Day Three of the 11U Futures Invitational at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary, N.C., featured quarterfinal and semifinal action, making for an eventful day of baseball. After the dust settled and the final out recorded, the championship matchup is now set, with MVP Hustle and SBA Bolts National slated to battle for gold. Here is all the action from the bracket play games today!

QUARTERFINALS

Houston Wildcatters Elite 4, ZT National Prospects 2

Opening the game with a bang, the Houston Wildcatters Elite continued to get production from Kristian Valadez, this time with a three-run home run; drilling his second out-of-the-yard homer and third home run of the tournament. The early 3-0 lead was all the team needed to secure a spot in the semifinals. Tossing a complete game, Brandon Garcia was able to hold off ZT National Prospects, only allowing two earned runs and striking out four in his seven-inning performance. Behind the squad’s all-around performance, the Houston Wildcatters Elite clinched their spot in the semifinals.

MVP Hustle 3, JSM Elite 2

Led by catcher, Jayden Castillo, and his incredible day at the plate after going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, MVP Hustle secured the win. Tied at 2-2 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, a lead-off hit-by-pitch put a runner on first with Castillo coming up to the plate. Working his way into a full count in a tense situation, Castillo smacked a triple to center field, bringing home the third run of the game in clutch fashion for MVP Hustle. On top of the stellar offense, the pitching was just as important, with Jameson Wilhite and Kendrick Torrez dominating the mound. White and Torrez combined for a total of 10 strikeouts in the game, while the save went to Torrez, who worked two no-hit innings and struck out three. The hurler closed out the game for MVP Hustle and booked the team’s trip to the semifinals.

SBA Bolts National 10, TC Titans 8

In the highest-scoring quarterfinal matchup, SBA Bolts National used 11 hits on their way to a comeback win. Leading the team in RBIs was the lead-off hitter Nolan Hatch, who went 2-for-4 with four RBIs. Going into the bottom of the fourth and trailing by one, SBA Bolts National, looked for some life. Scoring seven unanswered runs off of multiple RBI doubles and a fielder's choice, SBA Bolts National jumped out to a seven-run lead going into the sixth frame. A back-and-forth battle offensively saw Cooper Thissen take the mound and get SBA Bolts National to the very end. Getting 2.2 innings of work while giving up two earned runs with a strikeout, Thissen closed out the win and sent SBA Bolts National to the semifinals.

Arizona Elite Baseball Academy 10, 5 Star Mafia National 7

With plenty of runs scored, Arizona Elite Baseball Academy was able to get a gritty win with the help of a great closing performance. Big days at the plate by Ty Gerlach and Maverick Harwood led Arizona Elite Baseball Academy over 5 Star Mafia National. Both Gerlach and Harwood recorded three RBIs, going a combined 4-for-8, while tallying four of the nine hits for the team. Closing out the game was Garner S., who wrapped up a semifinals berth with two scoreless innings and a pair of strikeouts.

SEMIFINALS

MVP Hustle 6, Arizona Elite Baseball Academy 2

Scoring their only two runs of the game in the second, Arizona Elite Baseball Academy used a groundout double play and an RBI single to score their runs. After a pitching change from MVP Hustle, Abraham Garcia took over on the mound and went the rest of the way. In his outing, Garcia went six scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts, keeping MVP Hustle’s momentum. Scoring two runs in the first inning, MVP Hustle scored four unanswered runs, with four RBI singles to ultimately take them to the finish line. Going 2-for-3 with two RBIs including a double, Armando Maciel was a huge part in MVP Hustle clinching a spot in the championship game.

SBA Bolts National 4, Houston Wildcatters Elite 2

Jumping out to an early 3-0 lead going into the fifth frame, SBA Bolts National was able to carry its momentum to the end of the game. Getting a great outing from their starter, Mason Bitzenhofer, who went five innings of two-run baseball while picking up a pair of strikeouts. With the Wildcatters scoring their runs off a walk and an error, SBA Bolts just kept hitting, racking up a total of 11 base knocks in the game. DJ M. led the team in hits, going 2-2 at the plate on top of his great day on the mound. Bitzenhofer added some insurance in the top of the seventh with an RBI single, leading SBA Bolts National to a 4-2 win securing a spot in the championship game.