OKINAWA, Japan – The 18U National Team looks to continue its unbeaten run at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup on Monday morning, taking on China. First pitch from Okinawa Cellular Stadium is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. JST/9:30 p.m. ET (Sept. 7).

GROUP B STANDINGS

Team USA (3-0)
Chinese Taipei (2-1)
Australia (2-1)
Germany (2-1)
China (0-3)
Panama (0-3)

LAST TIME OUT

A four-run first inning right out of the gates propelled Team USA to a 9-3 win over previously unbeaten Germany on Sunday afternoon at Nishizaki Stadium. All four of the first-inning runs came with two outs; RBI singles by CJ Sampson and Andrew Costello drove in two of the tallies, and a wild pitch that plated Sampson and Anthony Murphy was responsible for the other two. Aiden Ruiz stayed hot at the plate with a pair of RBI singles to drive in three runs, Grady Emerson drove in a run with a single, and James Clark notched a sac fly in the 10-hit, nine-run outburst.

On the mound, Matthew Sharman continued the hot stretch of pitching for the U.S. by retiring the first nine batters he faced. After allowing a hit but erasing it with a double play in the fourth, Sharman ran into trouble in the fifth and was pulled after allowing three singles and a throwing error. Trey Rangel entered and stopped the bleeding before finishing off the game with three strong relief innings to secure Team USA’s 9-3 victory.

KINGS OF THE HILL

Team USA’s pitching staff has dominated Group B opponents through three games. The staff owns a 0.33 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, and .143 batting average against, the most of any team in the World Cup. The U.S. went 10 consecutive innings without allowing a hit, no-hitting Chinese Taipei and pitching three hitless frames to begin Sunday’s game against Germany. Its opponent’s batting average is .143, second best in the tournament field.

MURPHY’S LAW

U.S. centerfielder Anthony Murphy has gotten off to a strong start on both sides of the ball. While playing a stellar center field, Murphy has also posted a .583 on-base percentage and stolen a tournament-most three bases. He swiped two bags in Sunday’s win over Germany.

OUCH!

Team USA has been hit by eight pitches through three games, more than any other competing nation. Australia, who has been hit by the second-most pitches, is only at five. Grady Emerson has been plunked three times, tied for the most at the World Cup.

THE ROSTER

The 20-player Team USA roster features five USA Baseball alumni, 10 players with USA Baseball national team development programming experience, and four players who have participated in MLB Develops events and programming. Grady Emerson is appearing on a national team roster for the fourth consecutive summer, becoming the first player in USA Baseball history to play for two 15U National Teams and two 18U National Teams. He is joined by his 2022 15U teammates Carson Bolemon and Andrew Costello, who helped Team USA win gold at the 2022 WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup. 2023 15U alum Jorvorskie Lane Jr. makes his second appearance on a U.S. roster, while two-time alum Jared Grindlinger rounds out the alumni on the roster.

In addition to the five alumni on the roster, 10 total players have experience participating in USA Baseball’s national team development programming. Emerson and Grindlinger were both members of the 2022 13U/14U Athlete Development Program (ADP), while Costello and Jacob Lombard both participated at the 2023 16U/17U National Team Development Program (NTDP). Bolemon, Coleman Borthwick, Will Brick, Lane Jr., Anthony Murphy, and Gio Rojas competed at the 2024 16U/17U NTDP, and Grindlinger played at the 2025 16U/17U NTDP in July.

Additionally, James Clark, Lombard, Murphy, and Aiden Ruiz all have experience across a myriad of MLB Develops programs and events. The quartet has participated in nearly all of MLB Develops’ offerings, including the Breakthrough Series, DREAM Series, Hank Aaron Invitational, High School All-American Game, High School Home Run Derby, and The Program-all of which are hosted jointly with USA Baseball.

FOLLOW ALONG

To follow along with all the action with the 18U National Team, be sure to follow @USABaseball18U on X and @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X.