Day 3 recap: MLB RBI Southwest Regional Tournament

It was Championship Sunday at the MLB RBI Southwest Regional Tournament. Six teams competed for their shot to advance to the World Series in Vero Beach, and only three were victorious – NOLA YA RBI 15U Baseball, Astros RBI 18U Softball and RBI Austin 18U Baseball.

The day began on Oates Filed with the 15U Baseball Championship Game. No. 1 seed NOLA YA RBI faced No. 2 seed Astros RBI. After Astros RBI took an early lead, NOLA YA RBI made a late comeback to punch their ticket to Florida with an 8-7 victory.

Game 2 took place on Hamilton Field, where the Rangers RBI Softball team took on Astros RBI. The Astros offense had a strong showing, scattering multiple hits around the diamond. All three Rangers pitchers, Tamya Waiters, Giovanca Frais and Nicole Gonzales, shared the mound during today's game.

The girls entered the top of the fourth inning down 10-2, but during a legendary two-out rally, the Rangers put up 10 runs to snatch the lead back from the reigning World Series Champs. In the fourth, the Rangers batted around the order, with everyone showcasing their power at the plate including, Charity Vernon, Ariana Ortiz, Gabriela Quintanilla, Italia Ortiz and Melanie Henderson. The final hit of the inning went to Hannah Pacheco, who launched the ball over the fence for a two-run homer. Late last year, Pacheco lost her father to COIVD-19. She leaned on softball and her friends at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy to get through this difficult time. All tournament long she faced struggles at the plate, but at that moment, there was no one better than her.

The Rangers eventually fell to Astros RBI, with no answers to their bats, the game wrapped in five innings with a final score of 20-12.

The tournament concluded with another close game in the 18U baseball division, between No. 1 seed RBI Austin and No. 2 seed Astros RBI. A 3-3 tie brought the game to extra innings, and RBI Austin eventually took the win in the bottom of the ninth when a walk-off base hit squeaked between the Astros shortstop and third baseman.

Next up, NOLA YA RBI 15U Baseball, Astros RBI 18U Softball and RBI Austin 18U Baseball will make the trip to Vero Beach to represent the Southwest Region in the World Series.