L-R: Nick Warren, Javier Escalante & Ruben Villaescusa. (Valerie Warren Photo)
USA Baseball 14U National Team Identification Series (NTIS)
Aug. 24-26: Cary, North Carolina
Javier Escalante (Flowing Wells), Ruben Villaescusa (Tucson) and Nick Warren (Ironwood Ridge) are in Cary, North Carolina, taking part in the USA Baseball 14U National Team Identification Series (NTIS).
The local standouts are part of the Southwest squad and they helped defeat New England 8-1 on Friday morning in first round action. The team will face the Northwest squad in the Elite Eight round later in the day. The championship is a high-stake single-elimination format and the consolation bracket starts on Saturday.
New England led 1-0 through three innings but Villaescusa went 1-for-3, with 2-run homer in the bottom to the fourth, to help pace his team to victory. Escalante threw 2.3 innings and struck out four batters.
Friday, Aug. 24
Southwest 8, New England 1
Southwest vs. Northwest
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Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014 and he was awarded the Ray McNally Award in 2017 and he has been a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. His own children have won multiple state high school championships and were named to all-state teams. Competing in hockey, basketball, baseball and track & field in high school, his unique perspective can only be found here and on AZPreps365.com. Andy is the Southern Arizona voting member of the Ed Doherty Award, recognizing the top football player in Arizona, and he was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Contact Andy Morales at AMoralesMyTucson@yahoo.com
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