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Tournaments  | Story | 6/24/2026

ZT Finding and Maintaining Momementum

Kinley Kitchens
Photo: Landen Davis (Perfect Game)
When the summer season arrives, every team is searching for momentum.

For ZT National Prospects, that momentum has come from throughout the lineup.



After clinching their spot in bracket play with back-to-back victories, including a 16-0 win over Team Elite Scout 14U Black and an 8-0 victory against Hawaii Elite 2G 14U Black, ZT National Prospects have continued to showcase why they entered the week as one of the premier teams in the tournament.

The roster is loaded with talent, including six players ranked among the top 50 players nationally in the 2030 class, but the team’s success has come from much more than individual achievements.

In the opening bracket game on Tuesday, nine different players drove in runs as ZT National rolled to a 16-run victory. The balanced offensive attack continued in the playoff game, with six different players recording RBIs in an 8-0 win that helped the team secure their spot in the tournament bracket.

Leading the way has been Mark Thompson, who has emerged as the tournament’s top overall performer. Throughout this tournament and heading into the playoffs, Thompson has accumulated nine runs, nine hits, two doubles, four triples, 14 RBI, three stolen bases, and two home runs, while contributing both offensively and on the mound.

His biggest moment came in the bottom of the third inning against Hawaii Elite when he launched a home run that helped light up the offense.

“When I was in the box, all I could think of was see ball, hit ball hard,” Thompson said. “I have been struggling with hitting lately, but in this tournament, I have been going off, so I was thinking, ‘I’m back.’ I am back to my 13U days, my prime self, and just being me.”

The swing provided a spark for the offense and helped shift the game’s momentum.

“I think that moment was extremely important because we didn’t get to score a ton at the start and we really needed that to get that momentum going,” Thompson said. “That started everything and then we got through the rest of the game after.”

While Thompson has been one of the tournament’s most productive hitters, his impact extends well beyond the batter’s box. A nationally ranked pitcher, Thompson embraces contributing wherever the team needs him.

“Offensively I bat and lead off, I am always hitting and normally when I don’t pitch, I am playing center, playing right, playing left, and just being the golden glove out there.” Thompson said.

Another key contributor has been Landen Davis, who currently ranks among the tournament’s top performers with five runs scored, four hits, one double, one triple, 10 RBI, a stolen base, and two home runs.

Davis credits his consistency and mindset for helping him perform against some of the top competition in the country.

“Staying consistent in this tournament means that if you get out or strike out, it’s staying the same no matter what when it comes to your attitude and mindset,” Davis said. “Just keeping your attitude positive on and off the field, but mainly if you get out, just keep your head up and keep playing hard.”

Known primarily for his work behind the plate as a catcher, Davis has also shown versatility throughout the tournament by contributing at first base when called upon.

“I just try to do my best out there, and I feel like the catcher is just an infielder with a catching glove, so I just replaced it with a first base mitt,” Davis said.

The team’s success has also been fueled by strong pitching performances. Quintin Blackwell and Christopher Cabrera combined for a shutout in the opening playoff game, while Thompson ad Bryant Ju followed with another dominant effort on the mound against Hawaii Elite.

Just as importantly, players repeatedly pointed to the team’s energy and chemistry as a driving force behind the playoff run.

“Keeping the energy in the dugout, just staying hot, going up there with the mindset to just hit the ball as hard as you can, play defense, and just be ourselves,” Thompson said when discussing the team’s focus moving forward.

Davis agreed.

“Our biggest focus will be the energy in the dugout,” Davis said. “Sometimes we will start to slack off a bit as the game goes on, be we’ll start to pick it up as bracket games are coming, so just keeping that positive energy off and on the field, and especially in the dugout.”

Through the first rounds of the playoffs, ZT National Prospects have backed up their reputation as one of the most talented teams in the field. With elite performers throughout the lineup, dominant, pitching, and a team-first mentality, the team has positioned itself as a serious championship contender.

As the bracket continues, ZT National Prospects will look to keep the bats rolling, maintain their energy, and continue doing what has brought them success all tournament long: playing together.

 
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