VINELAND, N.J. – Over the weekend the 2015 WWBA Northeast Qualifier saw a pair of talented and loaded rosters square off to secure one of the guaranteed spots for the WWBA World Championship at the end of October. The Next Level Titans and The Beyel Brother Bulldogs entered Sunday each needing three wins to capture the championship.

Next Level started off strong in their quarterfinal game defeating Stars Baseball Baseball Marucci Prime 18u 9-1. They followed that up with an impressive win over Farrah Scout, winning 8-0 to secure one spot in the championship game.

The Bulldogs took on the CrabFest All Americans in their quarterfinal game and won a close contest 3-0 with big help from their starter, Blake Beyel, who tossed a no-hitter to preserve the win. Offensively, The Bulldogs received a burst of power from Tanner Frabott, who blasted a solo homer, and PG All-American and South Carolina commit, Carlos Cortes, who gave them a quick two-run lead with a two-run home run.

In their semifinal matchup against the Stars Baseball Marucci 18u Red, the Bulldogs earned the 8-4 win in a back-and-forth game thanks in part to a home run from Beyel and a pair of two-run singles from Ben Berggren and Cortes.

That set the stage for the championship game, which saw a pitching matchup of Cortes for the Bulldogs and Troy Simpson for the Titans. Simpson fired an impressive four innings allowing just one run on six hits and struck out two while featuring an 85-87 mph fastball. Cortes countered by throwing six innings of his own allowing three runs on four hits and striking out an impressive six batters with a fastball that sat between 81-83 mph.

The Titans jumped out to a quick lead, plating one run in each of the first three innings of the ball game, giving them a 3-0 lead. The Bulldogs threatened in both the fourth and fifth innings, but left empty handed. They did plate their first run of the game in the bottom of the sixth, cutting the Titans lead to 3-1.

In the top of the seventh, the Titans were stymied in their attempt to add some insurance when Berggren induced a quick ground ball double play to escape a bases loaded jam. The good fortune was back on the side of the Bulldogs in the bottom of the seventh as they loaded the bases with two outs and saw Frabott tie the game with a two-run double off the right field fence. The potential winning run was cut down at the plate thanks to a fantastic throw and relay.

As a result the game moved on to extra innings tied 3-3.

The first two frames of extras went quickly as each side was retired without a change in score. A pair of walks and a single to start the 10th inning for the Titans gave them the opportunity they needed as Alvin Melendez worked a bases loaded walk to break the tie and give them a 4-3 lead.

The one run proved to be good enough to secure the Northeast Qualifier championship for the Next Level Titans and a spot in the 2015 WWBA World Championship.

The MVP for the tournament was Next Level Titans first baseman Robert Weissheier, a Hofstra commit. Beyel earned Most Valuable Pitcher honors due in part to his no-hit performance in the quarterfinal game.

2015 WWBA Northeast Qualifier champions: Next Level Titans
2015 WWBA Northeast Qualifier runner-up: Beyel Brother Bulldogs
2015 WWBA Northeast Qualifier third place: Stars Baseball Marucci 18u Red; Farrah Scout