely loaded 8u field in Wake County this weekend with #2 Carolina Threshers, #4 Greenville Athletics, and #5 Dirtbags Black all in the field. On Saturday, the Threshers went 2-0 with a 20-14 win over the NCDB Rivercats and a 12-9 win over Greenville Athletics. The Athletics also scored a 13-6 win over the Rivercats, who drew a tough pool play schedule with two top 5 teams. Dirtbags Black also went 2-0 on Saturday with a 15-9 win over Dirtbags East and a 16-8 win over the Leland Lugnuts. On Sunday, Dirtbags East topped the Lugnuts 8-7 in one play-in game, while the Rivercats pulled off a surprising 28-11 win over the Athletics. In the semifinals, Dirtbags East got their revenge on Dirtbags Black with a 14-10 win, while the Threshers pulled off a come from behind 15-14 win over the Rivercats by scoring two runs in the bottom of the 6th inning, after being down 9-1 heading into the bottom of the 4th inning. In the finals, the Threshers powered their way to an 18-3 win over Dirtbags East to complete their 4-0 weekend.
9u
#15 Coach’s Box Broncos went 2-0 on Saturday with a 9-4 win over #16 NCDB Rivercats and a 10-6 win over MVP Red. NCDB finished 1-1 with a 15-7 win over the North Wake Warriors in addition to their loss to the Broncos. On Sunday, NCDB scored a 10-0 win over MVP Red in one semifinal, while the Broncos blanked the North Wake Warriors 6-0 in the other semifinal. In the finals, the Broncos scored their second win of the weekend over NCDB with a 7-2 victory.
10u
#12 Carolina Thunder went a surprising 0-2 on Saturday with a 12-11 loss to the Walk Off Academy Warriors and a 9-8 loss to the East Carolina Bombers. The South Wake Storm earned the top seed for bracket play going 2-0 on Saturday with a 9-6 win over the Warriors and a 9-1 win over the Bombers. On Sunday, the Thunder topped the Storm 10-5, while the Bombers blanked the Warriors 10-0. In the finals, the Bombers topped the Thunder 7-3 to finish 3-1 for the weekend.
11u
In the open division, #5 Cleveland Wildcats Elite went 1-1 on Saturday, scoring a 24-4 win over #19 Dirt Devils and a 8-6 loss to #14 North Wake Fungo, and were relegated to the Silver bracket for Sunday play. The Dirt Devils lost their other pool play game against Dirtbags East by the score of 10-4 to finish 0-2 on Saturday, which placed them to the Silver bracket as well. #11 Carolina Pilots went 0-2 on Saturday with a 12-4 loss to South Johnston and a 8-7 loss to #16 Team Ghost, and was also bounced to the Silver bracket. Team Ghost finished 2-0 on Saturday with a 9-8 win over Fungo, in addition to their 1-run win over the Pilots. Dirtbags East scored an 8-1 win over Riptide in their other pool play game, which earned them the top seed for bracket play on Sunday. In Gold bracket play, Team Ghost topped South Johnston 11-1 while Fungo edged Dirtbags East 7-6. In the finals, Fungo scored another 1-run win with a 6-5 win over Team Ghost. The Carolina Pilots went 2-0 on Sunday with a 10-2 win over the Riptide and a 7-4 win over the Cleveland Wildcats Elite to win the Silver bracket.
12u
There was an 11-team D1 12u division this weekend in Wake County. #3 Legends Baseball was the headliner and they did not disappoint, going 2-0 on Saturday including a 16-6 win over the NCDB Rivercats and a 16-5 win over #8 Sandhills Heat. The Heat were defeated 12-4 to the Rivercats in their other pool play game on Saturday. #14 Sanford Cobras went 1-1 in pool play with a 9-8 win over #15 Carolina Thunder and a 3-0 loss to Xtreme Heights (VA). The Thunder were also defeated by #16 Rock Solid Red by the score of 12-4 in their other pool play game. Rock Solid went down 11-1 to the Richmond Spiders in their other pool play game. The Spiders also defeated Xtreme Heights 5-1 on Saturday to take the top spot for bracket play on Sunday. #18 Canes NC – Harland went 1-1 in pool play with a 9-8 win over the New Bern Flames and an 11-1 loss to the Carolina Titans – Wilson. The Titans finished with the #2 seed for bracket play after going 2-0 in pool play with a 10-4 win over New Bern in addition to their win over the Canes. In the play-in games on Sunday, Legends defeated Rock Solid Red 5-2 while Xtreme Heights took out the Cobras 8-7. In the semifinals, the Spiders edged Xtreme Heights 5-4 while Legends got past the Titans 8-6. In the finals, the Legends were able to complete a 5-0 weekend with a 12-2 win over the Spiders. With the results this weekend, Legends improved to 19-1 this spring and 41-4 overall as a 12u club. The Rivercats won the Silver bracket, scoring an 11-4 win over the New Bern Flames and an 8-6 win over Canes NC – Harland in the Silver bracket final.
13u
54/80
#5 Diamond Thieves went 2-0 on Saturday with a 10-0 win over the Carolina Rattlers and a 19-0 win over Zone Select. The North Wake Thunder also went 2-0 on Saturday, scoring an 8-4 win over the Five Star Wildcats and a 26-10 win over the Riptide. In the play-in games on Sunday, the Riptide defeated the Rattlers 6-5 while Zone Select scored a 5-4 win over Five Star Wildcats. The Diamond Thieves took out the Riptide 7-4 in their semifinal, however the other semifinal and subsequent final was rained out.
60/90
#9 Carolina Naturals went 2-0 on Saturday with a 6-4 win over the West Raleigh Skeeters and a 7-6 win over Warhawks Baseball. Bluechip Athletes earned the top seed for bracket play after scoring an 11-7 win over the West Raleigh Warriors and a 6-1 win over Dirtbags Platinum – Teague. The TPA Nationals – Foster earned the #2 seed for bracket play with a 10-3 win over the Warriors and a 9-7 win over the Dirtbags. On Sunday, the Naturals defeated the Nationals 16-3 in one semifinal while the Skeeters notched a 3-2 win over Bluechip Athletes in the other semifinal. In the finals, the Naturals completed their 4-0 weekend with an 11-6 win over the West Raleigh Skeeters.
Wilmington
11u
The Carolina Rage went 2-0 on Saturday with an 11-1 win over the Carolina Wood Ducks and an 8-7 win over CB Chaos. Pirates Elite earned the #2 seed for bracket with a 2-0 showing in pool play including a 16-8 win over the Burgaw Nationals and a 13-3 win over the OC Sluggers. In bracket play, the Rage again topped the Chaos, this time by the score of 13-8, while Pirates Elite topped the DC Boys 12-2 in the other semifinal. In the finals, the Rage completed a 4-0 weekend with an 8-7 win over Pirates Elite.