Panthers claim Rangers RBI Softball Championship in late-innings thriller

The Texas Rangers RBI Softball Tournament, presented by Nike Diamond, concluded Saturday, June 25, in a thrilling back-and-forth match-up between the Panthers and Aztecas.

The home team Aztecas took an early lead, scoring their first run in the bottom of the third. The Panthers evened the score in the top of the fifth, but the Aztecas responded in the bottom of the inning, scoring one run to reclaim their lead.

In the top of the sixth, the Panthers tied the game at 2-2 and held the Aztecas scoreless in their sixth inning at-bats. The Panthers claimed their first lead of the game in the seventh, going into the bottom half of the inning up 5-2. The Aztecas responded with one run but ultimately fell short, making the Panthers the 2022 Rangers RBI Softball champions in a 5-3 victory.

Hannah Pacheco and Chauna Taylor were difference-makers for the Panthers as they claimed the Rangers RBI Championship. Pacheco went 0-for-1 at the plate with three walks and two runs scored, and Taylor was 3-for-3 on the day with one walk and one run scored.

Three Texas Rangers Youth Academy athletes advance to MLB Jr. Home Run Derby Finals

Three Texas Rangers Youth Academy athletes punched their tickets to MLB All-Star Week after winning the Jr. Home Run Derby Dallas Regional.

Top sluggers from across the Midwest and Southern United States were invited to attend the second-round regional competition hosted at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy on Sunday, June 26, with the top four athletes advancing to the final round at Dodger Stadium.

Maddox Johnson, the 2021 Jr. Home Run Derby National Finals 12U runner-up, Braylon Hubbard, and Giovanca Frias will each represent the Rangers in their respective age divisions at the finals Tuesday, July 19.

MLB Jr. Home Run Derby Dallas Regional Results:

14U Baseball

Round One: Maddox Johnson – 18 HR; George Rodriguez – 12 HR; Mark Rojas – 10 HR

Final Round: Maddox Johnson – 19 HR; Mark Rojas – 12 HR; George Rodriguez – 10 HR

12U Baseball

Round One: Braylon Hubbard – 10 HR; Grant Mitchell – 7 HR; Luciano Lopez – 6 HR

Final Round: Braylon Hubbard – 16 HR; Grant Mitchell – 6 HR; Luciano Lopez – 3 HR

16U Softball

Round One: Giovanca Frias – 7 HR; Morgan Young – 3 HR

Final Round: Giovanca Frias – 6 HR; Morgan Young – 3 HR

14U Softball

Round One: Saisului Kolone – 3 HR; Alyssa Summers – 3 HR

Final Round: Saisului Kolone – 4 HR; Alyssa Summers – 2 HR

USA Baseball National Team Identification Series Round Two Tryouts

Ten Texas Rangers Youth Academy athletes were invited to partake in round two tryouts for the USA Baseball National Team Identification Series (NTIS) on Thursday, June 30, and Friday, July 1. Top athletes from across the region gathered in Carrolton, Texas, to showcase their talent in front of USA Baseball scouts. 

After round two tryouts conclude across the U.S., top athletes will be named to two All-Region teams that will play at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C., later this year.

In 2021, the Texas Rangers Youth Academy had six athletes advance to the final round of the NTIS tryout and compete for the National Team Identification Series Champions Cup. Among those selected was Amaad Garett who is looking to return to Cary for the second consecutive year.

The ten athletes representing the Rangers in round two of the USA Baseball NTIS included Kaleb Thompkins, Jackson Morris, Vicente Rosas, Aaron Grant, Romel Garcia, Chandler Tullis, Santos Salinas, Amaad Garrett, George Rodriguez and Braylon Hubbard.

Rangers RBI Baseball Playoff schedule