CHIRIQUI, PANAMA- Team USA made it one step closer to medal contention, picking up its fourth shutout of the tournament by downing Chitre-pool top seed Cuba 10-0 Friday in the World Baseball Softball Confederation's U-15 Baseball World Cup, held at Estadio Kenny Serracin in David.
Infielder Cody Schrier (San Clemente, Calif.) led the charge for the red, white, and blue, posting a triple and a homer and scoring three times. First baseman Brady House (Winder, Ga.) continued his dominance, turning in a 3-for-4 day with two runs and two RBI. Starting pitcher Josh Hartle (King, N.C.) held the Cuban offense that entered Super Round play with the top amongst the field, to just two hits through five innings, striking out three. Hartle also tripled, driving in three. Second baseman Davis Diaz (Pittsburg, Calif.) also scored twice while centerfielder Tyree Reed (Vallejo, Calif.) recorded two hits.
Relievers Sam Dutton (Rainbow City, Ala.) and TR Williams (Shenandoah, Va.) each worked a scoreless/hitless inning from the bullpen.
Schrier started things right away for USA, taking the second pitch of his at bat and blasting a long ball over the left field wall.
Cuba threatened with a pair of base runners in two separate frames, but the Stars and Stripes put up a five-spot in the third to add some cushion. Reed doubled to left center and after moving over on an infield single from Diaz, scored on a wild pitch.
Schrier walked and moved to third on an infield to third on single up the middle from House that scored Diaz, and after infielder Luke Leto (Portage, Mich.) reached on a fielder's choice turned error, all three came home courtesy of a massive in-the-gap triple from Hartle in right center.
USA added insurance in the fifth, again courtesy of Schrier, who tripled home Diaz who was hit-by-pitch. House then dropped a ball into shallow center to bring home Schrier.
The squad finalized the victory in the final frame, after a sacrifice fly from utility man Ryan Spikes (Covington, Ga.) brought in infielder Justin Colon, who laced a pinch-hit single through the left side to lead off the inning. A bases loaded walk to catcher Charlie Saum (Ventura, Calif.) brought home House, who singled again, for the final run.
USA will return to action again at 3:00 p.m. ET Saturday, taking on Chitre-pool second seed Japan.
