Charlotte and Charleston saw numerous teams from our top 10's from last year facing off in early fall 2018 games. 9u LBC Vipers (#4 in final 2017-2018 8u rankings), 10u LBC Thunder (#7 in final 2017-2018 9u rankings), 10u Panthers (#8 in final 2017-2018 9u rankings), 12u SBA Premier (#1 in final 2017-2018 11u rankings), 12u Canes Baseball NC - Simpson (#4 in final 2017-2018 11u rankings), Mission Vipers Gold (#5 in final 2017-2018 11u rankings), and Big Game 2025 (#8 in final 2017-2018 11u rankings) were all in action this past weekend. Here's our recap from the weekend's games.
Charlotte
9u
The LBC Vipers, who finished 4th in our 2017-2018 8u rankings, went 2-0 in pool play with a 6-4 win over the Weddington Wolves and a 14-3 win over Dry Pond Baseball. South Charlotte also went 2-0 in pool play with a 17-4 win over Inferno Baseball/Wayne Automatic Fire and a 9-7 win over the HPT HIToms. In the 3-team, round-robin Gold bracket, the #1 seed Vipers scored an 11-3 win over South Charlotte and a 8-0 win over the HPT HIToms to take home the 9u title. The HIToms scored a 28-3 win over South Charlotte in their other Gold bracket game on Sunday.
10u
The Panthers, who finished #8 in our final 2017-2018 9u rankings, went 1-1 in pool play with an 11-7 loss against the LBC Thunder, who finished #7 in our final 9u rankings this past year, and a 14-2 win over SBA - Datta. The Thunder earned the #2 seed for bracket play after going 2-0 in pool play with a 23-3 win over SBA - Datta in addition to their win over the Panthers. The Carolina Flight earned the top seed in the Gold bracket with a 10-4 win over Team 24 Gamecocks - Wilson and a 15-0 win over the PR Regulators. In the Gold bracket semifinals, #2 seed LBC Thunder topped the On Deck O's 9-8 and #4 seed Panthers scored a 12-2 win over the Carolina Flight. In the finals, the Panthers blasted their way to a 17-14 win over the LBC Thunder.
11u
Rivals Baseball (SC) went 2-0 on Saturday with a 4-2 win over Ultimate Performance Red and a 9-0 win over Ultimate Performance to earn the top seed in the Gold bracket. The LKN Hurricanes also went 2-0 in pool play with a 10-1 win over the On Deck O's Orange and a 10-7 win over the Stealth Elite Orioles. The White Pines Flycatchers also went 2-o on Saturday with a 20-7 win over Raptors Baseball and a 12-4 win over Team 24 Gamecocks - Cormer. In the Gold bracket semifinals, the LKN Hurricanes scored a 14-6 win over the Flycatchers and Rivals edged the SC Venom 8-7. In the finals, the Hurricanes completed an undefeated weekend with a 7-3 win over Rivals.
12u
American
The Vision Bandits finished 2-0 in pool play with a 9-3 win over the 11u East Rowan Mustangs, who finished 9th in our final 2017-2018 10u rankings, and a 9-8 win over SBA Canes - Baldwin. SBA Canes - Erwin, who finished 12th in our final 11u rankings this past year, earned the #1 seed for bracket play with a 5-0 win over the Black Mambas and a 9-0 win over CBA Copperheads - Herkey. CBC Baseball Club earned the #2 seed in the Gold bracket after scoring a 15-0 win over the Stealth Elite Falcons and a 14-3 win over the Carolina Renegades. In the Gold bracket semifinals, the Vision Bandits scored a 16-10 win over CBC and SBA Canes - Erwin notched a 2-0 win over Grand Slam USA Stars. In the finals, the Vision Bandits notched a 16-11 win over SBA Canes - Erwin to finish 4-0 for the weekend.
National
12 teams battled it out in the 12u National division this past weekend in Charlotte. The Indian Trail Rivals earned the top seed in the Gold bracket after a 20-4 win over Ultimate Performance and an 18-1 win over the HQ4 Clippers. Aces - Thompson earned the #2 seed after scoring a 12-11 win over SBA LKN Canes Red and a 6-4 win over the Carolina Thunder. Union County Crush - McLean went 1-1 in pool play with a 7-4 loss against the Cabarrus Knights and a 16-2 win over the Carolina Heat NC. In the Gold bracket #4/5 play-in game, Union County Crush - McLean scored a 12-2 win over the Cabarrus Knights. In the #3/6 play-in game, CBA Copperheads - Rowland notched a 4-1 win over the LBC Lightning. In the semifinals, Crush - McLean scored a 6-4 win over Indian Trail Rivals and Aces - Thompson notched a 9-4 win over CBA Copperheads - Rowland. In the finals, Crush - McClean was able to edge past Aces - Thompson with a 6-5 win.
13u
HIToms Baseball went 2-0 in pool play with a 12-1 win over the Gold Hill Miners and a 13-3 win over the Concord Comets and earned the #2 seed for bracket play. CBC Baseball Club earned the top seed in the Gold bracket after a 3-1 win over the Park Sharon Nationals and an 11-1 win over the HQ4 Clippers. In the #4/5 Gold bracket play-in game, the Park Sharon Nationals topped the Pro-Fit Spartans 9-1. In the semifinals, HIToms Baseball scored an 8-0 win over Team Carolina and CBC Baseball Club edged Park Sharon 3-2. In the finals, HIToms Baseball scored another shut out win with an 8-0 win over CBC Baseball Club.
Charleston
12u
Some of the best 12u teams in North Carolina made the trek down to Charleston to play at the beautiful Shipyard Park. In total, 4 of the top 10 teams in our final 2017-2018 11u rankings were in the D1 field in Charleston this past weekend. SBA Premier, who finished #1 in our 2017-2018 final 11u rankings, went 1-1 in pool play with a 5-0 win over St. Andrews Rocks (SC) and a 7-6 loss against Canes Baseball NC - Simpson, who finished #4 in our final 11u rankings this past year. Canes - Simpson notched a 14-1 win over the OTK Saints, who finished #17 in last year's final 11u rankings, in their other pool play game. This earned Canes - Simpson the top seed for bracket play. The OTK Saints topped Mission Vipers Black 6-5 in their other pool play game, but failed to qualify for the Gold bracket for bracket play. Mission Vipers Gold, who finished #5 in our final 11u rankings last year, finished 1-1 in pool play with a 4-2 win over the Beaufort County Bombers Blue (SC) and a 9-4 loss against Big Game 2025, who finished #8 in our final 11u rankings last year. Big Game 2025 fell 11-1 against Rawlings Stars West (SC) in their other pool play game. Both Mission Gold and Big Game 2025 fell to the Silver bracket for Sunday play. In the Gold bracket #4/5 play-in game, SBA Premier topped the Beaufort County Bombers Blue 15-0. In the semifinals, Rawlings Stars West (SC) topped St. Andrews Rocks 5-4 and SBA Premier edged past Canes - Simpson 8-6. In the finals, Rawlings Stars West scored a walk-off 6-5 win over SBA Premier to take home the 12u title in a very competitive field.