Stripes Strike Gold in Both Divisions
The Southwest Stripes dominated the 12U/14U NTIS Champions Cup, capturing championship titles in both age brackets and delivering a weekend of high‑stakes baseball across the Cary, North Carolina venue.
In the 12U final, the Stripes posted a 7‑2 victory over South Stars, a win anchored by Nash Downing’s shutout relief outing that yielded zero earned runs and a decisive sixth‑inning RBI single from Logan Saavedra that sealed the title.
The 14U championship unfolded in a tense semifinal shootout, where Southwest edged South Stars 4‑3; a late sixth‑inning rally sparked by Noah Matheson’s walk and an ensuing error produced the go‑ahead run, securing the gold medal.
Key moments included Parker Johnston’s clutch RBI single in the 12U semifinal against Southeast Stars, which helped the Stripes rally to a 12‑10 win, and Tyrann Mathieu Jr.’s walk‑off single that kept South Stars in contention during the 12U gold‑medal game.
The bronze‑medal game saw Southeast Stars defeat the Stripes 12‑5, with Jett Davis leading the offense and Boos Banks and George Mays IV each driving in three RBIs.
Additional standout performances came from Logan Saavedra, whose two‑run double helped seal the 12U gold, and Noah Matheson, whose walk and error scored the final run in the 14U final.
Pitching excellence was evident as Nash Downing’s dominant relief work complemented strong outings from Avery Puckett and Isaiah Stanley in the bronze‑medal contest.
The championship run also highlighted the depth of the Southwest roster, featuring contributions from RJ Garcia, Dominic Floyd, Ricardo Cobian, Young Lee, Sevastian Bojorquez, Go Yoshino, Cooper Hutton, Brody Kay, Luke Upton, Cash Girard, Matthew Lobis, James Gordillo, Avery Puckett, Isaiah Stanley, Landon Williams, Hunter Hough, Hayes Ennis, and Nathaniel Choe.