The "National Youth Baseball Championships" is the initial effort of the "Major Youth Baseball Alliance, LLC." The MYBA is a newly formed company comprised of eight major youth organizations, including AABC (American Amateur Baseball Congress), AAU (Amateur Athletic Union of the United States), Babe Ruth Baseball, Dixie Youth Baseball, NABF (National Amateur Baseball Federation), Pony Baseball, Super Series Baseball of America and USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association).
The four-day tournament will be played at Gameday Baseball's First Tennessee Fields in Memphis from August 21-24 and will crown national champions in the 10-under and 12-under divisions, which include more than 100,000 teams. Future plans call for the tournament to include as many as eight different age groups.
At the Gameday baseball complex in Memphis on July 24, the Marshals of McKinney, Texas, were crowned the Super Series Baseball of America 10-under champions as they defeated Fully Loaded of Edinburg, Texas, 7-2, in the title game.
"This was one of the best tournaments and best venues that our team has ever experienced," said Marshals' coach Rod Murrell. "The Gameday complex was incredible and we look forward to having the opportunity to return there next month."
With the game tied, 1-1, in the fifth inning, the Marshals' Shane Lawless blasted a three-run homer for a 4-1 lead which they never relinquished. Marshals starter Gabe Constainte allowed only one run in 4.0 innings pitched while Lawless closed out the victory with 2.0 innings (one run). The game ended when the Marshals turned their second double play of the game.
After losing two games in pool play, the Marshals finished the tournament at 5-2. They will be matched up against the NABF's 10-under champions, the Southern Jaguars (Marietta, GA), in the first round of pool play in the National Youth Baseball Championships tournament.
In the AAU 12-under Division I championship at Disney's Wide World of Sports® complex, the Orlando (FL) Juice defeated second-seeded Blue Springs (MO) Classic, 4-0, to advance to the National Youth Baseball Championships tournament. Noah Dyal pitched a two-hit shutout and Tyrone Perry hit his fifth home run of the tournament as the top-seeded Juice completed their undefeated tournament run. Orlando finished at 8-0 (3-0 in pool play and 5-0 in bracket games).
"We're excited to be playing in a tournament like the National Youth Baseball Championships," said Juice manager Chet Lemon. "We're happy to represent AAU in that tournament and will try to uphold its reputation as one of the best youth organizations. Once we found out about the tournament in Memphis, it was our goal. You always want to have a goal to push and motivate these kids and that was it."
Dyal struck out seven for the complete-game win and got all the runs he needed when Nicolas Gordon and Jordan Purnell scored on a two-out infield error in the first inning. Perry's homer made it 3-0 and Forrest Walls tripled and scored on a throwing error for the final tally.
"We only gave up one run so it's tough to lose like that," said Classics manager Tim Pogue. "Our kids didn't give up. Orlando beat us 12-1 yesterday and we battled them today. We had a good season and I think we will come back strong." Previous qualifiers for the National Youth Baseball Championships tournament were the Southern Jaguars, Marietta, GA, NABF 10-under; Orlando Juice 10's, Orlando, FL, AAU 10-under; Germantown Giants, Germantown, TN, Super Series 12-under; and East Cobb Astros, Marietta, GA, NABF 12-under.
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