USSSA Baseball Boys 13 & Under Major Elite-24 World Series Bracket Play

No. 1 ranked [TX] Banditos Black 10, No. 9 ranked North Texas Thunder 7

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The #1 ranked Banditos Black of Houston, Texas defeated the #9 ranked North Texas Thunder in a marathon game that saw the lead change 5 times - as it lasted 10 innings.  With this win, the Banditos showed why they are the top ranked team as they found a way to win when faced with elimination and down to the last out.  At that point, they got a game changing, gut check, home run from Walker Pennington, who delivered in clutch and sent the game into extra innings.

The Banditos scored 2 runs in each of the first two innings taking a 4 to 1 lead into the 3rd inning.  But, the NT Thunder answered with one run in the bottom of the 2nd and four runs in the 3rd inning to take a 5-4 lead going into the top of the 4th.  At that point, the Banditos scored two more runs and shut down the Thunder bats in the bottom of the 4th, taking a 6-5 lead into the 5th inning.  The Thunder responded with a hit that tied the game at 6 all in the bottom the 5th and then another run in the 6th inning to put them ahead 7-6 going into the 7th inning.  The Thunder pitching had been outstanding all evening, retiring Bandito batters in straight order in the final stretch.  After two straight strike outs in the 7th, the Banditos’ Walker Pennington came to the plate and blasted a game tying home run over center-field fence that sent the game into extra innings.

From that point, the pitchers from both teams stepped to the mound and delivered outstanding performances, retiring batter after batter in the 8th and 9th innings.  At the top of the 10th, two consecutive walks put Bandito runners in scoring position.  The Banditos capitalized and scored 2 runs on pitches that sailed past the catcher.  Reese Jefferies also executed a squeeze bunt to perfection that scored Hinojosa and put the Banditos up 10-7.  This proved to be too much for the Thunder to overcome.

All pitchers for both teams turned in excellent performances.  Thunder pitcher, Blake Seaton pitched five innings, allowing only 3 runs while striking out 6 batters at critical times.  Banditos pitcher, Nick Banks, came into the game in the 7th and shut down the Thunder scoring, taking the win for the Banditos while striking out 6 Thunder batters.

Jovan Hernadez and Kohl Stewart each had a single and a double for the Banditos,   Walker Pennington had a single and a game saving home run. 

With this win, the Banditos have taken a big step toward overcoming their13-5 loss to TEAM Anderson earlier in this tournament.  The Banditos have now climbed back into the Championship bracket where they will get their rematch with TEAM Anderson at 10am Friday.

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