The Las Vegas Road Trip XVIII tournament saw plenty of action on Friday, April 4, 2025, with 52 teams competing over three divisions. (AA/Open, A-Major and A). In the past few years, the tournament has begun to attract world caliber players from the elite levels of the game, including those from the WBSC and ISC World Tournament play. Marco Diaz, the hardest thrower in the game is on hand, pitching for Tijuana Budhas, while his teammate on the USA National team, young Cody Gibbons is pitching for the Peguis Redmen. The top hitter of 2024, Erick Ochoa, also a USA National team member is playing for Team 45 Athletics, while the Bear Creek Express from Ontario, Canada, a perennial top 4 team at the ISC World tournament boasts a roster of some of Canada’s best players.
Friday’s games saw those four teams advance to Winner’s Bracket Semi-finals, scheduled for 4:45 PDT today, Saturday April 5, 2025, with Bear Creek squaring off against the Peguis Redmen from Manitoba while Team 45 Athletics will take on Marco Diaz’s Tijuana Budhas.
Marco Diaz tossed a 2-0 shutout against a tough Morongo Men’s Club, with Canadian Steven Normand holding Tijuana in check for the first three innings, setting down 9 in a row with 5 strikeouts. But in the fourth inning, Tijuana’s Cesar Rodriguez hit a line driver over the head of Morongo’s left fielder. Rodriguez never broke stride, and slid safely into home just ahead of the throw in a bang-bang play for the game’s first run.
Erick Ochoa‘s Team 45 boasts an all-star roster, including three of the game’s best young stars, Abelardo Penuelas, and the Solorio brothers, Jordan and Emiliano. along with veteran Pipilio Lopez. Team 45 came away a 6-0 winner against the Toronto Batmen, a solid open level squad from Canada.
Bear Creek’s Ty Sebastian bested Halftime Rec St. Paul, 4-1 in the other AA/Open nightcap, picking up the win over former USA National team pitcher Joel Cooley.
Peguis Redmen’s Cody Gibbons worked just two innings in relief, closing out the 4-2 win over the Budmen, so should be ready for more work in tonight’s Winner’s Bracket Semi-final against Bear Creek.
Longtime fastpitch enthusiast Robert Hunter attended Friday’s games, traveling from his home in Tehachapi, California, to enjoy the day’s action, including the feature evening matchups. A devoted fan and familiar presence at premier men’s fastpitch events for decades, Hunter’s passion dates back to the 1980s, when he watched legends like Canada’s Mark Smith and Chris Nicholas, New Zealand’s Paul Algar, and many more iconic players who shaped the sport.
AA/Open Division
Winner’s Bracket Games
Opening Round Games
(Click hyperlinked Games for Box Scores)
- Bear Creek – 5 vs. Houston Aces – 3 (Friday 3:30 PM, Field 12)
- Team 45 Athletics – 6 vs. Toronto Batmen – 0 (Friday 3:30 PM, Field 13)
- Peguis Redmen – 4 vs. Budmen – 2 (Friday 7:00 PM, Field 11)
- TJ Buda’s – 2 vs. Morongo Men’s Club – 0 (Friday 7:00 PM, Field 14)
- Bear Creek – 5 vs. Halftime Rec Saint Paul – 1 (Friday 7:00 PM, Field 12)
- Team 45 Athletics – 6 vs. NW Braves – 1 (Friday 7:00 PM, Field 13)
Winner’s Bracket Semi-Finals (Saturday night)
- Bear Creek vs. Peguis Redmen (Saturday 4:45 PM, Field 11)
- Team 45 Athletics vs. TJ Buda’s (Saturday 4:45 PM, Field 12)\
Watch for more, including Maddy’s Photos from Friday night.
Updated Brackets (through Friday Games)
AA Division Schedule
A-Major Division Schedule
A Division Schedule
Scoreboard
Click here for scores and box scores from each game.
