12U Elite Crowned Champions at Cooperstown World Series
One unforgettable week. One unforgettable team.
Our 12U Elite squad traveled to the legendary fields of Cooperstown and returned home as World Series Champions — capping off a week of grit, resilience, and dominant baseball.
Over the course of the tournament, the boys played 11 games, finishing with a final record of 9-1-1. Our lone loss came to the very team we would face again in the championship — and in true Elite fashion, we responded. The boys left no doubt, dominating with a 19-5 mercy-rule victory in six innings to bring home the title.
Offensive Fireworks
Leading the charge at the plate were Tyce Dechant and Dylan Call, who each crushed 6 home runs over the week. Tyce went on a tear, homering in six straight games, including a grand slam in the championship, and delivered 22 RBIs.
Braylon Jones was a consistent force, hitting .655 (19-for-29) with 4 home runs, 17 RBIs, and a team-high 37 plate appearances. Right behind Bray, was Nolan Rino-Benyo who batted at a .607 (17-for-28) average in 11 games with just 1 strike out in 33 plate appearances. The Elite offense was firing on all cyclinders and got better as the tournament went on, just striking out 26 times in 348 plate appearances.
Nathaniel Rodriguez was a grinder in the box, striking out just once in 31 plate appearances while delivering timely hits and scoring key runs. Kae’loni Wauqua also came up big offensively, driving balls out of the yard 4 different times and providing consistent pressure on opposing pitchers.
As a team, AEBA hit .459 with 30 home runs, and 9 of the 11 players went deep. The boys also stole 44 bases in 48 attempts and outscored opponents 149–64.
Mound Presence & Defensive Highlights
This championship run wasn’t possible without big-time performances on the mound and on defense.
Tyce Dechant led the staff with 7.1 innings pitched, including a championship start in which he held the WC Blackdogs to just one run through 2.1 IP before the game paused due to a lightning delay.
Jacob Silius came up huge in the semifinal against Marucci Elite (TX), grinding through 4.2 high-pressure innings, facing 25 batters in a gritty 4–3 win. Tyce closed out that game, recording the final four outs to seal the deal.
Liam Voris, Kason Westcott, and Nolan Rino-Benyo each provided solid outings on the mound, appearing in three games apiece, and keeping opposing offenses in check.
Behind the plate, Ethan Sandoval and Nolan Rino-Benyo split catching duties and caught all 11 games, showing leadership, toughness, and control of the pitching staff.
Defensively, Jacob Silius made several game-saving plays, flashing the leather and anchoring the infield when it mattered most.
All 11 players competed on the mound and contributed quality innings, with no pitcher exceeding 130 pitches throughout the week — a testament to smart management and total team trust.
An All-Time Championship Day
The championship game itself was one for the books. After taking off to a 3-0 lead in the 1st. It wasn’t until the 3rd inning when lightning approached the area and put the game in a delay. The 12U ELITE had stormed out to a 10-1 lead and after a 4-hour rain/lightning delay, the game — originally set for 7:15 PM — didn’t resume until 1:30 AM and concluded at 2:45 AM. Even more impressive? It was the team’s fourth game of the day, starting their journey at 6:00 AM for an 8:00 AM first pitch.
Through it all, the boys never wavered. No complaints. No excuses. Just baseball. That’s what it means to be Elite.
This is AEBA
This championship wasn’t just about talent — it was about toughness, depth, and brotherhood. Our 12U Elite squad embodied everything we preach: compete with heart, support your teammates, and rise to the occasion.
This week will go down as one of the greatest chapters in our program’s history — and one our boys will carry with them forever.
We Develop. We Compete. Be Elite.
