TAINAN, Taiwan - The USA Baseball 12U National Team run ruled Australia, 16-0, in four innings in the opening game of Pool Play in the 2017 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-12 Baseball World Cup on Friday afternoon at Kuei-Ren Stadium.
Outfielder Benjamin Reiland (Irvine, Calif.) started the Team USA scoring with an RBI-double to center field, after Kai Caranto was hit by a pitch in the to begin the first inning. Later in the frame, Brad Burnes (Belvedere, Calif.) blasted a two-run home run to right center field, to give the U.S. side the early 3-0 lead.
Team USA picked up where they left off in the second inning, when Caranto and Reiland ripped back-to-back RBI-hits scoring two more runs. Later in the inning, Raffaele Velazquez (Long Beach, Calif.) used an RBI-groundout to score Caranto and Burnes struck again with a two-run double, while Gavin Grahovac (Orange, Calif.) capped the inning by smashing a grand slam to left center extending the United States lead to 12-0.
The U.S. squad continued to pour on the runs in the third, when Reiland crushed a solo homer to start the inning and Velazquez followed with an RBI-single, scoring Josh Atomancyzk (Franklin, Texas) after he singled and advanced to second on a throwing error.
Team USA led 14-0 heading into the fourth inning.
In the fourth, Hank Benny (Austin, Texas) led off the frame with a walk and Errick Barnes Jr. (San Diego, Calif.) pulled a two-run home run to left field to end the game due to the WBSC run rule.
Reiland went 3-for-3 with three runs and three RBI, while Burnes finished 2-for-3 with four RBI, and Spencer Butt (Davie, Fla.) went 2-for-2 with a run to lead the Team USA offense.
Starting pitcher Bryce Rainer (Simi Valley, Calif.) was stellar on the mound, throwing three scoreless innings, while only allowing one walk and striking out a game-high five. The right-handed pitcher struck out five of the first six batters he faced.
Reliever Ashton Larson (Overland Park, Kan.) used a five-pitch fourth inning to keep the shutout and no-hitter intact.
Team USA will continue Pool Play in the U-12 WBSC World Cup tomorrow at 2:00 a.m. ET against Nicaragua at Shan-Hwa stadium in Tainan, Taiwan.
Fans can follow the games live at USABaseball.com or follow on Twitter.