THUNDER BAY, Canada - The USA Baseball 18U National Team fired its third consecutive shutout, defeating South Africa, 5-0, with Jarred Kelenic (Waukesha, Wis.) and Will Banfield (Lawrenceville, Ga.) both hitting home runs and four pitchers combining to allow only four hits on Monday at the 2017 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup.
The three-time defending World Cup champions, Team USA improves to 4-0 in the competition, joining Korea as the only two unbeaten teams. The U.S. will close out pool play at 6:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday when it squares off against Cuba at Baseball Central.
Including Monday's contest against South Africa, the United States pitching staff has not allowed a run in 33 2/3 innings, dating back to the first inning of the team's tournament opener against the Netherlands.
After being staked to a quick 2-0 lead thanks to a two-run home run by Kelenic in the top of the first, Brandon Dieter (Covina, Calif.) started the game with two scoreless frames, striking out two.
Lefty Joseph Menefee (Richmond, Texas) then took the mound, fanning four in three hitless innings. Mason Denaburg (Merritt Island, Fla.) and Landon Marceaux (Destrehan, La.) then twirled two shutout stanzas each to finish the game, combining to strike out eight of the final nine batters South Africa sent to the plate.
The red, white, and blue tacked on single tallies in three more innings to account for the final score of 5-0 with Anthony Seigler (Cartersville, Ga.) and Alek Thomas (Chicago, Ill.) driving in runs in the sixth and seventh, respectively, before Banfield's longball in the ninth.
Carter Young (Selah, Wash.) also had a strong day at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored.
South Africa starting pitcher Mohamed Alaoui went the distance on the mound for his team, striking out four and walking just one.
Team USA is the three-time defending World Cup champion and is looking to become the second country to win four-straight gold medals in the tournament.
Continue to follow @USABaseball18U on Twitter and visit USABaseball.com for the most up-to-date news about the 18U National Team.
QUOTES
USA Baseball 18U National Team Manager Andy Stankiewicz
(On South Africa's starting pitcher Mohamed Alaoui)
"He did a great job. He is a competitive guy on the mound, he mixed his pitches well, and he threw a breaking ball for strikes. He got our guys a little bit antsy, coming out of the zone. We did enough to win, which is what it is all about, but you have to tip your cap to his performance. He pitched a great game. He is a competitor to go nine (innings). But at the same time, we have to get better. We have tried to stress that to our guys that we have to put better at-bats together. If we have to make some changes, we will. That's one of the messages that I sent to the guys, that this type of offensive performance is not going to help us get to where we want to go."
(On using four pitchers today)
"We wanted to get our pitchers some work today. We knew today was going to be a staff day and we wanted to get as many guys out there as possible. (Mason) Denaburg was huge, getting him back out there, and then getting (Landon) Marceaux back out there after he got that one inning of work in the rainout. It was good to get him back on the mound and see him pound the zone. From that respect, it worked out well for us. Hopefully our guys will be fresh, our arms will be sharp, and we'll be ready to roll as we get into the rest of the week."
(On this year's pitching staff)
"When we got to trials, we knew that we had some nice arms. We had to make some tough decisions. There were some pitchers who deserved to be here as much as the guys who are here but we had to make some tough decisions. We felt coming in that the strength of this team and this year's squad was going to be on the mound and I think that is showing."
Catcher Will Banfield
(On his home run)
"It felt great. Coming off the bench, being able to come in and catch, and have a big at-bat, I was just trying to put something in play and get something started for the team. I was glad that I could put one over the fence and get a run."
(On the team's confidence)
"We are feeling good. I feel like we should have played better today, and I think everyone else feels the same way, but we are playing well. To be 4-0 going into the last pool play game, we are feeling confident. We are ready for Cuba tomorrow. We can't look forward to the Super Round yet because tomorrow will be a tough challenge."
(On playing for Team USA)
"It has been a blessing. God has blessed us 20 guys to have the opportunity to be out here playing the great game of baseball. To be able to play the game with USA across our chest is really something else."