TAINAN, Taiwan – The United States hammered 19 hits and spun a no-hitter en route to defeating South Africa, 26-0, Sunday morning in the 2025 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-12 Baseball World Cup at Asia Pacific International Baseball Stadium Field 2. With the win, Team USA improves to 3-0 and lands in first place in the Group B standings after three days of pool play.
Four innings was all that Team USA needed in its mercy-rule victory over South Africa, as both the offense and defense got the job done. The U.S. jumped out to an insurmountable lead in the first inning and never looked back, as the stars and stripes plated six in the opening frame, 13 in the second, and seven in the third. After batting around the order in a first inning that sported three extra-base hits, Team USA sent 18 batters to the plate in the inning immediately after. The second frame also featured 10 runs scored with two outs including a two-run home run off the bat of Hunter Sundby. The red, white, and blue once again batted around the nine-player lineup in the third, an inning highlighted by Jameson Wilhite’s three-run rocket over the left field wall.
Hardin Sullivan got the start for the stars and stripes and tossed a clean first inning while striking out two in the process. Davis Romejko saw some time on the mound for the first time this week and did not disappoint, as he fired 1.2 frames of no-hit ball–sitting down all five batters via strikeout. Duncan Mount closed out the contest for the United States, going 1.2 innings while punching out all five opponents he faced.
In his first start of the week, Sundby dealt a high volume of damage on the South African defense, as the American backstop went 4-for-5 with five RBIs, four runs scored, and a home run. Christopher Chikodroff went toe-to-toe at the plate with Sundby, as he posted a perfect 3-for-3 day while contributing four RBIs and collecting four runs scored. Nolan Hatch, AJ Elliott, and Kristian Valadez also notched multi-hit outings and combined for six RBIs. Romejko struck out five batters, Mount punched out four, and Sullivan tacked on two strikeouts while only two walks were issued as a team and no hits were allowed.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- A big first inning was imminent when Valadez smoked the first pitch he saw to left center for a stand-up double. Back-to-back hits ensued, as Chikodroff and Sundby drove in the first two runs of the ball game for the U.S.
- A pair of free passes set the table for Elliott, who barreled an 0-1 pitch to the left field gap, clearing the bases and capping the six-run first inning.
- The bats remained hot in the second, as Valadez and Chikodroff each picked up their second hit apiece while the latter collected his second RBI of the contest.
- With a pair of runners on, Sundby took advantage and belted a 2-0 offering over the left field wall for a two-run jack.
- The runs kept pouring on from there, as Kai Sapp found himself at the plate with two runners on and two out. Sapp proceeded to notch his first hit of the game with a two-RBI single.
- Hatch and Chikodroff got in on the action and produced three more runs for the United States with two-out base knocks.
- Earning the start for Team USA, Sullivan contributed some offensive firepower as well with a hard-hit ball for a two-RBI double. Elliott added one more run with a two-out RBI single to make it 19-0 after two.
- In the third, Jack Carson got his first at-bat of the game and immediately doubled to right field, scoring Sundby who reached on a fielder’s choice.
- Mount added two more runs and Wilhite went deep for a three-run shot later in the inning to make it 26-0.
NOTABLES
- The 12U National Team has now won 12 games in a row in international competition, a streak dating back to 2023.
- The United States is now 2-0 all-time against South Africa at the 12-and-under level and has outscored them by a 44-0 margin.
- Team USA’s 26 runs are the most runs scored by the squad since its historic 43-1 win over New Zealand in the 2023 WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup opener.
- After racking up 19 hits as a team today, the U.S. now leads all teams in most hits in a game and leads all nations in total hits (35).
- Out of the 12 outs recorded by Team USA today, 11 came by way of strikeout. As of Sunday, the United States’ arms ranks atop the leaderboard in total strikeouts with 25.
- Chikodroff, Elliott, and Sundby each drove in four or more runs today while 11 players collected at least one base hit in today’s win.
- Chikodroff leads all players in hits (6) while five players are hitting .500 or better (min. five at-bats).
ON DECK
Next, Team USA squares off against an undefeated Korea (3-0) team. This will be the fourth game of pool play and will be held at Asia Pacific International Baseball Stadium Field 2. First pitch will be thrown at 6:30 p.m. local/6:30 a.m. ET.
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.
