By Sean Reilly 

Aydin Gomez was ready to launch his 2024 season over the weekend at the Diamond Nation 11U Battle At The Turf tournament. 

So too were his Flores Baseball Braves 11U Scout teammates. The end result was a four-game march to the championship, capped by a 6-3 triumph over the New Hampshire Prospects 11U in the final on Sunday night in Flemington. 

The FB Braves went 4-0, winning once on Friday and three times on Sunday, with a 36-16 run differential. 

The catalyst was Gomez, who earned tournament MVP honors after a 6-for-10 showing with eight RBI and five runs. 

He was 2-for-3 with three RBI in the final, including a two-run triple in the bottom of the third to snap a 2-2 tie.

“This was a fun weekend,” he said. “It was amazing. This was a good way to start the season. And this was the first time I was ever the MVP.” 

The Fairfield-based Braves, who outlasted the Massapequa (N.Y.) Cyclones, 6-5, in the semifinals, took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning against New Hampshire.

Luca Bonura led off with a single hit between the pitcher and first baseman. He stole second, and moved to third on Rehan Rawal’s pitcher-to-first groundout. Gomez followed with an RBI single to center. 

The New Hampshire Prospects (3-1), who played all four of their tournament games on Sunday after Saturday’s washout, went ahead with two runs in the top of the second. 

Cole Nelson led off the inning with a walk. He stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Jack Ward’s groundout to second.

Aydin Gomez of FB Braves Scouth 11U was named 11U Battle At The Turf MVP.

Cam Bergeron followed with a walk, and advanced on a wild pitch before scoring as Noah Kuceris reached on an error. 

The Braves reclaimed the lead in the third. Bonura reached on a full-count walk with one out before racing to third on Rawal’s double to left-center field. 

Gomez was up next, and he socked a two-run triple to right center. Harry Velonas, who finished 2-for-2 with a walk, followed with an RBI single to left field for a 5-2 advantage. 

An RBI single by Mike DeLorenzo extended the lead in the fourth inning. 

New Hampshire scored its final run in the sixth. Connor Mills reached on a one-out walk. He stole second before scoring on a two-out single by Nelson.