The Arizona Blaze duplicated their 4-1 semifinal victory in the 14u championship, beating the Peloteros for the Nations Baseball Wood Bat II title.

The Blaze, facing a 1-0 deficit for the second straight game, used some two-out magic to take the lead in the third.

After Peloteros starter Jay Vetterl struck out the first two batters, Kyle Gibbs singled down the line in right and Nathan Chokey doubled down the line in left, putting runners at second and third. Michael Tyson hit a slow roller to the second baseman for an infield single and picked up an RBI to tie the game at 1-1. Matt Asta poked a ball down the line in left that hit the chalk for a single that scored Chokey for a 2-1 Blaze lead.

The Blaze would never look back as the Peloteros failed to solve starting pitcher Chokey, who threw a five-hit complete game on 93 pitches. Chokey had three innings in which he needed fewer than 10 pitches to retire the side. He was helped out by a double play in the third and a two-strikeout inning in the fourth. He only walked two while notching seven strikeouts.

The Peloteros provided some excitement in the second on an inside-the-park home run. Jayden Eggiman scored on a line drive into the gap in left-center. The ball rolled to the fence and died. By the time the throw entered the infield, Eggiman had already crossed home plate.

The Blaze added some insurance by scoring two more times in the fourth on an RBI double by Cole Tucker and a wild pitch that scored Gibbs.

Gibbs was the table setter for the Blaze, going 2-for-3 with two singles, a walk and a run scored out of the two-hole. Chokey was solid at the plate, as well, going 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a walk.

The tournament was unique in that all teams used wood bats instead of the traditional aluminum. Blaze coach Al Asta said that hitting with wood was an adjustment his team had to make.

“We knew going in that [this tournament] would not feature a lot of well-hit balls because these kids aren't used to hitting with wood bats," Asta said. "The game changes with wood bats. It becomes more fundamental and less of a power display.

“It's a good experience for these kids to hit with wood bats so that they will be ready for it down the road.”