Las Vegas, NV - The Gameday Angels Barkley out of Colorado have put together one of the most impressive stretches of baseball this fall, capturing back-to-back Pathway Baseball championships in Arizona and Las Vegas.
Pathway Arizona: Finding Ways to Win
Barkley's Arizona run was defined by grit, resilience, and an ability to come through in the tightest moments.
They opened with an 11–3 win over Rawlings Tigers Black, powered by the bottom of the lineup as Rylen Sage, Max Veldhuizen, and Brayden Lewis combined for four hits and three RBIs. Brandon Pillsbury picked up the win on the mound, throwing four innings of two-hit ball, while Sage added two hits and two RBIs at the plate.
Game two was a heartbreaker, as Barkley jumped out to a 7–0 lead but fell 9–8 to USA Prime Mountain West on a walk-off single in the seventh. Despite the loss, the offense showed its firepower: Jack Boyle drove in two with a big hit, while Roark, Williams, and Lewis all added RBIs.
Needing a response, Barkley rolled through the Sticks Chicago White Sox Scout Team 12–4, flipping the game with a six-run fourth inning. Ryan Allen's two-run double was the big blow, and Boyle reached base three times.
Sunday brought more tight games. In a 4–3 victory over USA Prime Mountain West, Veldhuizen hit a sacrifice fly, Boyle singled home a run, and Pillsbury added an RBI knock. Keck reached base three times and handled key innings on the mound. Four of Barkley's five victories in the event were decided by just one run — proof of their resilience and ability to handle pressure.
That earned them a spot in the championship game, where the stage was set for one of the best finishes of the fall.
The title game delivered everything you could ask for. Barkley carried a 6–4 lead into the bottom of the seventh, but their opponent plated a run to cut it to 6–5 and sent the tying run barreling home. With the game hanging in the balance, the right fielder uncorked a strike to the plate to cut down the run and end it. The defensive gem sealed the championship in dramatic fashion and capped off one of the most resilient tournament runs of the fall.
Pathway Las Vegas: Even More Impressive
Barkley carried that momentum into Las Vegas, where they were even more dominant, finishing a perfect 5–0.
They started with a 14–0 rout of LV Knights, blowing it open with a 12-run third inning. Pillsbury had three RBIs and two hits, while Kyle Williams cleared the bases with a three-run single. Sage threw four shutout innings, and the Angels stole 10 bases as a team.
In game two, they blanked Gameday Saints Hazen 9–0. Ryan Allen tripled in two runs in the first inning, finishing with two hits and two RBIs. Keck struck out five over four scoreless frames, while Zentner followed with two perfect innings in relief.
Bracket play brought drama. Against HD Baseball out of New Mexico, Barkley fell behind 11–5 before mounting a furious rally. In the bottom of the seventh, Allen laced a two-run triple to walk it off, completing a 12–11 comeback. The offense pounded out 14 hits, with Keck going 3-for-5 and Williams adding a pair of RBIs.
In the semifinals, they edged Marucci Recruits 3–2 behind a complete game from Williams, who struck out eight and walked just one. Allen once again delivered the big swing, a two-run single in the fifth that flipped the game for good.
The championship against their program counterparts, Gameday Angels Martinez 15U, was another thriller. Barkley trailed multiple times but never folded. Ian Wilson drove in five runs out of the nine-hole, including a clutch two-run single. Down 11–10 in the bottom of the eighth, they loaded the bases before Caden Konrad delivered the game-winning RBI single to win 12–11 and secure their second straight Fall crown.
Hitting Leaders Across 11 Games
While the team thrived on resilience and clutch play, several players carried the load at the plate over the two events:
Ryan Allen (.406, 13 hits, 12 RBIs): A consistent force in the middle of the order, Allen came up with multiple game-winning swings, including a walk-off triple against HD Baseball and big RBIs in both finals.
Brandon Pillsbury (.385, 10 hits, 10 RBIs, 8 walks): Delivered in big moments at the plate while also picking up key innings on the mound.
Jack Boyle (.364, 12 hits, 9 walks): A steady table-setter who reached base throughout both weekends.
Alex Keck (.360, 15 RBIs, 13 walks): Balanced patience and power, driving in runs and logging important innings as a two-way contributor.
Ian Wilson (.429, 5 RBIs in 3 games): Provided a spark in Las Vegas, highlighted by a five-RBI performance in the championship.
Rylen Sage (.571 in limited at-bats, 4 RBIs): Delivered early in the Arizona run and provided steady pitching support.
Pitching Leaders Across 11 Games
On the mound, Barkley leaned on both power arms and steady strike-throwers to get through close games and late rallies:
Ryan Williams (12 IP, 2–0, 11 SO): The staff ace when it mattered most. Williams went the distance in the Las Vegas semifinal against Marucci Recruits, striking out eight in a 3–2 win, and finished the two events with 12 innings, 11 strikeouts, and two wins without a loss.
Rylen Sage (8 IP, 3–0, 5 SO): A steady winner who gave Barkley important early starts, picking up three victories while also contributing at the plate.
Alex Keck (10.1 IP, 1–0, 8 SO): A reliable two-way force, Keck worked over 10 innings on the mound with eight strikeouts, including key appearances in Arizona.
Brandon Pillsbury (10.1 IP, 1–0, 5 SO): Helped set the tone with a win over Rawlings Tigers in Arizona and logged more than 10 innings across the two weekends.
Cooper Zentner (6 IP, 7 SO): A bullpen weapon in Las Vegas who logged six innings with seven strikeouts. His relief outing against Saints Hazen was spotless, striking out four in two innings to keep the shutout intact.
Braden Anderson (5 IP, 1–0, 4 SO): Gave Barkley a solid start in Arizona, going five innings and striking out four to grab a win.
A Fall to Remember
Two weekends. Two championships. One defined by gritty one-run escapes, the other by explosive offense and dramatic comebacks. The Gameday Angels Barkley have proven themselves as one of the most resilient and exciting teams in Pathway Baseball — and now stand tall as back-to-back Fall champions.
