LOS CABOS, Mexico – The 18U National Team continues play at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier on Saturday against Peru. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. PT/6:00 p.m. ET at Estadio Leonardo Gastelum in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
LAST TIME OUT
The U.S. opened tournament play with a 13-0 win over Peru on Friday evening at Estadio Leonardo Gastelum. After opening the scoring in the bottom of the first, Team USA exploded for nine runs in the third. Noah Franco led the offense all night long, going 3-for-3 with a grand slam, double, and single. PJ Morlando added a homer in the nine-run third, depositing a two-run blast deep over the right-field wall. Austin Nye drove in two runs for the U.S., which also stole three bases in the victory.
Ford Thompson started for Team USA and pitched three scoreless innings, working around baserunners in each frame. Thompson, who struck out four in his three innings, handed the ball to Stunner Gonzales for the fourth and fifth. Gonzales surrendered just one hit and struck out five to earn and lock down the win.
HISTORY AGAINST PUERTO RICO
Team USA has beaten Puerto Rico all four times the nations have met at the U-18 level, dating back to their first contest in 2005. Most recently, the U.S. knocked off Puerto Rico, 8-2, at the 2011 World Cup Qualifiers in Colombia.
OFF TO A GOOD START
By beating Peru on Friday, the 18U National Team continued its streak of winning every tournament opener -- including World Cups and World Cup Qualifiers -- it has played in since 2007. The program is unbeaten all-time in World Cup Qualifier opening games, posting a 14-0 record since competing in its first tournament in 1993.
QUALIFIER SUCCESS
The U.S. has won each of the last five U-18 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifiers it has competed in, earning gold in 2009, 2011, 2014, 2016, and 2018 while compiling a 41-1 overall record. The program most recently captured gold in the event with a perfect 9-0 record in 2018, outscoring its opponents 131-27.
POOL STANDINGS
United States (1-0)
Puerto Rico (1-0)
Venezuela (0-0)
Canada (0-1)
Peru (0-1)
INSIDE THE ROSTER
Team USA’s 20-man roster features four members who have previously donned the stars and stripes. A trio of players reunite on the roster after earning spots on the 15U National Team: Carson Messina, Austin Nye, and Michael Torres. Additionally, Daniel Arambula (2017) and Torres (2018) played for the 12U National Team, both winning gold medals.
In total, 10 of the 20 players on the roster have participated in USA Baseball development programs, including eight players from the 2022 16U/17U National Team Development Program (NTDP). Arambula, Talan Bell, Matthew Champion, Noah Franco, PJ Morlando, Vaughn Neckar, Ford Thompson, and Torres all participated at this year’s NTDP from July 25-29 in Cary, North Carolina. The roster also includes four players who participated in the 2022 Prospect Development Pipeline (PDP) League: Casey Borba, Roman Martin, Campbell Smithwick and Nazzan Zanetello.
MEET THE COACHES
Denny Hocking is back at the helm of the 18U National Team after guiding the U.S. to a gold medal at this summer’s WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in Bradenton and Sarasota, Florida. The skipper, who owns 13 years of major-league playing experience, has spent time as an analyst, coach, and minor-league manager, and currently works as an analyst on Bally Sports West.
Team USA alum and 14-year MLB veteran Brad Penny returns to the staff as pitching coach after serving in the same role for the program in a friendship series against Canada in 2021. The World Series champ and two-time MLB All-Star led last year’s staff to a 1.53 ERA with 89 strikeouts in 59 innings. Former 12U National Team Manager and longtime Orange Lutheran High School skipper Eric Borba is on staff as an assistant coach, as well as New York Yankees’ minor-league coach James Cooper.
