Always one of the best tournaments in North Carolina during the fall season, rain ruined our change to see some of the best teams in North Carolina go at it on Sunday. Despite the rain, there were a number of match ups between ranked opponents, as well as a few bracket play games that took place. We were able to see some top teams go at it, and here we present some of our key takeaways from the weekend.
8u
We weren't able to learn much from this age group from this event as only 2 teams from North Carolina played in this event. However, our top team in North Carolina, the SBA Futures, dropped a 15-0 contest to Team Diamond Project out of Georgia. That tells us either we might be wrong, or Team Diamond Project is really good. The Futures had been largely competing at the 9u level of late so we have had a difficult time gauging how good they are relatively to other 8u competition.
9u
Our #1 and #2 teams in North Carolina, the SBA Futures and the MARA Mavericks, both went 2-0 in pool play. In our minds, these top solidified their spots as 1-2, and it could be in any order at this point. The Asheville A's pulled off a big win over South Carolina's top team, the Carolina Reds, giving them only their 2nd loss of the fall. Dirtbags Black scored an impressive win over #3 West Raleigh Blue, who fell to another of SC's top teams in Complete Game Elite in their other pool play game and to Line Drive Black in the only bracket play game in this age group. In the AAA division, #14 Carolina Clippers went 2-0 including an impressive win over 17-2 LDA Bombers (VA).
10u
The surprise of the weekend was our #1 team in North Carolina, the SBA Futures, falling to #6 West Raleigh Blue in pool play and again against the Park Sharon Nationals in the opening bracket play game. #2 SBA Nationals, #6 West Raleigh Blue, and #8 Spartans - Mullins all impressed with 2-0 showings in pool play. The Spartans notched wins over #5 Canes Baseball NC - Tyson in pool play and #7 Carolina Revolution in their opening bracket play game. The Canes did, however, post wins over #3 MARA Cobras and #15 Park Sharon Nationals to finish 2-1 for the weekend. It was a disappointing weekend for the Revolution as they finished 0-3. Needless to say, coming out of the weekend, the 10u age group looks to be the most competitive for the top spot with perhaps of up to 10 or more teams having a real shot to contend for the #1 spot.
11u
Our #1 team in North Carolina, the SBA futures, rolled to wins over #6 Rawlings Prospects NC - Piscorik and #13 Five Star Carolina Shockers in pool play. #4 SBA Nationals earned the #1 seed with a close win over Rawlings and a win over the Shockers. #8 Five Star Carolina - Young was also very impressive with wins over #3 Area Stars - Zach and #5 LBC Swarm in pool play. It looks like a couple of roster changes have been a significant lift for Five Star - Young.
12u
Our #1 team in North Carolina, the SBA Futures, rolled to two wins in pool play as well as a close win in their opening bracket play game to hold serve as #1 with a 3-0 weekend. They were joined at 2-0 by #4 West Raleigh Blue, SC #1 Team 24 Gamecocks Black, and #18 NCDB Rivercats - River, who notched wins over #8 Union County Crush - Walker and #24 Athletes Lab - Yambor in pool play. The Rivercats were defeated in their opening bracket play game in a rematch with the Crush. #10 Carolina HighSpeed had a tough weekend, going 0-2 in pool play. #11 Carolina Blue Trifecta and #14 SBA Americans traded blows going 1-1 against one another with Blue getting the win in pool play and the SBA Americans getting the win in the opening bracket play game.
13u
Our #2 team in North Carolina, the SBA Futures, dominated their way to the #1 seed. They were followed closely by #4 Mission Baseball Gold who went 2-0 in pool play including a close win over #14 Team Elite American. Team Elite had a nice weekend, defeating one of the top teams in South Carolina in Team 24 Gamecocks Black in pool play followed by a win over #23 Dry Pond in bracket play to finish 2-1 for the weekend. Five Star Copperheads Black finished with the #3 seed for bracket play with a 1-0-1 record in pool play. #5 TPA Nationals grey finished the weekend 1-2 after they drew a tough schedule, scoring a win over #18 Five Star Heat and losses against #2 SBA Futures and Team 24 Black. #6 DB Raptors Dubs played in the AAA division and went 2-0 in pool play.