CASTAIC, Calif. - The USA Baseball 12U National Team used three home runs to power past the Easton Canes, 11-5, in its first exhibition game of National Team Training Saturday afternoon at VTV Baseball Complex.
Team USA got on the board in the first inning with a Kai Caranto (Santa Clarita, Calif.) single to begin the game and a throwing error later in the frame to score two runs.
The Canes used a two-run home run in the bottom of the first to tie the game at 2-2.
Trailing 3-2 going into the third, Ben Reiland (Irvine, Calif.) started the inning off with a bang, crushing a solo homer to right center to tie the game. Two batters later, Josh Atomancyzk (Franklin, Texas) followed up with a solo home run of his own to give the U.S. the lead. On the next play, Owen Egan (Yucaipa, Calif.) ripped a double down the left field line. After a wild pitch that advanced Egan to third, Brandon Olivera (Hialeah, Fla.) used an RBI-groundout extending the 12U team advantage to 5-3.
Team USA added to its lead in the fourth when it was Reiland who came up with a big hit again, smacking an RBI-single to center after Trent Abel (San Diego, Calif.) walked and Caranto was hit by a pitch to begin the inning.
The U.S. continued to pile on runs in the fifth, when Hank Benny (Austin, Texas) hit a leadoff single to left field and Brad Burnes (Belvedere, Calif.) crunched a two-run homer on the next pitch to push the score to 8-3.
With the United States leading 8-5 heading into the sixth, the 12U Team put the game out of reach with Caranto and Reiland each hitting singles to start the inning. Raffaele Velazquez (Long Beach, Calif.) used a sacrifice fly to score Caranto from third. Later in the inning with the bases loaded and one out, Gavin Grahovac (Orange, Calif.) was walked to bring in another USA run. Atomancyzk capped the USA scoring, when he crossed home plate on a wild pitch.
Reiland finished the game 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI, while Caranto went 2-of-3 with three runs batting in the leadoff spot.
USA starting pitcher Olivera earned the win, allowing two earned runs on two hits while striking out two. Benny was masterful on the mound, throwing two scoreless innings and striking out two batters in relief.
Team USA will continue in exhibition play tomorrow afternoon against the Cen Cal Prospects at 3:15 p.m. (PT) and against the Total Baseball Bears on July 24 at 10:15 a.m. (PT), before heading to Tainan, Taiwan to compete in the 2017 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-12 Baseball World Cup.
Fans can follow the games live at USABaseball.com or follow on Twitter.