SURPRISE – Out of those 64 teams competing in USA Baseball’s 2025 16U National Team Championships Arizona tournament, only one team earned its stars and stripes: TB SoCal.
SoCal jumped to a 4-0 lead by the third inning and never looked back Sunday in a 7-4 win against Stacked National to capture gold. While Stacked rallied to close the gap, its comeback attempt wasn’t enough to stop the force of Jack Green.
Green pitched five solid innings, allowing four earned runs but striking out seven with a fastball that Stacked couldn’t figure out, and tipped his cap to the SoCal offense for creating a cushion that allowed him to settle in on the mound.
“It really helps because we all fight as a team. When you get those runs, it helps you relax a lot,” Green said. “You start attacking hitters more and start worrying about inches off the plate. You work harder to get those pitches in, make guys roll over and fly out. It just helps ease the common nerves.”
After winning eight games within a six-day span, competition wasn’t the only challenge SoCal faced. From playing in the cooler California weather, where temperatures barely reached 80 degrees last week, to competing in Arizona’s triple-digit weather, SoCal had to adjust to the Valley’s heat to win.
Center fielder Jackson Alba said he struggled, despite contributing two singles and a steal to the championship victory.
“I threw up about four or five times. This morning, I had a bloody nose,” Alba said. “It was definitely worth it. It was one of the funnest times I’ve had playing baseball before.”
First baseman and SoCal teammate Dylan Keliiholokai, unfazed by the sweltering temperatures, agreed.
“I love playing out here. I rake out here,” Keliiholokai said. “I love it out here. I’ll play here over 10 times more than California.”
Second baseman Bobby Villa III sparked SoCal’s early offense with a triple before scoring the game’s first run. The momentum continued into the fifth inning with three consecutive singles to build a 7-1 lead. Keliiholokai, a force with his two-hit game, doubled to center field and tacked on another run in the frame.
“I was looking for a slider. I saw a slider very well. His fastball was running into us, so I didn’t want to get jammed. So I tried to stick with the slider and drive it the other way, and that’s what I did,” Keliiholokai said.
Stacked’s Nathan Lopez hit a home run to left field in the sixth inning and Nolan Riesenberg hit a two-run single to close the lead to 7-4, but SoCal sealed the victory to capture gold.
Not only did SoCal coach Ryan Thompson have to worry about lineups, pitching and preparing his players for the big stage, he emphasized the importance of staying hydrated. And during a week defined by heat and heart, his players responded to earn their stars and stripes.
“It’s just a good reward for the kids for playing hard, letting things take care of themselves and not worrying about everything else,” Thompson said.
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