2025 Day 8 Recap

9:00 AM Lonestar Baseball Club (TX) vs. San Diego Stars (CA)

Lonestar Collegiate did their best to erase a 7-run deficit in the 9th inning, but came up just short, falling to the San Diego Stars 9-7. The Stars will now play the Hays Larks in the quarterfinals tonight at 7:00 PM. 

Stars first baseman Frank Giacalone was the hero of the game, hitting a 2 run homer in the top of the ninth, driving in the two runs to take the lead. Carter Lockwood and Ethan Wright both racked up 2 hits and 2 RBIs apiece. Manny Miranda started for the Stars, throwing 5 1/3rds innings. The starter allowed 7 hits and 2 runs.

Robby Lopez had a great game for Lonestar, hitting a solo homerun and a double. Matthew Fletcher led the team in hits, going 3-5 and collecting 1 RBI. Maverick McAllister led the team with 2 RBI. Chris Perez got the start for Lonestar, giving up three hits and six runs over one inning. 

11:30 AM: Junction City Brigade (KS) vs. Derby Twins (KS)

Derby trailed the Brigade 3-4 heading into the 9th, with hits being hard to come by. Derby third baseman Noah Allison took it upon himself to save the day, hitting a bases-clearing 3-run double to drive in the winning run. Lucas Weaver was excellent in relief, pitching 3 innings, only allowing 2 hits and one unearned run, while also earning the win. Derby shortstop Kyle Walker continued his excellent tournament, going 2-4 with 3 runs scored.

Brigade shortstop Peyton Firgens had another good game, going 2-4 at the dish and scoring a run. Chad Pantuso also added 2 hits and a run scored. Blake Seefeldt got the start for the Brigade, tossing 3 and 1/3rd innings. He gave up five hits and two runs, striking out two and walking one.

1:30 PM: Santa Barbara Foresters (CA) vs. Lonestar Kraken (TX)

In our first game of the quarter final round, the Lonestar Kraken used a big 5th inning to power them to a 6-4 victory over the Santa Barbara Foresters. The top 5 batters for Lonestar created 5 of the 6 RBIs, while also scoring 2 of the runs. JT Simonelli and Chase Pendley both had 2 hits, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored for the Kraken. Kendall Hoffman started the game for Lonestar Kraken, giving up 3 hits and 1 run over 6 innings, and struck out 4.

The Foresters struggled to create much offense outside of the top of the lineup, with the last 4 hitters failing to register a hit. Brenton Clark was one of the few bright spots, going 2-4 with a double, a homerun, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored, accounting for all the runs the Foresters scored. Nic Abraham got the start on the bump for Santa Barbara, throwing 6 innings, striking out 4, and allowing 3 hits and 1 run.

4:00 PM: Alaska Goldpanners (AK) vs. Hutchinson Monarchs (KS)

In a game that was tied 1-1 in the 9th, it was the Wichita State commit, Drew Bugner, who was once again the hero. The shortstop hit a deep ball to left field in the bottom of the 9th, driving in the winning run and putting Hutchinson in the semi-finals. Another Wichita State commit, right fielder Jake Gutierrez, stayed hot at the plate, going 3-5. Ethan Giesbrecht got the start for Hutch, tossing 5 innings, only allowing 1 run and 3 hits. The righty fanned 4 batters and walked 3.

Lukas Sarantos got the start for the Goldpanners, throwing 5 and 2/3rds innings. The righty gave up 3 hits and 1 run, getting 4 strikeouts and 3 walks. Christian Olea went 1-4 and drove in the lone RBI for the Goldpanners.

7:00 PM: Derby Twins (KS) vs. Seattle Cheney Studs (WA)

In a game that was dominated by the pitching staffs of each team, Seattle was able to put up the lone run in the bottom of the 6th. Peyton Walters got the start for Derby, going 7 innings and allowing only 5 hits and 1 run, while striking out 4. Hunter Eisele was on the bump first for the Studs, going 4 innings and allowing 4 hits, 0 runs, and striking out 2. Brice Foster was excellent in relief for the Studs, pitching 5 innings, allowing only 1 hit, 1 walk, and getting 5 strikeouts. 

Ben Schnurman drove in the lone run on a sac fly that allowed Bradley Carl to score from third. Jackson Copeland went 2-4 at the plate and was the only Studs player with multiple hits.

Derby collected only 5 hits as a team, with no one collecting multiple. Peanut Brazzle added a stolen base to his tournament total, and Noah Allison hit yet another double, bringing his tournament total to 3. Derby committed 3 errors on defense, giving Seattle an opportunity to put the winning run in scoring position.

9:00 PM: Hays Larks (KS) vs. San Diego Stars (WA)

The Hays Larks came out and showed why they are the defending champs in this game. Leading 5-1 in the 3rd inning, the Larks continued to lay it on the Stars, winning 10-4. Starting pitcher Simon Lunsford was great in his 6.2 innings, allowing only one unearned run, 0 hits, walking 5, and striking out 9. Catcher Dylan Larue was 2-4 with a double, 3 runs scored, and 2 RBI. Shortstop Taber Stokes continued his hot streak at the plate, going 3-5 with an RBI, also swiping two bases.

The Stars couldn’t get the bats going in this one, only registering a single hit. They did display patience, getting 5 walks as a team that helped produce their single run. Baley Viscardi got the start for the Stars, allowing 5 hits, 5 runs, and 3 walks in 3 innings. Justin Tucker produced the lone hit, which was a double. Frank Giacalone collected the lone RBI for the Stars.