We’re running a little later than I’d like this morning, but we’re coming off a busy weekend for Top Tier Las Vegas that featured three age groups in action. Let’s start with our 10U team, who played very well in the Perfect Game Baseball Bash.
After a strong showing in the PG Spring NIT two weeks ago, the 10U group swept pool play on Saturday, beating ZT Prospects 10-8 before getting their revenge against MTBA — who eliminated them from bracket play in the Spring NIT — 6-5.
Star Apilando homered and drove in two against ZT Prospects, and Linken Hatada and Kian Smith both drove in runs, with Hatada doubling.
Smith started on the mound against MTBA, allowing only a pair of earned runs while striking out four in 2.2 innings before handing it over to the bullpen. Hatada and Apilando combined to allow no earned runs on one hit the rest of the way. The two also led the offense, each going 2-for-2, with Apilando recording her 13th double of the season in the victory.
On Sunday, Star Apilando and Kam Kyono combined to allow one earned run while striking out five, walking one, and giving up only four hits over four innings against Sin City Thunder Black in bracket play. Hatada led the team with two hits, including a double, Morel doubled at the plate. Avery Taylor tripled, and Luke Waterman drove in three runs in the 12-4 rout.
The 10s fell to LVR in the semifinals 8-6 — a game Coach Erbach felt was theirs to win. Apilando and Smith had multi-hit performances, and Apilando, Smith, and Waterman all had extra-base hits. Morel allowed four earned runs while striking out four over four innings in the narrow loss.
The group came up short, but the progress is undeniable. They’re going to break through very soon at this rate.
The Two Hole: More Top Tier Weekend Action
The 14U team was also competing this weekend in the Perfect Game Baseball Bash, falling short with a tough loss to Golden Spikes in bracket play Sunday morning at Desert Diamonds.
Coming off a championship weekend, the 14s couldn’t replicate their success, but growth with that group was still evident. They opened the weekend with a 10-9 victory over the Las Vegas Titans behind a strong bullpen game. Rayce Burnett opened on the mound, allowing no earned runs on one hit while striking out four over two frames. Amit Sharma Jr. bridged the gap between the opener and the closer, working competitively against the Titans lineup before Jedd Gallagher-Spencer got the final three outs — all via strikeout.
Despite the score being lopsided in their second game, Jonathan Rolands navigated a very good MTBA Dawgs-Gorden lineup repeatedly, allowing two earned runs on no hits over 3.2 innings. Four errors and a near-total offensive shutdown — one hit on the day — spelled doom for the 14s, ending pool play 1-1 and leaving them as the 5th seed heading into Sunday.
A 3-1 loss to Golden Spikes ended the 14U team’s bid for a second straight championship weekend. Gallagher-Spencer, Angelo Silvera, and Burnett combined to allow one earned run, but four more errors and some mistakes on the bases thwarted the repeat bid despite a solid pitching performance across the board.
The group will head back to the drawing board this week, but like the 10U team, they’re trending in the right direction in a lot of areas. The coaching staff has challenged them to put together a cleaner operation — on the field and in the dugout — and the strides in recent weeks have been noticeable.
Around the Horn
- Our 16U Red Shirt group split a Sunday doubleheader with Baseball 101, winning 16-0 in game one before falling 11-8 in the afternoon tilt.
- ICYMI: We had a pair of Player Spotlights drop over the weekend, featuring Trey Webb and Blake Bedard. You can check those out below!
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