TAINAN, Taiwan – Kristian Valadez and Brock Bliss combined for six innings of one-hit ball, Valadez homered, and the United States picked up an 8-2 win in the 2025 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-12 Baseball World Cup opener Friday afternoon at Asia Pacific International Baseball Stadium Field 2.
The United States’ preparation showed from the get-go, as a busy first inning saw seven U.S. batters come to the plate and two runs score. Offensive discipline and quality at-bats induced an early pitching change and forced Panama on its heels early into the contest, as the red, white, and blue batted around the lineup by the end of the second inning. In the third, a leadoff double combined with a defensive miscue kept pressure on Panama, leading to three pitching changes through the first four frames. After Team USA’s starting pitcher, Valadez, blasted a ball high into the sky and deep over the center field wall, the once noisy Panamanian dugout was silenced for the remainder of the contest.
Despite a pair of walks during a rocky first frame, Valadez found his groove and quickly settled in, as he sat down Panama’s batters in one-two-three fashion in both the second and third inning. In a high-pressure situation in the fourth, Bliss was called on from the bullpen and delivered accordingly, inducing three straight fly outs to escape a bases-loaded jam. Bliss was a force to be reckoned with on the mound from there on out, as he hurled two more frames of no-hit ball to earn the win and secure the victory for the U.S.
Christopher Chikodroff fueled the U.S. from the plate today, as Team USA’s outfielder went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored. Valadez proved he could do it from both sides of the ball, as the Texas native provided three RBIs, two runs scored, and a home run. Spray was responsible for two RBIs while Duncan Mount provided an additional RBI, as well as a highlight-worthy, diving play in the outfield. On the flip side, Valadez hurled three, no-hit innings and punched out three batters. Bliss held it down on the hill for the three final frames and surrendered just one hit in the process.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Back-to-back free passes in addition to a base hit by Chikodroff kicked off the contest for Team USA and loaded the bases early in the first. Jaxon Spray proceeded to see a six pitch at-bat, ending in an RBI hit-by-pitch to draw first blood for the U.S.
- Jack Carson followed up with a blooper to shallow left field to plate Team USA’s second run of the inning.
- Panama got a run back in the home half after a wild pitch allowed Maxwell Montilla Miranda to score.
- The U.S. regained a two-run advantage in the third, as Chikodroff stayed hot and found the left-center field gap for a leadoff double. He later advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a dropped fly ball in the outfield.
- Team USA kept Panama’s bats quiet in the home half and proceeded to put up a crooked number in the fifth frame. With two on and none out, Valadez homed in on a 2-1 offering and lifted the pitch high and deep over the center field fence for a three-run jack. Spray capped the five-run frame and tallied his second RBI of the tournament to make it 8-1.
- Although Panama scratched a run across in the fourth, Bliss took over on the mound with the bases loaded and extinguished any sign of life, as he limited the damage and retired three straight batters to escape the inning.
NOTABLES
- The 12U National Team extends its record to 12-0 in tournament openers against international competition and is now 10-0 all-time against Panama.
- Three U.S. batters notched multiple RBIs in today’s win, as Carson, Spray, and Valadez each picked up two or more.
- Team USA’s nine hits were scattered across seven different players.
- As of Friday evening, Chikodroff is one of two players in the tournament to produce a three-hit outing.
QUOTABLES
- “We saw a lot of fight from the team today,” Manager Bryan Madsen said. “We had to make some adjustments today and get a feel for the game, but it was a great effort all around.”
- “For the first game of the tournament, we pitched well and played great defense; it’s huge to get started off on the right foot and win game one,” said Madsen.
- “I was just trying to throw strikes today because I know I have a great defense behind me,” said Bliss. “I saw a lot of effort from the team today, we were loud in the dugout and we feel good going into tomorrow."
ON DECK
The 12U National Team continues Group B pool play tomorrow morning in a contest against Czechia (0-1), who lost their opening game to the Dominican Republic, 14-8. First pitch is set for 10:30 a.m. local/10:30 p.m. ET (July 25) at Asia Pacific International Baseball Stadium Main Field.
SOCIAL MEDIA
To follow along with all the action with the 12U National Team, be sure to follow @USABaseball12U on X and @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X.
