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Tournaments  | Championship  | 6/22/2021

Canes Lock Horns at 13u Elite

Photo: Canes NC 13u Eason (Perfect Game)
HOOVER, Ala. -- After five days of fantastic team play from some of the best 13U teams in the country, two teams stood out above all others and would face each other in one of the more memorable championship games in recent memory.

The teams that seemed destined to face each other in the finals from the earliest days of the tournament were Canes NC 13U Eason and Canes SC 13U Staats. When the two standout teams secured their ticket to the championship game, all in attendance knew an exciting and thrilling finale was sure to come. The matchup didn't disappoint, with Canes NC ultimately coming away with a back-and-forth 9-8 win.



Canes SC picked up right where they left off in their dominating semifinal victory and started the championship game with an offensive barrage, tacking a six-spot on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning. Canes NC would respond with two quick runs in the bottom of the frame thanks to an RBI by Francis Garcia and William Radford, but fell short when the inning ended after a leaping catch from left fielder Jaxon Matthews.

Canes SC held their ground over the next few innings, not allowing any runs and scoring again in the top of the second thanks to an RBI triple from Trenton Maybin. By the 6th inning, Canes SC had secured a commanding 7-3 lead and showed no signs of letting up. 

That would all change when Canes NC went to bat in the bottom of the 6th. 

Canes NC seemed determined to show everyone that they weren't out of it yet. After loading the bases early, the team would amass an incredible five RBI in the next five at-bats, seemingly culminating on a sac fly from Colton Haire to bring in Miguel Delgado for the tying run, but Canes NC was able to keep the rally going after that. 

Connor Bast would step up to the plate with the game tied and, as he had done many times in the tournament, made the big play with a line drive to left field, bringing in William Radford to complete the comeback and take the lead. When it was all over, Canes NC had driven in six runs in the inning to take a 9-7 lead over Canes SC with one inning remaining. 

Canes SC would do their best to take back the lead. Jaxon Matthews would drive in another run to cut the deficit to one, but the comeback would fall just short, as Canes NC would get the necessary outs to seal the 9-8 victory.

After yet another nail-biting victory from Canes NC 13U Eason, the champions stormed the field and lifted the trophy high and staked their claim as the best team in the tournament.  For his performance at the plate and strong defensive contributions, Hampton Hawley was declared the MVP. Though his team fell short in the final game, Canes SC pitcher Brady Marshall received the MV-Pitcher for his excellent outing.

-Maxwell Gault