BRADENTON, Fla. - The 18U National Team played to a 1-1 draw in the finale of its seven-game friendship series against Canada on Thursday, September 9, at LECOM Park in Bradenton Florida. Team USA earns a series victory and finishes with a 5-1-1 record in 2021 with the tie.

Canada broke onto the scoreboard first in the contest with a solo home run in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead. Elijah Green (Windermere, Fla.) scored the tying run for Team USA in the bottom of the third on a wild pitch to make it 1-1 before the game was called in the bottom of the fifth due to inclement weather.

Green notched a triple and a single in the game to lead the U.S. offense and scored the red, white, and blue’s lone run.

Louis Rodriguez (Long Beach, Calif.) got the start for Team USA in the series finale and threw two innings, allowing one run on two hits while striking out five.

Key Moments

• Canada opened the scoring in the contest with a home run from Louka Daoust for a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
• Green tripled with two outs in the bottom of the third and then came home on a wild pitch to tie the game, 1-1..
• Paxton Kling (Roaring Spring, Pa.) hit a single in the bottom of the fifth and Blake Mitchell (Sinton, Texas) walked with one out before the game was called with a final 1-1 score.

Notable Information

• Joe Allen (Hampton Falls, N.H.) came on in relief and tossed two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, while Jack O’Connor (Arlington, Va.) pitched one inning in which he did not allow a hit, a run, or a walk.
• With his five punchouts on Thursday, Rodriguez finishes the series with 15 to lead all pitchers on both teams.
• Green’s two hits on Thursday tied him for the team-lead in hits with eight, including one triple and four home runs. Termarr Johnson (Atlanta, Ga.) also finishes the series with eight hits.
• Green and Johnson also tied for most RBIs in the series with seven through seven games.
• After scoring Team USA’s one run on Thursday, Green leads the stars and stripes with seven runs scored. He also paced the squad in total bases (22), slugging percentage (.957), and home runs (4).
• Meanwhile, Johnson tied for second on the team with six runs scored and led the U.S. with eight walks and five stolen bases in seven games. He also led in batting average (min. 10 at bats) with a .421 average and on-base percentage with a .607 mark.
• Kling was a perfect 4-for-4 in swiped bags during the seven-game series.
• Following the friendship series, the 18U National Team now holds a 38-7-2 all-time record against Canada in international competition.

Social

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