Box Score | PxP | Cumulative Stats

HERMOSILLO, Mexico. – The USA Baseball 15U National Team secured its spot in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Baseball World Cup title game with an 11-1 victory over Cuba at Estadio Sonora in Hermosillo, Mexico. The game acted as a gold medal preview with the stars and stripes winning the Super Round and Cuba coming in right behind.

Cuba entered the day with a gold medal game spot already in hand after Japan had to forfeit their contest last night due to a pitch count violation. Japan secured the victory today, making this a win-or-play for bronze game for Team USA.

A seven-run fourth inning was the difference maker in this contest. Team USA and Cuba entered the inning tied at one but thanks to two, two-run home runs and a couple of RBI-knocks, the U.S. came out of the fourth with an 8-1 lead. Three runs by way of single, double, and single came in the sixth inning to give the red, white, and blue a 10-run lead and the ball game.

Andrew Costello (Fairview, Pa.) and Grady Emerson (Argyle, Texas) powered the offense with a home run each. Emerson started the fourth inning rally by sending a ball to the top of the wall in right center, and two batters later, Costello launched one into Team USA’s bullpen in left field for good measure. Costello ended the day leading all batters in hits, RBIs, and extra-base hits, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs, two runs scored, two doubles, and the home run.

Six other Team USA players, including Emerson, contributed RBIs on the night. John Short (Anaheim, Calif.) was one of those players, going 3-for-3 on the night with a double, a walk, a run scored, and an RBI. Ethan Holliday (Stillwater, Okla.) extended his RBI-streak to eight games, increasing his World Cup lead in the category.

Team USA had another strong night on the mound, limiting Cuba to one hit to go along with nine strikeouts. Jack McKernan (Missouri City, Texas) got the start and went 3.0 innings of one-hit ball, giving up one run, and striking out two while also picking off two runners. Joshua Woodworth (Ventura, Calif.) earned the win in relief, pitching 1.1 innings with no hits and two strikeouts. Ryan Harwood (Chandler, Ariz.) closed out the game with five strikeouts over 1.2 innings pitched.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The game was scoreless heading into the bottom of the third inning until James Tronstein was standing on second after taking advantage of a Cuba error for Andrew Costello to drive him in with a ground rule double to give Team USA the early lead.
• In the top of the fourth inning, Cuba tied the game at 1-1 by scoring via wild-pitch.
• John Short got the Team USA offense going in the bottom of the fourth with a single and would come around to score a batter later thanks to Alex Harrington reaching on a fielder’s choice and a Cuba error to break the tie, 2-1.
• With Alex Harrington on third base thanks to a balk, Grady Emerson sent a ball to the top of the wall in right center field for his first home run of the World Cup and a 4-1 Team USA lead.
• James Tronstein drew a walk and stole a base before he watched Andrew Costello launch a ball over the left field fence into Team USA’s bullpen, extending the stars and stripes’ lead to 6-1.
• Brady Ebel drew his World Cup leading 11th walk before Ethan Holliday moved him to third with a single, and Ryan Mitchell drove him home with an RBI-single to right field, making the score 7-1 in Team USA’s favor.
• John Short capped the seven-run U.S. inning with an RBI-double to right center, plating Ethan Holliday and giving Team USA an 8-1 advantage.
• In the bottom of the sixth inning, Andrew Costello recorded his third extra-base hit of the night with a leadoff double just for Brady Ebel to knock him home with an RBI-single to give the U.S. a 9-1 lead.
• Ethan Holliday hit his World Cup-leading 10th RBI with a double to put Team USA up by nine before Alex Harrington ended the game and sent the U.S. to the title game with an RBI-single to make the score 11-1.

NOTABLE

• Andrew Costello had a monster day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored.
• Ethan Holliday has now recorded an RBI in all eight games of the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup and leads all players with 10 total.
• John Short had a perfect day at the plate, going 3-for3 with a double, an RBI, a walk, and a run scored.
• Jack McKernan was strong on the mound to start the game, pitching 3.0 innings, only allowing one hit and one run while striking out two, and picking off two.
• Joshua Woodworth earned the win in relief, going 1.1 innings of hitless baseball while striking out two.
• Ryan Harwood led all players with five strikeouts over his 1.2 innings of work.

ON DECK
The 2022 15U National Team will face Cuba in the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup Gold Medal Game on Sunday, September 2 at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm local time at Estadio Sonora in Hermosillo, Mexico.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Stay tuned to @USABaseball15U on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the 2022 15U National Team.