CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA - The 15U National Team needed all nine innings for the first time in the Super Round, but outlasted a pesky Brazil that led until the fifth on Friday afternoon in the COPABE Pan Am "AA" Championships in Cartagena, Colombia.
The 5-4 victory gives the United States its sixth-straight victory and third-straight appearance in the Pan Am Championships gold medal game - won gold over Colombia in 2015 and over Cuba in 2013.
Nothing came easy in the final game of the Super Round, but 2-for-4 efforts by both Pete Crow-Armstrong (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) and Petey Halpin (San Mateo, Calif.) helped lead the charge offensively. Crow-Armstrong continued his recent good hitting, also leading the team with two RBIs including the go-ahead run in the fifth.
The 15U team also showed the depth of its pitching staff, tossing four pitchers on the day with Michael Brooks (Lake Worth, Fla.) getting the start. Brooks went the first 3.2 innings before Joshua Hartle (King, N.C.) relieved him, going the next 3.1. Hartle was credited with the win as he allowed just two hits total while punching out a game-high five hitters.
Splitting the final 2.0 innings was Lucas Gordon (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Masyn Winn (Kingwood, Texas), who each finished with two clutch strikeouts, only allowing a combined three hits. Winn was also credited with the save.
Team USA managed to tack a run on the board in the second and third to take an early 2-0 lead, but Brazil wouldn't go away quietly, putting up a three spot in the bottom of the third to retake the lead.
That lead would remain until the fifth when, with two outs, Alek Boychuk (Buford, Ga.) reached on a throwing error by the third basemen before making it to second on the error. Winn and Roc Riggio (Simi Valley, Calif.) then followed up with back-to-back walks to load the bases. After a pitching change, Crow-Armstrong crushed a ball through the right side to score two runs and give the U.S. a 4-3 lead.
The next three innings would see scoreless outings as neither team could bring anyone around in the pitching duel.
Kick-starting the top of the ninth, Dylan Crews (Longwood, Fla.) came in to pinch hit and immediately doubled down the right-field line. Boychuk then reached on another two-out throwing error, this time by the shortstop, giving Crews enough time to make it home.
Brazil would find a way to score one in the bottom of the ninth, but back-to-back swinging strikeouts by Winn retired the inning and secured Team USA's spot in the championship.
The 15U National Team will look to finish strong when they compete for a gold medal in a rematch with the Dominican Republic on Saturday, Aug. 19. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.
Continue to follow on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the 15U National Team.
The COPABE Pan Am Championships is a World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Continental Championships and serves as a qualifier to the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup in 2018.