CANCÚN, Mexico – Team USA scored four runs in the first and never looked back, defeating Czechia 9-2 in the opening game of the 2026 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Baseball World Cup on Friday afternoon at Estadio Sherwin-Williams Beto Ávila in Cancún, Mexico.
The United States scored in each of the six innings it played on offense, opening the contest with a four-run first inning. Five straight hits sparked an electric first inning for the red, white, and blue, highlighted by extra-base hits from Matti Di Maggio, Paxton Scoggin, and Chris Worrell Jr. The U.S. offense applied relentless pressure to Czechia’s defense, as RBI base knocks from Di Maggio, Madenspacher, and Raylen Hunter helped the United States build a substantial lead over the following four innings. Greyson Wuis capped Team USA’s scoring with a bang, lifting a solo homer over the right field wall in the bottom of the sixth.
Six arms combined for 13 strikeouts and only one walk in today’s win. Michael Ohman got the start and worked two innings before giving way to Jaxxon Hanen, who threw a hitless inning. Noah Vrzal and Noah Osterman each threw a scoreless frame, Calvin Madenspacher added an inning on the bump, and Paris Head closed out the contest in the seventh with a three strikeout performance.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Team USA opened the scoring when Scoggin powered a 3-1 offering into the left-center gap for an RBI triple.
- Tyler Early and Jacob Reyes followed with RBI hits, while a steal of home from Worrell Jr. made it 4-0 after one.
- A two-out error from the U.S. defense in the second allowed Czechia to score its first run of the contest.
- Team USA restored a four-run advantage in the home half when Di Maggio lined an RBI double into the right-center gap.
- Hanen entered in relief in the third, turning in an 11-pitch inning highlighted by an outstanding catch at the left field wall from Hunter.
- A fly ball off the bat of Madenspacher in the third nearly left the yard but instead turned into an RBI double, pushing the lead to 6-1.
- The stars and stripes extended the lead in the fourth after a hit-by-pitch put Wuis aboard and scored Di Maggio, who collected his third hit of the day earlier in the frame.
- Czechia cut into the lead in the sixth after Tadeáš Klimeš doubled down the right field line for an RBI, making it 8-2.
- Wuis capped the scoring in the sixth with a solo shot to right field, Team USA’s first homer of the tournament and ninth run of the contest.
NOTABLES
- The 15U National Team is now 1-0 all-time against Czechia and has extended its winning streak against international competition to 19 games, dating back to 2022.
- The 15U National Team is now 5-0 in World Cup openers.
- Seven players combined for Team USA’s 12 hits. Di Maggio and Hunter each went 3-for-4 with an RBI, while seven of the team’s 12 hits went for extra bases.
- Di Maggio set a new program-record with three doubles, surpassing the previous mark of most doubles hit in a single game, most recently set by Landon King (2) in 2025.
- For the first time since the 2019 WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier, U.S. batters did not strike out.
ON DECK
Team USA will face Nicaragua (0-1) tomorrow, September 26, at 10:30 a.m. local/11:30 a.m. ET at Estadio Sherwin-Williams Beto Ávila in Cancún, Mexico.
To stay up to date with the USA Baseball 15U National Team, follow along with @USABaseball15U on Twitter/X, and @USABaseball on Instagram. For more information on the schedule including live statistics and streaming, visit HERE.
