CHARLOTTE (N.C.) – “Go West, young man,” is a phrase that originated nearly 160 years ago and has found new relevance for Canes Carolina.  The Charlotte-based 12U Canes travel baseball squad is taking to the road and skies for its next tournament (June 13-16) in Omaha, Nebraska.

The 22nd Annual Omaha SlumpBuster, sanctioned by Triple Crown Sports and billed as the “World’s Largest Baseball Tournament,” brings together close to 700 teams across six age divisions.  The 12U division features 56 teams from 19 states, but only one from North Carolina – Canes Carolina.

Canes Carolina will play four pool play games on Thursday and Friday before starting the double-elimination tournament on Saturday.  Thursday finds the Canes squaring off against Wow Factor Southwest Ortiz (Houston, Texas) and the Olive Hurricanes (Orange, California).  Friday’s schedule pits the Canes against Majestic Baseball (Peyton, Colorado) and Arlington Cardinals Red (Arlington Heights, Illinois).

The tournament coincides with the opening of “The Greatest Show on Dirt,” the Men’s College World Series.  The Canes will attend the evening session of the opening day of the CWS at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. 

CANES CAROLINA – OMAHA ROSTER

Bryce Henrickson (Huntersville, NC)

Wyatt Hogston (Wilmington, NC)

Benji Malloy (Davidson, NC)

Lex Melito (Clarksburg, MD)

Sam O’Neill (Newton, NC)

Eli Schmolke (Mooresville, NC)

Sam Spangler (Mooresville, NC)

Connor Sylvan (Charlotte, NC)

Chase Willis (Mooresville, NC)

Jett Wright (Statesville, NC)

TOURNAMENT FIELD – STATES REPRESENTED

Minnesota (8)

Colorado (7)

Texas (7)

Illinois (6)

Nebraska (5)

Iowa (4)

California (3)

Indiana (3)

Missouri (2)

Utah (2)

Arizona

Florida

Georgia

Idaho

Louisiana

Montana

North Carolina

Washington

Wisconsin