COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Mac's Athletics is headed to the final day of the first Pathway Omaha Upperclassmen Championships. 

The sixth-seeded California 18U squad knocked off second-seeded Team EPD 9-7 in the Pathway Omaha quarterfinals Tuesday afternoon at the Council Bluffs Recreation Complex.

"These guys have been battling all weekend," Mac's Athletics coach Steven Mcleod said. "To see them piecing up baseballs and having quality at-bats was great. That's the big thing for these guys."

"It feels really good," Mac's Athletics' Eljay Arevalo said. "We just have to keep working and everyone needs to keep their composure and do the same thing tomorrow."
Next, Mac's Athletics, based in Moreno Valley, California, will face BlueChip Baseball at 9 a.m. in the semifinals at Iowa Western Community College. The winner advances to the championship round at 1:30 p.m. 

"We got some dogs on the mound ready to rock and roll," Mcleod said. "If they can pitch to contact, let the defense work, it's going to be a great day for us. The bats are alive, finally. If we can just maintain our positive attitude on the field, we'll be fine."

James Williams and Eddie Rivera each drove in three runs for Mac's Athletics. Williams had two key hits, the first an RBI single in the six-run third and the second a run-scoring single in the game-changing three-run fifth. Rivera had a two-run single in the third and also drove in a run in the fifth. Arvelo turned in three innings of work on the mound, tallying a strikeout. 
Team EPD, who was eliminated with the loss, showed fight after their opponent took a 6-0 lead in the top of the third. Team EPD responded immediately with seven runs to take the lead headed into the fourth. The frame was highlighted by Matthew Goff's three-run blast to deep left center.

"That got us back into the game. It was absolutely huge," Team EPD coach Joey Davis said. "He swings the bat really well and he's a strong boy. … We struggled a little bit today. We made some errors, but overall we had a great tournament. I'm really proud of how we played."

Overall, Davis said his group enjoyed the Pathway experience.

"It was great," he said. "The tournament was amazing and we liked how it was run. And we'll be back with you guys in Utah."