The 2026 10U Futures Invitational finale was one for the ages, as the Scottsdale Dirtbags and New Level National engaged in an epic back-and-forth battle to cap off the tournament. The Sunday afternoon showdown saw three lead changes and two extra innings, culminating in an unforgettable down-to-the-wire finish.

The game marked a return to the 10U gold medal game for Scottsdale after winning the tournament last season, while New Level was making its first Futures championship game appearance. Each team entered the final undefeated on the tournament, with the Dirtbags going 3-0-1 across pool play and bracket play and New Level going 4-0. The title game run marked a spectacular return to Cary for New Level, who went 1-3-1 at the Futures Invitational just a season ago. The squad from Seattle, Washington, entered the gold medal matchup with a tournament-leading 48 runs.

The Dirtbags put the pedal to the medal from the opening pitch, plating two runs in the top of the first inning. Brixon Lane and Alberto Rodriguez Ramos earned walks against New Level’s Walker Towe, and Brantson Barnsley smoked a clutch two-out triple down the right field line to clear the bases and give Scottsdale an early lead. The New Level relay caught Barnsley at the plate going for the inside-the-park homer to limit the damage.

New Level wasted no time responding in the bottom half of the inning, with James Baker doubling and coming around to score on a series of walks. Luke Fairly’s RBI groundout knotted the game at 2-2, but Scottsdale’s Barnsley struck out New Level’s next hitter to strand two runners and escape the inning.

After a scoreless second that saw Towe and Barnsley mow down opposing batters, an offensive explosion ensued in the third. Lane kicked things off once again for the Dirtbags with an infield single that was followed by three straight singles from Everett Bogaert, Rodriguez Ramos, and Barnsley. With two runners on base, Jacoby Bowden broke the game wide open with a scorching grounder to the left side that was too much for the New Level shortstop to handle. Rodriguez Ramos and Barnsley scored as the ball skipped into the left center gap and Scottsdale took a 6-2 lead.

Not to be outdone, New Level National rebounded in the bottom half with a four-spot of its own. After a pair of line drive base-knocks from Jaxon Smith and Jaxton Beal, and a Ripken Lovelady walk loaded the bases, Shawnbrey McNeal Jr. hit a shot to center field that cut the lead to 6-5. An RBI single from Ty Johnsen evened the score once more before the Dirtbags caught McNeal stealing home to end the inning.

By the time the top of the fourth rolled around, each of the consolation games had ended and all eyes were on the gold medal duel at Thomas Brooks Park. New Level turned to the bullpen, bringing Colton Brown into pitch, and the young flamethrower silenced the Dirtbags bats for the next two innings. Meanwhile, Bransley continued to power his way through the North Carolina heat for Scottsdale. He handed the ball over after logging 3.2 innings and notching five punchouts, all while allowing zero earned runs.

The game remained tied at six entering the bottom of the fifth inning, until New Level took its first lead of the game on three straight walks and a two-RBI single from Johnsen. With a 9-6 lead heading into the top half of the last frame, a victory seemed in order for the youngsters from Washington. Little did fans know that almost 90 minutes of baseball awaited.

Aziel Lopez electrified the Dirtbags offense to lead off the sixth, roping a line drive over the leftfielder’s head and racing around for an inside-the-park homer. Three batters later Van Bogaert did the same, swatting a three-run inside-the-parker to right field to regain the lead at 10-9, shocking the New Level faithful. With the momentum now headed in Scottsdale’s direction, the Dirtbags entered the bottom half ready for a second trophy in as many years.

New Level National had other plans. Down to the last out with a runner on third, Walker Towe came through in the biggest way possible, digging out a ground ball to second base to beat the throw and pick up his second RBI of the day. The gutsy play saved New Level and sent the game into extra innings.

Despite the Futures Invitational’s extra innings rule, which grants each team a free runner on first and second to begin each inning, both teams were blanked in the seventh. For Scottsdale, it was Arvin Vladimir Hurtado shutting down New Level hitters on the bump, while New Level turned to Mason Hodzic for the crucial outs. Hodzic’s five strikeouts in 2.2 innings proved pivotal to a New Level staff that was low on fresh arms.

After the Dirtbags scratched a run across in the top of the eighth, it all came down to three final outs. Ty Johnsen impressed once again with an unselfish sacrifice bunt down the first base line that moved the runners into position at second and third. Coming to the plate next was leadoff hitter Jaxon Smith, who already had three hits on the day. New Level fans jumped for joy as Smith sprayed his fourth base-knock of the ballgame to left field to tie the game at 11. With star reliever Mason Hodzig rounding third base, Scottsdale threw home. The throw sailed past the catcher though, and Hodzig raced in to score as a flurry of rejoicing New Level players rushed from the dugout to embrace him. Hodzig finished the game as both the winning run and winning pitcher, and New Level returns to Washington as Futures Invitational Gold Medalists.

Bronze Medal Game

Braves Baseball Academy 11, MVP Hustle 10

The first medal game of the day was one to remember as Braves Baseball Academy and MVP Hustle traded blows for the bronze. The Braves struck first with two runs in the bottom of the first inning, showing an impressive amount of plate discipline to chase the MVP Hustle starter early. MVP Hustle was quick to respond, scoring five runs on six hits in the top of the second. Five different Hustle batters recorded RBIs in the inning, including RBI triples from Fernando Luna and Javier Hernandez. The Braves bounced back in the third when Connor Stewart cut into the lead with a two-run single to center, but the Hustle lead remained firm. Saturday night Home Run Derby winner Bryson Silverstein stepped to the plate in the top of the fourth with the bases loaded and did not waste the opportunity. His bases-clearing triple put MVP Hustle up 10-4 and seemingly put the game away for good.

It wasn’t to be, however, as Braves Baseball Academy stormed back over the next three innings. Jakob Vizcarra drove in a run in the fourth, and Dax Hill drove in another in the fifth. After a series of walks loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth, Connor Stewart entered the batter’s box with the winning run on first. The righty slugger from El Segundo, California, smacked a pitch into the right-center gap and the race home began. As Tristan German motored from first and MVP Hustle relayed the ball home, fans stood in anticipation for the play at the plate. When the dust settled, German was safe and the Braves had secured the bronze in shocking fashion. German (like Hodzig in the gold medal game) finished as both the winning run and the winning pitcher after shutting down the MVP Hustle hitters in the last two frames.

Consolation Game Action

LA Crawfords 13, Top Tier 6

ZT Prospects National 8, SBA National 5

Canes West Futures 16, Easley Baseball Club 3

DG29 Baseball Academy 13, Tennessee Grit 3

Hit Factory Los Angeles 18, Mid-Atlantic Ironmen 1