Conner Lai guards first base for LIB 13U Prime as Jacory Acker leads off the bag for Energy Baseball. 

By Sean Reilly

There was an opening weekend trend at Diamond Nation in all age groups, where batters were for the most part ahead of pitchers in terms of readiness for the season. 

It’s always the case in March, since pitchers are still working into shape and sharpening their own personal arsenals after throwing indoors in non-game situations.

Still, there are exceptions to the rule, as pitchers like Marco Diaz of LIB 13U Prime showed on Saturday. 

Diaz, a right-hander from the Long Island team, allowed one unearned run and one hit — to the first batter of the game — through five impressive innings as LIB opened its 2025 season with a 9-1 triumph over Energy Baseball Lightning of Worcester, Mass., at the 13U Battle at the Turf in Flemington.

Diaz efficiently struck 11 and walked one over his five innings. 

“My four-seamer was working good, so was the cutter, and I threw the curveball a couple of times,” he said. “I just came out looking to throw strikes and fill the zone.” 

The Lightning began the game with Jacory Acker reaching on a single to shortstop. He stole two bases while the next two batters struck out, and then scored as Anderson Steel was safe at first on an error. 

The 1-0 lead held through four innings, until LIB Prime struck for four runs in the bottom of the fourth. 

Andrew Romeo walked with one out for LIB and moved to second on a ground out. After moving over to third, he scored on a balk with two out. 

LIB took control with a four-run fifth.

Joe Albano led off with a single to left and advanced to second on an error. Maks Altan hit an RBI double to left for a 2-1 lead.

After a pitching change, Daniel Bogovic was safe on an error which scored Altan. 

Kaito Cavallo walked, and after an out, Bogovic scored on a wild pitch. Diaz then singled in Cavallo for a four-run lead. 

The game ended in the bottom of the sixth. 

Markos Zografos reached on a leadoff error, Josh Lojan walked and Andrew Romeo hit a one-run double. Aiden Miletic singled in a run, and RBI singles from C.J. Castillo and Ben Stamoulis followed to end the game. 

Diaz had plenty to feel great about afterwards. 

“I put in a lot of work training,” he said. “I did pretty well for my first outing. I was able to throw strikes and get ahead in counts. That made a huge difference.”