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Valley Center, Calif. — The USA Softball Men’s Fast Pitch Futures Team went 3-1-1 over the weekend at the 2019 USA Softball Men’s Major/Open Fastpitch Invitational tournament, USA Softball announced today. Held at the Rincon Reservation Softball Fields in Valley Center, Calif., the team compiled a 2-0-1 record in pool play before a 1-1 showing in bracket play.
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The Futures Team opened the Rincon invitational tournament with a 10-2 win over Cali Redz and followed with a tie in a tightly-contested 1-1 ballgame with Wagon Burners. A 5-1 win over Budmen Fastpitch concluded pool play for the Futures with the team earning the No. 1 seed in their pool.
The Futures Team opened bracket play with a 10-1 win over Budmen Fastpitch to lock in a semifinal matchup against East Bay Bashers. Despite putting up 26 runs through their first four contests, the offense struggled to come alive as the team dropped a 7-0 decision to East Bay Bashers to conclude their run at the tournament.
Athletes who represented the Futures Team at the Rincon invitational tournament roster were Ryan Barnes, Jenner Christiansen, Matt Christiansen, Tyler Dudley, Dalton Gray, Jon Gwizdala, Brad Kilpatrick, Chayton Lloyd, Nick Mullins, Chris Norris, Jason Obregon Jr., Jason Obregon Sr., Ethan Rodriguez and Mingo Varela.
Christiansen, Dudley, Gwizdala and Mullins most recently were named to the 2019 Men’s National Team (MNT) roster while Gray, Lloyd, Obregon Jr. and Rodriguez competed on the 2018 Junior Men’s National Team (JMNT) roster that competed at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Junior Men’s World Championship. Norris and Barnes are also alumni of the JMNT program, having played on the 2008 and 2014 rosters, respectively.
The USA Softball Men’s Fast Pitch Futures Team provides athletes in the United States with an opportunity to represent USA Softball while bridging the gap of opportunities between the Junior Men’s and Men’s National Team programs. In addition to competing in high-level events, the Futures Team allows for members of the U.S. coaching staff to develop and evaluate a pool of athletes for the MNT roster.
Follow along with the USA Softball National Team Programs at
USASoftball.com.