USA Prime Brewer 2024 caps off summer with Mickey Mantle World Series title

By: Luke White

USA Prime Brewer 2024 ended its season on a high note, winning the AABC Mickey Mantle World Series on Sunday, July 24 at L. Dale Mitchell Park on the campus of the University of Oklahoma to cap off the summer.

After a 3-0 start to the tournament, the Corinth, Tex.-based ballclub shook off its only loss, a 4-3 defeat to Midland Redskins 16U on Thursday, July 21, to win its next three matchups, including a 10-3 victory over Dulins Dodgers Prime Godwin in the championship.

The team was led on the field by tournament MVP James Raecek of Plano West High School (TX) and offensive MVP Micah Roberts of Argyle High School (TX). Both players were offensive machines during the week, with Raecek going 8-for-14 with ten runs batted in with five extra-base hits and five walks. Likewise, Roberts posted an 8-for-19 performance with nine RBIs, including a 4-for-4 showing in the championship game.

“I was seeing the ball great,” Raecek said. “From the start, we were bonding well together as a team. It took everyone’s effort, especially the pitching staff.”

Indeed, the USA Prime Brewer’s pitching took center stage at the tournament, allowing no more than four runs in a game and holding opponents to two runs or less in five games. Like Raecek, Roberts gave credit to those around him–in this case, his coaches–for helping him to play as well as he did during the week.

“I had to have confidence at the plate,” Roberts said. “My coaches helped me out, telling me what I should be thinking when I go up to the plate. It’s really my approach–be aggressive and look to hit the ball hard.

“As our last tournament, we had to make it count.”

Raecek cited the team’s perseverance and grit for allowing them to win the title amongst a field of 30 teams across Texas and Oklahoma. After its sole loss, the team won the following three games by at least six runs each.

“It was a good tournament with great competition,” Raecek said. “We knew it was going to be a tough one, but we battled all weekend. We fell behind in one game, but that didn’t stop us. We battled and grinded.”

Roberts also credited the team’s determination and focus, saying that winning the tournament to end a back-and-forth season is a true testament to the players’ mindset and team-first mentality.

“There’s been lots of ups and downs this season, but we’ve always played as a team,” Roberts said. “Nobody thinks for themselves, and it’s all team-oriented. It gives us a lot of confidence going forward, especially into next Fall.”

In addition to having a winning mindset, the team’s tournament victory came as a result of consistent hard work by the players and coaches.

“We put in a lot of work off the field, especially with our coaches,” Raecek said. “We’re always on the same page. The team works great together. It’s a great group of guys, we all love each other and play for each other.”

USA Prime Brewer hopes that this tournament and season will be the beginning of a special run for the team, one that involves many more championships in the future.