DURHAM, N.C. - In the first of three exhibitions to prepare for the 2017 COPABE Pan Am "AA" Championships in Cartagena, Colombia, the 15U National Team put on an offensive display, toppling The Performance Academy, 22-3, on Sunday night at the USA Baseball Complex.
Leading the crops harvest for the United States were five multi-hit performances highlighted by Giuseppe Ferraro, who finished 4-for-5 with three RBI. Behind him was Michael Brooks (3-for-5, three runs), Robert Moore (3-for-3, three runs, two RBI), Pete Crow-Armstrong (2-for-4, two runs, two RBI) and Roc Riggio (2-for-3, two runs, one RBI).
From the mound, the 15U Team had five arms have fine outings. Alejandro Rosario got the call to start and went 3.0 innings, allowing two earned runs and just three hits. Nelson Berkwich came in for relief in the fourth, going 2.0 scoreless innings, striking out three and allowing just one hit.
Joshua Hartle received the win for his relief effort, going a scoreless 2.0 innings and allowing just a hit while punching out a game-high five batters. Michael Flores and Masyn Winn closed out the final two innings with Winn striking out all three of his batters faced in the ninth to end the game.
From the very first at-bat, Team USA planted the seeds, beginning with a leadoff double deep into center field by Riggio. Crow-Armstrong followed that immediately with a liner down the left-field line, making it all the way to third on an error. Brooks would then get the second double of the inning before Ferraro would get one of his four knocks to plate him.
TPA wouldn't score an earned run until the third inning, when they put up two to cut their deficit to 5-3.
The 15U team retaliated with hot bats again in the bottom half, scoring five runs - their second-highest single-inning run total of the night. Brooks led off the inning with a four-pitch walk before stealing second - one of eight stolen bases on the night for the U.S. Halpin then took advantage of a dropped third strike passed ball to reach and allow Brooks time to score. Moore then launched a double to right field to score Halpin.
Moore then scored on a wild pitch before Alek Boychuk hit a two-RBI single to centerfield to score Riggio and Rosario.
The game was then relatively calm for an inning and a half before the fifth when Team USA put up an eight-spot to put the game out of reach.
Moore kicked things off in the fifth with a hard-hit ball to center field before taking second on a wild pitch. Berkwich walked and then went to second when Moore stole third and then home on a throwing error. Boychuk then reached on an error, making it to second base before Berkwich crossed the plate. Brooks shot a liner to right field, scoring Boychuk before Ferraro launched a two-RBI triple deep to bring in Brook and Tanner Witt.
Ferraro would end up scoring on a wild pitch before Winn walked. Halpin then drove in Winn on a double before Moore singled again (his second base hit of the inning) to plate Halpin.
From there, the pitching staff maintained control of the game and the night finished with a 22-3 first outing for Team USA.
The 15U team continues exhibition play on Monday, Aug. 7 at 10 a.m. when they take on the Best in Class.
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