Photo courtesy of MLB RBI.
RBI Austin’s 18U Baseball Team Wins RBI Regional to Advance to MLB RBI World Series in Florida
Hello (again), MLB RBI World Series!
RBI Austin’s 18U Baseball Regional team defeated Houston Astros RBI 8-7 this past Saturday, July 27th at the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy in Dallas to win the 2024 MLB RBI Southwest Regional tournament!
After earning a spot in the championship game with a 4-0 record in pool play, the Austin boys pulled off a thrilling 8-7 extra innings victory over the defending RBI World Series champion Houston Astros RBI to punch their ticket to Vero Beach.
At the RBI World Series in Vero Beach from August 4th-10th, RBI Austin will compete against six other U.S. regional champions and one World regional champion for a chance to earn the program’s first RBI World Series title.
RBI Southwest Regional Highlights
- This RBI Regional championship marks four 18U Regional championships in the past six years for RBI Austin.
- RBI Austin players Ace Cyphers, Sion Benjamin, Jordan Benjamin, and Laude Reyes have each been playing with RBI Austin for 10+ years. For each, this represents a major milestone – a dream realized – in achieving their first RBI Regional championship and RBI World Series berth.
- 1-0 victory over Texas Rangers RBI in the first game of pool play. The combined shutout was thrown by pitchers Troy Haefs, Laude Reyes, Brady Richardson, and Jordan Benjamin.
- 5-0 victory over New Orleans RBI in pool play. Jordan Benjamin (6.2 IP, 7 K’s, 2 Hits, 0 Runs) was the winning pitcher for Austin.
- In the 8-7 championship game win over Houston Astros RBI, Landon Grimes went 2 for 4 with 4 RBI’s including a 3-run double with two outs in the bottom of the 6th inning to tie the game at 7-7.
- Lezlie Jackson led Austin with 7 hits and 7 stolen bases in the Regional.
- Abraham Gonzalez led Austin with 6 RBI’s in the Regional.
- Jordan Benjamin (7 IP), Brady Richardson (5.1 IP), and Sion Benjamin (4 IP) each had a 0.00 ERA in the Regional.
