USA Baseball’s 13U National Team Identification Series Crowns Winner

CARY, N.C.—The 2017 13U National Team Identification Series wrapped up last weekend with the Southwest squad capturing the gold medal in walk-off fashion, 8-7 over Southern California at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.

Trailing 6-3 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, back-to-back singles from C. Roncal and Tyler Avery started the rally before Roncal scored on a throwing error and Avery advanced to third. Steven Milam followed with a line-drive double to center, knocking in a run and cutting the deficit to one.

Mason Neville would follow Milam with an RBI triple to left to tie the game at 7.

Southern California intentionally walked back-to-back batters to load the bases to try and set up the force at any base but Ruben Castro ended any thought of that with the game-winning single over the left fielder’s head.

Milam and Neville both finished with strong games offensively. Milam was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Neville was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a triple.

Derrick Mitchell got the win for Southwest, throwing three innings of relief. He finished with one strikeout, allowing five hits, three runs and no walks.

Louis Rodriguez, who was 2-for-3, and Marcos Rosales, who was 1-for-3 with an RBI, led Southern California offensively.

USA Baseball will announce its selections for the 2018 14U National Team Development Program on its annual NTIS Selection Show airing on USABaseball.com on Sept. 7.

13U NTIS Final Standings:
1st Place: Southwest
2nd Place: Southern California
3rd Place: Ohio Valley

Video and Story courtesy of USA Baseball