HAARLEM, Netherlands – The USA Baseball Collegiate National Team closed out the 2022 Honkbalweek Haarlem competition on a high note, defeating Japan, 5-1, to claim the bronze medal on a beautiful Friday afternoon at Pim Mulier Stadium.
“What a privilege and an honor it has been to coach Team USA,” manager Mike Bianco said. “I could not be prouder of this team and what it accomplished. Although the medal isn’t the color we were hoping for, this team played its heart out, battled every day, and represented their families, universities, and our country with distinction. I will cherish these memories forever.”
Yohandy Morales (Miami) led the way with a 3-for-3 effort, including a double, two singles, and two RBIs. He finished the tournament with team highs in batting average (.400), hits (8), and RBIs (4), and was one of just three players in the competition to hit a home run. Jacob Wilson (Grand Canyon) also had an RBI double and scored a run in Friday’s win.
On the mound, three U.S. pitchers combined to fire a two-hitter with Carter Holton (Vanderbilt) picking up the win out of the bullpen with three strikeouts in 2.1 scoreless and hitless innings. Hunter Elliott (Ole Miss) started and allowed just one run on one hit while fanning four and Carson Montgomery (Florida State) closed out the contest with three strikeouts of his own over the final two innings.
KEY MOMENTS
- Team USA got the scoring started with a pair of runs in the top of the second. After Brayden Taylor (TCU) was hit by a pitch with one out, Yohandy Morales (Miami) followed with a hard-hit double over the right fielder’s head to plate Taylor from first.
- Three batters later, Morales would trot home for the game’s second run on a balk. The U.S. would threaten to add more, putting two runners in scoring position, but a strikeout kept the advantage at 2-0.
- The U.S. kept the pressure on the following inning, tacking on three more runs in the third. Jacob Gonzalez (Ole Miss) led things off with a base hit, which was followed by a walk and a wild pitch to put runners on second and third with no outs. Jacob Wilson (Grand Canyon) promptly drove them both in when he punched a 1-2 pitch to right-center for a two RBI double.
- After another wild pitch moved him up to third, Yohandy Morales (Miami) drove in his second run of the game with a single back up the middle to give Team USA a commanding 5-0 lead.
- Japan battled back in the home half of the third, but some nifty defensive play and strong pitching limited the damage to just one run. The Japanese quickly loaded the bases with nobody out right out of the gate. The next batter then lined one sharply to center but an incredible diving grab and strong throw to the plate by Enrique Bradfield (Vanderbilt) kept anyone from scoring.
- Although Masayo Hagio would follow with a sacrifice fly, that would be the only run Japan could manage as Carter Holton (Vanderbilt) came out of the bullpen to get an inning-ending flyout that left the bases loaded.
- Carson Montgomery (Florida State) pitched the final two innings to close out the contest and wrap up a bronze-medal finish for Team USA.
- The U.S. posted another stellar defensive effort, highlighted by diving catches by all three outfielders - Enrique Bradfield (Vanderbilt), Wyatt Langford (Florida), and Dylan Crews (LSU).
NOTABLE INFORMATION
- Yohandy Morales (Miami) was 3-for-3 in the victory with a double, two singles, a run scored and two RBIs.
- Jacob Wilson (Grand Canyon) added a pair of RBIs as well with a two-run double in the third.
- For the tournament, Morales led the Team USA offense in batting average (.400), slugging percentage (.600), hits (8), total bases (12), and RBIs (4), and was one of just three players in the competition to hit a home run.
- Wilson led the team with a .467 on-base percentage and finished second on the squad with a .364 batting average, while Jacob Gonzalez (Ole Miss) tied Morales for the team lead with four RBIs of his own.
- Hunter Elliott (Ole Miss) started for the U.S. and worked 2.2 innings in which he allowed just one run on one hit and two walks, while striking out four. In two starts at Honkbalweek, Elliott led the team with nine total strikeouts.
- Carter Holton (Vanderbilt) came out of the bullpen to leave the bases loaded in the third and finished with 2.1 hitless innings, fanning three, to pick up the win.
- Carson Montgomery (Florida State) recorded the final six outs of the victory, striking out three of his own.
- The Team USA pitching staff finished with a 0.70 ERA at Honkbalweek Haarlem, yielding just five unearned runs over seven games, including three shutouts.
- In 49.2 total innings, the U.S. pitching staff combined to strike out 62 batters, walked only 20, and allowed just two extra-base hits.
- Team USA finished with a 4-3 record at Honkbalweek Haarlem.
SOCIAL MEDIA
- Stay tuned to @USABaseballCNT on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the 2022 Collegiate National Team.
