TEXAS PLAYERS EARN THEIR KEEP ON TEAM USA
Fort Worth Richland's Trenton Clark led the Texas Prep guys in production at the 2014 Pan Am Championship carving out 13 hits in 23 (.565BA) at bats including 3-HR, 2-2B, 20-RBI, 10-BB, 20-R, and a 1.043 slugging %.
KeBryan Hayes of Tomball, Concordia Lutheran, posted 13-24, (.542BA) with 2-2B, 8-RBI, 7-BB, 9-R, and a .625 slugging %.
Oak Ridge's Luken Baker knocked out 12-H, in 25-AB (.480BA) 2-HR, 2-2B, 10-RBI, 10-R, 3-BB and a .800 slugging %.
Plano's Mitchell Hansen was 11-for-28, (.393) with HR, 3B, 2-2B, 14-RBI, 12-R, 4-BB, and a .643 slugging %.
USA BASEBALL 18U drove in (100) runs in total for the games in Mexico and the four Texas players accounted for over half of them (52).
Trenton Clark finished the tournament leading Team USA in RBI, BA, SLG%, BB, total bases (24), OBA (694) and tied with 3-HR.
18U: TEAM USA CLAIMS GOLD MEDAL AT COPABE PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP
USA finishes a perfect 12-0 for summer after weather forces cancellation of championship game
From Cameron Harris - USA BASEBALL 18U.
LA PAZ, Mexico – The USA Baseball 18U National Team was declared the gold-medal winner at the 2014 COPABE 18U Pan American Championship after the imminent landfall of Hurricane Odile forced the mid-game cancellation of the squad’s contest against Cuba.
“This is one of the most dominating teams that I have ever been a part of,” 18U National Team manager Andy Stankiewicz said. “We used the word relentless around them a lot and they totally bought in. They were relentless in every facet of the game. They didn’t give up at-bats and every pitcher came in and topped the guy before him.
“It was an unbelievably competitive group and they played unselfishly the entire tournament. It was all about playing for each other and playing for our country. When you have talented young men like and they play together, you are going to have success. We had a lot of fun playing really good baseball.”
Team USA finished with a perfect 8-0 record at the tournament and was the only team to sweep the field in round-robin play. It outscored its opponents 110-5 in those games. Including four pre-tournament games against Canada, the U.S. posted an undefeated 12-0 record for the summer.
At the time the game was cancelled due to weather concerns, Team USA was leading Cuba, 1-0, in the bottom of the third thanks to a first-inning RBI single by Trenton Clark (Fort Worth, Texas). Starting pitcher Kolby Allard (San Clemente, Calif.) had amassed seven strikeouts through his first three frames.
Earlier in the day on Sunday, Canada beat Mexico, 9-7, to claim the bronze medal at the tournament. The top four teams – the United States, Cuba, Canada and Mexico – all advance to the 2015 IBAF 18U World Cup in Japan.
The 2014 edition of the 18U National Team broke numerous records, both collectively and individually. To start with, it threw just the second and third no-hitters in program history, blanking Guatemala and Ecuador in back-to-back contests. It also set the 18U record with a 0.87 team ERA, topping the previous mark of 0.94 set in 2005.
Individually, three different players broke the previous RBI record of 18 set by Marcus Littlewood (2010) and Delmon Young (2002). Clark now holds the new standard with 24 this summer while Daz Cameron (McDonough, Ga.) and Mitchell Hansen (Plano, Texas) will stand second with 19 each.
The USA Baseball 18U National Team has now won the last four events it has played in, dating back to 2011. The squad won the 2011 COPABE Pan Am Championships in Cartegena, Columbia, the 2012 IBAF Junior World Championships in Seoul, Korea, and the 2013 IBAF World Cup in Taichung, Taiwan.
QUOTE BOOK
Shortstop Nick Madrigal
(On winning the gold medal)
“It feels great. Over the past three weeks, playing together and being with these guys 24/7 it is a great feeling to know that we accomplished what we set out to do from day one.”
(On being a part of this championship team)
“It is unbelievable. I am truly blessed to have been a part of this team. It is a great feeling playing with all of these guys and knowing that all of these friendships will last forever. It is a great feeling and I am very blessed.”
Left-handed pitcher Kolby Allard
(On winning a gold medal with Team USA)
“This is something you dream about when you are a tiny little kid. Growing up all you want to do is represent your country and win a gold medal. The friendships we made will last a lifetime. Hopefully we can play together and against each other for a long time in the future.”
(On the way the team came together)
“Just the way we came together as a team so quickly, I’ve never been a part of anything like that before. It was such a great experience and something I will remember for the rest of my life.”
Catcher Lucas Herbert
(On playing on such a dominant team)
“It is kind of unreal right now. We have been together as a team for a while now and I have known a lot of them longer than that. It has been incredible how well we were able to come together. We have some of the best players in the country out here and to win a gold medal together is something special.”
(On playing with high school teammate Kolby Allard on Team USA)
“It is pretty cool because Kolby is my best friend. Catching him is always great but to catch him in an atmosphere like that is crazy.”
Outfielder Trenton Clark
(On winning a gold medal with Team USA)
“That was awesome. It was a lot of fun, it always is when you are playing for something bigger than yourself, for a bigger purpose. I got to be a part of that earlier this summer playing for a national championship for Connie Mack and then coming here, I knew it was going to be even better playing for and representing my country. I got to make a bunch of new friends and play with a bunch of really talented guys so it was a great experience. We won the gold and that is all that matters.”
About USA Baseball
USA Baseball is the national governing body for the sport of baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee and the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The organization selects and trains the World Baseball Classic, World Cup and Pan Am teams (and all other USA Baseball Professional Teams); the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team; the USA Baseball 18U, 15U and 12U National Teams; and the USA Baseball Women’s National Team, all of which participate in various international competitions each year. USA Baseball also presents the Golden Spikes Award annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country. For more information, please visit USABaseball.com.
18U: U.S. POUNCES EARLY, MOLNAR THROWS GEM IN 10-0 WIN OVER MEXICO
U.S. plays Cuba in gold-medal game at 8 p.m. (10 p.m. ET) on Sunday
from Cameron Harris - USA BASEBALL 18U
LA PAZ, Mexico – The USA Baseball 18U National Team pounced for six runs in the bottom of the first inning and Kyle Molnar (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) fired seven shutout innings, allowing just one hit in a complete-game gem, as the U.S. downed Mexico, 10-0, in front of an extremely hostile and capacity crowd at Arturo C. Nahl Stadium on Saturday.
The contest marked the final game of the round-robin portion of the 2014 COPABE 18U Pan American Championship with Team USA emerging as the only undefeated squad at 8-0. It will square off with Cuba (6-2) for the gold medal at 7:30 p.m. local time (9:30 p.m. ET) on Sunday in La Paz with left-hander Kolby Allard (San Clemente, Calif.) slated to get the start on the mound.
“Kyle just got himself in a nice little groove and pitched great all tournament,” USA Baseball 18U National Team manager Andy Stankiewicz said. “We needed that tonight. It was a big outing by him because it provides us with a lot of depth tomorrow in the gold-medal game. He really chiefed it out and gave us a great game out there on the mound. We jumped out early and were kind of able to take the crowd out of it. We knew it was going to be emotional playing Mexico in a night game so it was good to get out in front like that.
“We are really proud of the way the guys have gotten after it but as great as we have played, and we have played really well, tomorrow is what it is all about. We came here with the goal to win a gold medal and we have put ourselves in a position to do that. If we keep doing what we have done thus far, we feel like we are going to be in pretty good shape.”
Molnar was tremendous on the mound all evening, giving the U.S. seven very important innings during which he struck out five batters and walked three. Mexico’s only hit of the game was a leadoff single in the fourth and Molnar quickly erased him by inducing a double-play ball. He ended the game by retiring the final seven batters he faced.
Ke’Bryan Hayes (Tomball, Texas) and Mitchell Hansen (Plano, Texas) paced an eight-hit U.S. attack with two hits and a pair of RBIs each. Elih Marrero (Miami, Fla.) added a three-run home run to cap the team’s six-run first inning as well.
Before the longball, a wild pitch with the bases loaded got the scoring started as Nick Madrigal (Elk Grove, Calif.) scampered home on the play. Hansen then followed by roping a two-run double down the right-field line.
Team USA added another tally in the second on an RBI base knock by Daz Cameron (McDonough, Ga.) and Hayes drove in the next two runs with a double to right-center in the third and a single through the left side in the fifth.
The game was held up for about 10 minutes in the bottom of the fifth as the emotions got the best of both sides after a pitch high-and-tight to Marrero. The benches cleared briefly before cooler heads quickly prevailed. After Marrero and Mexico pitcher Josue Villafranca were ejected, a wild pitch with a throwing error later in the inning brought in the game’s final run.
Follow the 18U National Team during tomorrow's gold-medal game against Cuba by visiting USABaseball.com or by following @USABaseball18U on Twitter.
QUOTE BOOK
Right-handed pitcher Kyle Molnar
(On throwing a complete-game shutout against Mexico)
“It felt huge, especially since we are in Mexico and were playing Mexico so the crowd was definitely not on our side and got really intense. I just wanted to go as long as I could so we could save our arms for tomorrow against Cuba.”
(On controlling his emotions during an intense game)
“I just wanted to focus in because I knew the fans were going to scream at me and everyone else on the field the whole entire time. I just wanted to throw strike one and let my defense make plays.”
Left-handed pitcher Kolby Allard
(On having the opportunity to start the gold-medal game for Team USA)
“It is an honor to have the opportunity to start the gold-medal game. That is something you dream about ever since you are a little kid. To go out and represent your country is an honor by itself, but to be called upon to pitch in the gold-medal game is something I am beyond stoked about.”
(On preparing for such a big game)
“I am just going to look at it and prepare like it is any old game. Obviously the butterflies are going to be there before the game but I am just going to take a deep breath and slow the game down as best as I can. We just need to come out firing and play with a lot of energy like we have this entire time. Hopefully we can jump on them early.”
About USA Baseball
USA Baseball is the national governing body for the sport of baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee and the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The organization selects and trains the World Baseball Classic, World Cup and Pan Am teams (and all other USA Baseball Professional Teams); the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team; the USA Baseball 18U, 15U and 12U National Teams; and the USA Baseball Women’s National Team, all of which participate in various international competitions each year. USA Baseball also presents the Golden Spikes Award annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country. For more information, please visit USABaseball.com.
18U: U.S. BESTS CUBA, WILL PLAY FOR GOLD ON SUNDAY
CIUDAD CONSTITUCĺON, Mexico – Playing in front of a hostile crowd at a jam-packed “Fito” Montaño Stadium, the USA Baseball 18U National Team showed its true colors and picked up a gutsy, 5-4, win over Cuba, to clinch a spot in Sunday’s 2014 COPABE 18U Pan American Championship gold-medal game.
“I am extremely proud of these guys,” 18U National Team manager Andy Stankiewicz said. “As a coach you talk about team victories and that was the perfect example. Everybody was into it. We used five pitchers against a team that everybody knows is a very good hitting ball club and we contained them.
“Those guys just came in and attacked the zone and got after it. Then we got some big hits when we needed them. It was a unique situation having to travel over three hours then get off the bus and play a great game but they handled it like pros and that is impressive.”
With Canada holding on to beat Mexico, 6-4, in La Paz on Friday night, Team USA will likely play the winner of Saturday’s Cuba-Canada matchup. That game will be played at 2 p.m. local (4 p.m. ET) before Team USA returns to the diamond to take on Mexico at 8:30 p.m. (10:30 p.m. ET).
With the score tied at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh on Friday night, Trenton Clark (Fort Worth, Texas) drove in the eventual game-winning run with a chopper to first that went as an RBI single, plating Nick Madrigal (Elk Grove, Calif.).
Three relievers would then make the one-run lead stand up as Joe DeMers (Martinez, Calif.) got the first two outs of the top of the eighth before handing the ball over to southpaw Max Wotell (Marvin, N.C.) who got a big strikeout against a left-handed pinch-hitter to end the frame. Austin Bergner (Windermere, Fla.) then retired Cuba in order in the top of the ninth to earn the save and close out the victory.
Kale Breaux started the contest and gave Team USA five quality innings, yielding two runs on four hits before leaving with the game tied, 2-2. Peter Lambert then pitched the next 1.1 innings, allowing two runs – one earned – while striking out two.
“It all started with Kale Breaux,” Stankiewicz said. “He didn’t have his best stuff today but he competed like a son of a gun and did his job. Then we went to [Peter] Lambert with the big breaking ball and Joe [DeMers] was great again like he has been. Max [Wotell] came in for a matchup against a pretty good left-handed hitter and got him and then Austin Bergner, a junior in high school, showed some real poise in the ninth. To jump on that mound in this arena and do what those guys did, it is good baseball.”
Offensively, the U.S. was held to a single digit in the hit column for the first time since the squad was put together on Aug. 30, as it recorded just six singles on Friday. Luken Baker (Spring, Texas) had the only multi-hit effort, finishing 2-for-4 with an RBI while Clark drove in a pair of runs.
After outscoring its opponents, 95-1, through the first six games of the tournament, Team USA faced its first true test of adversity on Friday as Cuba jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
Trailing for the first time in the tournament, the U.S. answered back two-fold in the bottom of the third, tying the game on an RBI groundout by Clark and moving ahead when Xavier LeGrant (Charlotte, N.C.) scampered home from third on a wild pitch.
Cuba wasn’t about to back down that easily though, moving the game back to a deadlock at 2-2 with an RBI single in the top of the fourth. That is where the score would remain until the bottom of the sixth when Team USA put up another two-spot with a two-out rally.
After two quick outs, Cuba issued a pair of two-out walks and Baker made them pay, lining an RBI single into right. The next batter hit a routine groundball to third but his throw to second was dropped, allowing another run to cross the plate to make it a 4-2 ball game.
Cuba bounced back to tie the game yet again with a two-out, two-strike, two-RBI double by Diosbel Arias in the top of the seventh, but that would be its last gasp as the U.S. bullpen shut it down the rest of the way.
“Cuba jumped out in front of us early and I was kind of curious to see how we would react to that, but the guys didn’t’ panic, stayed the course and grinded out some good at-bats,” Stankiewicz said. “The guy we faced (Cionel Perez) was pretty good. That’s a good left-handed pitcher, but we were able to scrap and claw and fight to get a win tonight and that is pretty exciting.”
Follow the 18U National Team throughout Trials and during international play by visiting USABaseball.com or by following @USABaseball18U on Twitter.
QUOTE BOOK
First baseman Luken Baker
(On his game-tying RBI single in the sixth)
“We knew coming in that Cuba would be the best team we’ve played in the tournament and that we would have to come out really intense so we prepared ourselves for that. Going up there in that intense moment was like going up there in any other at-bat because of the way we prepared. It was fun.”
(On playing in front of a hostile, pro-Cuba crowd)
“It definitely brought us together more. It helped us gel and showed how good of a team we are and not just good individual players.”
Right-handed pitcher Austin Bergner
(On closing out the win over Cuba)
“It was a great feeling. I had trouble controlling myself in the dugout because of all of the adrenaline but once I got on the mound I knew my teammates had my back out there and I could throw it pretty much wherever I needed to.”
(On the importance of Friday’s win over Cuba)
“This was a huge win. Now that we are set for the gold-medal game, our goal is to finish it off and bring that gold back to the United States.”
About USA Baseball
USA Baseball is the national governing body for the sport of baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee and the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The organization selects and trains the World Baseball Classic, World Cup and Pan Am teams (and all other USA Baseball Professional Teams); the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team; the USA Baseball 18U, 15U and 12U National Teams; and the USA Baseball Women’s National Team, all of which participate in various international competitions each year. USA Baseball also presents the Golden Spikes Award annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country. For more information, please visit USABaseball.com.
18U: TEAM USA HAS RECORD-SETTING DAY IN 15-0 WIN OVER ECUADOR
Tolbert, Baker combine on second consecutive no-hitter, Cameron has seven RBIs
from Cameron Harris - USA BASEBALL 18U
TODOS SANTOS, Mexico – The USA Baseball 18U National Team continued its dominant play at the 2014 COPABE 18U Pan American Championships on Thursday, throwing its second consecutive no-hitter and getting two home runs and a record-tying seven RBIs from Daz Cameron (McDonough, Ga.) as it whitewashed Ecuador, 15-0, in five innings at Jesus Rosas Izquierdo Stadium.
“It was our goal to come down and play good baseball and that is back-to-back days we have pitched really well,” 18U National Team manager Andy Stankiewicz said. “One of the reasons, L.T. Tolbert is here is because we knew he could play different positions but also pitch. He came out and did a great job for four innings, threw strikes and gave us a chance. Then Daz Cameron had two home runs and seven RBIs so it was a pretty special day for those two young men.
“I know it meant a lot to these guys to put the USA jersey on for the anniversary of 9/11, a true tragedy in American history. Before the game they talked about wanting to do this for America and wanting to make America proud. I know, as a staff, we are very proud of what they have accomplished so far, but we have a lot of work to do. The tournament really starts now for us with Cuba and Mexico the next two days and then the medal game, so it is time to go to work.”
L.T. Tolbert (Bradenton, Fla.) started and pitched four hitless and scoreless innings, striking out three, before handing the ball over to Luken Baker (Spring, Texas) who struck out the side in the fifth to complete Team USA’s second no-hitter in a row.
Prior to the last two games, the U.S. 18U National Team had thrown just one no-hitter in its history, a complete-game gem by Matt White on Aug. 2, 1995, against Italy. The Red, White and Blue has not allowed a hit in its last 13.1 innings of work and has yielded only one hit over its last 19.2 frames.
Offensively, Cameron hit a pair of longballs to left, a three-run shot in the second and a grand slam in the third, to drive in seven runs, tying Kyle Russell for the most RBIs in 18U National Team history. Russell accomplished the feat against Canada on Sept. 10, 2004, in Taiwan.
Ke’Bryan Hayes (Tomball, Texas) also had a strong day at the plate, finishing 3-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs. Nick Madrigal (Elk Grove, Calif.) and Tolbert had two hits each as well with Tolbert ending the contest with a walk-off, run-scoring, ground-rule double in the bottom of the fifth.
After leaving the bases loaded in the first, Team USA exploded for seven runs in the second and four in the third on Cameron’s grand slam. The squad then got an RBI single by Trenton Clark (Fort Worth, Texas) in the fourth before a two-run single by Hayes and Tolbert’s ground-rule double ended the game in the fifth.
Through its first six games at the Pan American Championship, the U.S. has outscored its opponents, 95-1, and is hitting .486 (88-for-181) as a team with 11 home runs. The pitching staff has allowed just 10 hits and 10 walks while striking out 55 over 35.0 innings of action.
Thursday’s win sets up a primetime matchup on Friday evening as Team USA travels to Constitucion, Mexico, to take on Cuba at 6 p.m. local time (8 p.m. ET). Left-hander Kale Breaux (Sulphur, La.) is slated to get the start for the U.S.
Follow the 18U National Team throughout Trials and during international play by visiting USABaseball.com or by following @USABaseball18U on Twitter.
QUOTE BOOK
Right-handed pitcher L.T. Tolbert
(On getting the start on the mound on 9/11)
“Obviously this is a big day for our country because of what happened on 9/11 so there was definitely some more emotion before the game because of that. Just having the opportunity to get the nod from Coach Stankiewicz and start both on the mound and in the lineup meant a lot to me. Just being on the team is big, but getting the chance to play is an honor. To go out and perform the way I did was even better.”
(On his performance against Ecuador)
“I felt really good on the mound. I was just pitching to contact like I usually do. I was locating my pitches pretty well and just letting my defense play behind me. At the plate, I felt good too. On the last pitch, I was just sitting first-pitch fastball and I got it. There is always a ton of adrenaline when you end the game like that and it felt pretty good.”
(On the team’s mindset heading into the final three games)
“I think we are all really confident, just because of the way we have played. No matter what the competition has been we have played to our ability and don’t let them get any kind of hope. That is big in these type of events because the second you let them have some hope they start building on it. We just need to keep that going over the next two games and then into the medal game.”
About USA Baseball
USA Baseball is the national governing body for the sport of baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee and the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The organization selects and trains the World Baseball Classic, World Cup and Pan Am teams (and all other USA Baseball Professional Teams); the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team; the USA Baseball 18U, 15U and 12U National Teams; and the USA Baseball Women’s National Team, all of which participate in various international competitions each year. USA Baseball also presents the Golden Spikes Award annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country. For more information, please visit USABaseball.com.
18U: TEAM USA FIRES NO-HITTER IN 19-0 WIN OVER GUATEMALA
Four pitchers combine on second no-hitter in USA Baseball 18U history
from Cameron Harris - USA BASEBALL 18U
LA PAZ, Mexico – Austin Smith (Boynton Beach, Fla.), Max Wotell (Marvin, N.C.), Gray Fenter (West Memphis, Ark.) and Austin Bergner (Windermere, Fla.) combined to throw just the second no-hitter in the USA Baseball 18U National Team’s history as it blanked Guatemala, 19-0, in five innings at Arturo C. Nahl Stadium during the 2014 COPABE 18U Pan American Championships on Tuesday.
“It was exciting to see those four guys come out and just throw strikes. That’s hard to do. Think about it, four guys on the mound and none of them gave up a base hit. That is pretty impressive. It started with Smith, big boy just throwing strikes and attacking hitters. We really wanted to Fenter back out there again and he did what he does, he’s a bulldog. Then Wotell showed that he’s got a little lightning in that left arm and Bergner came out and closed it.
“That’s fun, it’s good baseball and we swung the bats well again today. The guys are relentless from the offensive side and, as a coach, what you look for are guys that stay disciplined and put up quality at-bats all the time. We’ve done that so far which is encouraging.”
Smith started and allowed just one baserunner – a second inning walk – in three near-perfect innings before handing the ball over to the bullpen. Wotell struck out the side around a one-out hit batter in the fourth before Wotell fanned the first two batters of the fifth and Bergner ended the game with a punchout.
In total, the four pitchers combinied for 12 strikeouts during the five-inning game, allowing just three balls into the field of play, a fly out to right and a groundout to third in the first and a flyout to right to start the second. The final 11 outs came via a punchout as Team USA recorded its fifth consecutive run-rule victory.
The only other no-hitter in USA Baseball 18U National Team history was thrown by Matt White who fired a complete game in a 10-0 win over Italy on Aug. 12, 1995, at the Junior World Championships in Orleans, Mass.
The U.S. offense continued its torrid tear as well on Tuesday, recording 14 hits, including five individual multi-hit efforts. It batted around in each of the first four innings as it plated five runs in the first, eight in the second and three in both the third and fourth.
The top four batters in the lineup set the tone, finishing a combined 9-for-14 with nine runs scored and 10 RBIs. In the leadoff spot, Nick Madrigal (Elk Grove, Calif.) was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and two runs scored.
Hitting second, Trenton Clark (Fort Worth, Texas) was a perfect 3-for-3 and notched his third five-RBI contest in the tournament so far. He also hit his third home run, a three-run shot off the top of the wall in right, scored three times, walked twice and stole two bases.
Clark leads all players in the tournament with a .688 batting average (11-for-16) with 14 runs scored, two doubles, three home runs, 16 RBIs and a perfect 5-for-5 on the bases.
Daz Cameron (McDonough, Ga.) and Mitchell Hansen (Plano, Texas) followed those two in the lineup and both had a pair of hits and scored twice, while Blake Rutherford (Simi Valley, Calif.) added a 2-for-4, two-RBI game as well.
Through five games at the Pan American Championship, the U.S. has outscored its opponents, 80-1, and is hitting .481 (74-for-154) as a team with nine home runs. The pitching staff has allowed just 10 hits and nine walks while striking out 49 over 30.0 innings of action.
Team USA will have a day off before getting back on the field on Thursday when it travels to Todos Santos, Mexico, for a 6 p.m. local time (8 p.m. ET) contest against Ecuador.
Follow the 18U National Team throughout Trials and during international play by visiting USABaseball.com or by following @USABaseball18U on Twitter.
QUOTE BOOK
Right-handed pitcher Austin Smith
(On pitching for Team USA for the first time in international play)
“It was an awesome experience. I wanted to go out there and set the tone from the beginning. It is such a great experience to represent my country.”
(On throwing a combined no-hitter)
“It is an awesome accomplishment and something I am very proud to have been a part of. I just went out there and made sure I threw strikes in my first outing.”
(On the reason for the team’s success so far)
“We push each other and we are like a family. We have a lot of togetherness.”
About USA Baseball
USA Baseball is the national governing body for the sport of baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee and the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The organization selects and trains the World Baseball Classic, World Cup and Pan Am teams (and all other USA Baseball Professional Teams); the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team; the USA Baseball 18U, 15U and 12U National Teams; and the USA Baseball Women’s National Team, all of which participate in various international competitions each year. USA Baseball also presents the Golden Spikes Award annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country. For more information, please visit USABaseball.com.
18U: TEAM USA DROPS PANAMA, 10-0, IN SEVEN INNINGS
Kyle Molnar allows just one hit in six innings of work
from Cameron Harris - USA BASEBALL 18U
LA PAZ, Mexico – Kyle Molnar (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) allowed just one hit in six strong innings and the USA Baseball 18U National Team took advantage of six errors to score six unearned runs as it raced past Panama, 10-0, in seven innings at Arturo C. Nahl Stadium during the 2014 COPABE 18U Pan American Championships on Monday.
“Kyle got off to a little bit of a slow start, but he settled in well,” 18U National Team manager Andy Stankiewicz said. “He started throwing fastballs for strikes and set up his changeup. He got better as the game went on which was really good to see.
“You have to give credit to Panama, they were aggressive, stealing bases and hitting-and-running. It was kind of similar to us in that respect, trying to put pressure on the defense. I thought we handled it well, stayed within our game plan and were able to get some key hits in the third and fourth innings. We had a lot of quality at-bats, especially late in the game, and I thought it was a well-played ball game all-around by our guys.”
Molnar finished with six punchouts and faced just two over the minimum in his six innings of work. Panama’s only hit was a double off the wall in left by Iasid Bernal in the top of the third inning. Gray Fenter (West Memphis, Ark.) came on to record one out in the seventh before handing the ball over to Austin Bergner (Windermere, Fla.) to record the final two outs of the game.
Offensively, Team USA was held off the scoreboard until the third inning when an RBI single by Nick Madrigal (Elk Grove, Calif.) put the first tally up. It would add another run in the fourth on a Ke’Bryan Hayes (Tomball, Texas) single with two strikes and two outs.
Another run-scoring base hit, this one by Lucas Herbert (San Clemente, Calif.), and a costly error by Panama added two more runs in the fifth before the floodgates opened in the sixth as the U.S. batted around and scored six more times to account for the final score.
Madrigal paced the 10-hit attack with a 3-for-4, two-RBI effort, while Daz Cameron (McDonough, Ga.) and Herbert both drove in a pair of runs as well. Mitchell Hansen (Plano, Texas) and Hayes also had multi-hit contests with two each, while Trenton Clark (Fort Worth, Texas) walked three times and scored twice, in addition to throwing a runner out at the plate from right field to end the game.
Through four games at the Pan American Championship, the U.S. has outscored its opponents, 61-1, and is hitting .484 (60-for-124) as a team with eight home runs. The pitching staff has allowed just 10 hits and eight walks while striking out 37 over 25.0 innings of action.
Team USA will return to the diamond at 4 p.m. local time (6 p.m. ET) on Tuesday when it will face Guatemala in La Paz. Right-hander Austin Smith (Boynton Beach, Fla.) is slated to be the starting pitcher for the U.S.
“We just have to keep playing the way we have been playing,” Stankiewicz said. “We can’t let up, you can’t afford to in a tournament like this. You have to keep pushing so hopefully tomorrow we will come out, play a little bit better early and jump on them as best we can. Going into a day off you want to have a nice day so it is important to have energy. Sometimes in a tournament like this it starts to drag a little bit in the middle so we have to push it.”
Follow the 18U National Team throughout Trials and during international play by visiting USABaseball.com or by following @USABaseball18U on Twitter.
QUOTE BOOK
Right-handed pitcher Kyle Molnar
(On pitching against Panama)
“It was just an unbelievable experience to get out there on the mound wearing the USA uniform for the first time. I just wanted to pump strikes in there and let my defense do what it does.”
(On the Team USA offense)
“It’s so much fun to pitch with an offense like this. If you give up a run you know they are going to answer right back with two or three in the next inning.”
Shortstop Nick Madrigal
(On his game plan at the plate against Panama)
“I tried to stick to just hitting the ball on the ground and hitting it hard. I’m not really trying to do too much or lift the ball, just drive the ball, get on base and let the big guys do all the work.”
(On the production of the Team USA offense)
“Once one person gets it rolling, this lineup really starts to find its stride and get things going. It only takes one hit and we can do some damage.”
About USA Baseball
USA Baseball is the national governing body for the sport of baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee and the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The organization selects and trains the World Baseball Classic, World Cup and Pan Am teams (and all other USA Baseball Professional Teams); the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team; the USA Baseball 18U, 15U and 12U National Teams; and the USA Baseball Women’s National Team, all of which participate in various international competitions each year. USA Baseball also presents the Golden Spikes Award annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country. For more information, please visit USABaseball.com.
18U: TEAM USA RUN-RULES CANADA, 11-1
Kolby Allard, Joe Demers combine for 16 strikeouts in eight innings
from Cameron Harris - USA BASEBALL 18U
LA PAZ, Mexico – San Clemente High School (Calif.) teammates Kolby Allard and Lucas Herbert stole the show at the 2014 COPABE 18U Pan American Championships on Sunday as Allard struck out 10 in and Herbert hit a home run and drove in four runs in the USA Baseball 18U National Team’s 11-1 victory over Canada in eight innings at Arturo C. Nahl Stadium.
“It was a better game than the score might indicate but Kolby Allard just pitched a great game and then Joe DeMers came in, flat-out attacked the strike zone and had a big three innings of work for us,” 18U National Team manager Andy Stankiewicz said. “It was good to see our relievers get a chance to come into the game. I know they have been chomping at the bit and Joe did a fantastic job.”
Allard was dominant from the get-go, setting the tone by striking out three of the first four batters that he faced. He would finish with 10 punchouts in five innings, during which he yielded only one run on four hits and a pair of walks.
“Kolby’s breaking was pretty good and he was pumping the fastball in for strikes today,” Stankiewicz said. “Canada has some big right-handed hitters with some strength and he was cheating with the fastball in and throwing the breaking ball. He has some big-time stuff, he really does. He’s already pretty good but as he starts to develop that changeup as he gets older, I can’t even imagine how much better he is going to get.”
Joe DeMers (Martinez, Calif.) went the rest of the way on the mound for Team USA, fanning six of his own in three scoreless innings to pick up the save. Combined, the two hurlers recorded 16 strikeouts while allowing just eight baserunners (five hits, two walks and a hit batter).
At the plate, Herbert paced a balanced U.S. offensive attack that saw eight hitters combine to record 12 hits and draw 10 free passes with five walks and five hit batters. Herbert finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs, including his second home run in as many days.
“Lucas is swinging a great bat,” Stankiewicz said. “He is aggressive in the strike zone and he does not wait around. If he gets something he likes, he gets after it and that is what a good hitter does. He is having a great tournament so far and he has swung the bat really well today.”
Nick Madrigal (Elk Grove, Calif.), Luken Baker (Spring, Texas) and Xavier LeGrant (Charlotte, N.C.) all had two hits in the victory as well, while Daz Cameron (McDonough, Ga.) added a pair of RBIs.
The Red, White and Blue raced out to a quick 7-0 lead, scoring once in the first and three times in both the second and fourth frames before Canada finally got on the scoreboard. It scored the first and only run of the tournament against the U.S. so far when Robert Byckowski roped an RBI double off the wall in the bottom of the fourth.
The U.S. answered right back though with a sacrifice fly and a two-RBI single by Herbert pushing the lead up to nine. An RBI groundout by Elih Marrero (Miami, Fla.) in the top of the eighth would increase the advantage to double-digits, putting the run-rule into play.
Through three games at the Pan American Championship, the U.S. has outscored its opponents, 51-1, and is hitting .510 (50-for-98) as a team with eight home runs. The pitching staff has allowed just nine hits and five walks while striking out 30 over 18.0 innings of action.
Team USA will return to the diamond at 4 p.m. local time (6 p.m. ET) on Monday when it will face Panama in La Paz. Right-hander Kyle Molnar (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the U.S.
Follow the 18U National Team throughout Trials and during international play by visiting USABaseball.com or by following @USABaseball18U on Twitter.
QUOTE BOOK
Left-handed pitcher Kolby Allard
(On his game plan against Canada)
“It’s great when we have so much run support. Our guys are banging the ball around the yard and I was just going out there trying to throw strikes and spot up a little bit. We had a little bit of a plan with what to do with their hitters, especially their big lefty Josh Naylor, and we executed it.”
(On playing with San Clemente High School teammate Lucas Herbert)
“He’s a stud. It’s great to have someone I am so comfortable throwing to as a teammate here. It is very, very easy to throw to a guy like him.”
Right-handed pitcher Joe DeMers
(On his game plan against Brazil)
“I’ve been waiting for my chance to get in and make the most of it. I went out there just trying to pound the zone. We had a big lead so I was just letting my defense do the work.
(On the Team USA offense providing big leads)
“We can swing it. This team has a lot of great hitters one through nine. It definitely makes our jobs as pitchers much easier.”
About USA Baseball
USA Baseball is the national governing body for the sport of baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee and the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The organization selects and trains the World Baseball Classic, World Cup and Pan Am teams (and all other USA Baseball Professional Teams); the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team; the USA Baseball 18U, 15U and 12U National Teams; and the USA Baseball Women’s National Team, all of which participate in various international competitions each year. USA Baseball also presents the Golden Spikes Award annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country. For more information, please visit USABaseball.com.
18U: LONGBALLS, BREAUX LEAD TEAM USA PAST BRAZIL, 18-0
Five players hit home runs and Kale Breaux allows one hit in five shutout innings
from Cameron Harris, USA BASEBALL 18U
LA PAZ, Mexico – Five players hit home runs and Kale Breaux (Sulpher, La.) allowed just one hit as the USA Baseball 18U National Team cruised past Brazil, 18-0, in five innings at the 2014 COPABE 18U Pan American Championships at Arturo C. Nahl Stadium on Saturday.
“We were patient and let the game come to us today,” 18U National Team manager Andy Stankiewicz said. “We scored three with two outs in the first inning and that is not easy to do. We had a couple of good at-bats there which gave us a chance to get a big fly and put some runs on the board. That was just good baseball.
“We are on a nice little roll and the competition is going to better as we go forward. We have Canada tomorrow and I know we did well against them back in Houston but they will be ready to play.”
The U.S. put 19 tallies in the hit category, including longballs from Mitchell Hansen (Plano, Texas), Trenton Clark (Fort Worth, Texas), Lucas Herbert (San Clemente, Calif.), Luken Baker (Spring, Texas) and Daz Cameron (McDonough, Ga.).
Clark finished a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate and drove in five runs for the second day in a row. He notched three singles, a double and his second deep-fly of the tournament to go along with four runs scored and a stolen base. He also ended the game by throwing a runner out at first from right field to boot.
Elsewhere on the offensive worksheet, Baker was 3-for-3 with four RBIs and Hansen and Herbert delivered three RBIs each. Ke’Bryan Hayes (Tomball, Texas) and Xavier LeGrant (Charlotte, N.C.) added two-hit efforts in the contest as well.
Breaux was fantastic on the mound, allowing just two baserunners all game, neither of which got past first base. Brazil had a hit batter with two outs in the first and a two-out single in the third and nothing else. Breaux finished with seven strikeouts, no walks and needed just 66 pitches (41 strikes) to get through the five innings.
“It all starts with starting pitching and Kale Breaux did what Peter Lambert did yesterday,” Stankiewicz said. “I think our starting pitchers are competitive and are competing against each other. It’s fun and Kale did a great job.”
Team USA scored three times in the first before plating five runs in each of the second, third and fourth innings. It had the bases loaded with one out in the top of the fifth but a double play kept the squad off the scoreboard for the first time in the tournament, as it scored in all five stanzas of its 22-0 win over Argentina on Friday.
Through two games at the Pan American Championship, the U.S. has outscored its opponents, 40-0, and is hitting .576 (38-for-66) as a team with seven home runs.
Team USA will next play a familiar foe in Canada at 1 p.m. local time (3 p.m. ET) on Sunday in La Paz. Right-hander Kolby Allard (San Clemente, Calif.) will get the start on the mound. The U.S. previously swept a four-game series against its border-rival in Houston, Aug. 30-Sept. 2.
Follow the 18U National Team throughout Trials and during international play by visiting USABaseball.com or by following @USABaseball18U on Twitter.
QUOTE BOOK
Left-handed pitcher Kale Breaux
(On his game plan against Brazil)
“The whole plan was to throw strikes. We have a great defense so I let the guys behind me work. I just went out with the goal to keep my mental focus and the mindset that it was a 0-0 ball game and I needed to win each pitch.”
About USA Baseball
USA Baseball is the national governing body for the sport of baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee and the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The organization selects and trains the World Baseball Classic, World Cup and Pan Am teams (and all other USA Baseball Professional Teams); the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team; the USA Baseball 18U, 15U and 12U National Teams; and the USA Baseball Women’s National Team, all of which participate in various international competitions each year. USA Baseball also presents the Golden Spikes Award annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country. For more information, please visit USABaseball.com.
18U: TEAM USA CRUSHES ARGENTINA, 22-0, IN PAN AM OPENER
Trenton Clark, Luken Baker launch home runs in the win
HOUSTON – The USA Baseball 18U National Team had seven players record multi-hit contests and Peter Lambert (San Dimas, Calif.) fired a three-hit, five-inning shutout as it run-ruled Argentina, 22-0, in the opening game of the 2014 COPABE 18U Pan American Championships at Arturo C. Nahl Stadium in La Paz, Mexico.
“Peter Lambert just got after it on the mound,” USA Baseball 18U National Team manager Andy Stankiewicz said. “He threw a bunch of strikes and attacked them and then we had a really good offensive day. We were kind of relentless. We just kept bringing quality at-bats to the plate and I think that is what you have to do. We were fortunate to jump out pretty big early and put them on their heels. From then on I think they were just trying to get through it. One on the board and we’ll take it.”
Lambert was able to ignore multiple pre-game schedule changes and delays, as well as numerous long breaks between innings and stay focused as he struck out seven batters in five shutout innings.
Offensively, Trenton Clark (Fort Worth, Texas) paced a 19-hit U.S. onslaught, finishing 2-for-3 with a solo home run, three runs scored, five RBIs and a walk. Luken Baker (Spring, Texas) also hit a longball, a three-run shot, and was 3-for-5 with four RBIs at the plate.
Daz Cameron (McDonough, Ga.) had three hits as well, while Mitchell Hansen (Plano, Texas) was 2-for-2 with five RBIs and Lucas Herbert (San Clemente, Calif.), Ke’Bryan Hayes (Tomball, Texas) and Blake Rutherford (Simi Valley, Calif.) all had two hits each.
The U.S. opened with five runs in the game’s opening frame before putting up a 10-spot in the second inning. It would cruise from there, plating three runs in both the third and fourth before tacking on a single tally in the fifth to round out the scoring.
Team USA will return to the diamond at 10 a.m. local time (12 p.m. ET) on Saturday when it takes on a familiar foe in Canada at Arturo C. Nahl Stadium in La Paz. The U.S. swept a four-game series against their border-rivals in Houston prior to arriving in Mexico. Kyle Molnar (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) will get the start on the mound for the Red, White and Blue.
“We played well in the States against Canada but they are going to be prepared to play in this environment,” Stankiewicz said. “We are going to have to play as good or better than we did back in Houston. They have some thump and some nice hitters but we just have to continue to stick to our game plan.”
Follow the 18U National Team throughout Trials and during international play by visiting USABaseball.com or by following @USABaseball18U on Twitter.
QUOTE BOOK
Right-handed pitcher Peter Lambert
(On throwing a complete game against Argentina)
“It was my first time pitching internationally and it was obviously a great experience. The offense did a great job today and they made it easy for me.
(On dealing with multiple schedule changes and delays)
There were a lot of changes to the schedule this morning, but you just have to be ready to go when coach says it is time.”
Outfielder Trenton Clark
(On the team’s offensive explosion)
“We just did our job today. The pitching wasn’t quite what we are used to so you had to fight to stay back. We executed as a team and stayed locked in the whole five innings. It was a good win for us.”
(On playing Canada on Saturday)
“We feel pretty confident. We played them for four games already so we have a pretty good scouting report. We are ready to go but we still have to play our best game. It is going to be fun.”
UPDATED SCHEDULE (All times local)
Sat., 9/6 Canada 10 a.m. La Paz
Sun., 9/7 Brazil 4 p.m. La Paz
Mon., 9/8 OFF --- ---
Tue., 9/9 Cuba 8 p.m. La Paz
Wed., 9/10 Mexico 8 p.m. La Paz
Thur., 9/11 Panama 6 p.m. Constitucion
Fri., 9/12 Guatemala 4 p.m. La Paz
Sat., 9/13 Ecuador 6 p.m. Los Cabos
About USA Baseball
USA Baseball is the national governing body for the sport of baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee and the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The organization selects and trains the World Baseball Classic, World Cup and Pan Am teams (and all other USA Baseball Professional Teams); the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team; the USA Baseball 18U, 15U and 12U National Teams; and the USA Baseball Women’s National Team, all of which participate in various international competitions each year. USA Baseball also presents the Golden Spikes Award annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country. For more information, please visit USABaseball.com.
Trenton Clark, Luken Baker launch home runs in the win
HOUSTON – The USA Baseball 18U National Team had seven players record multi-hit contests and Peter Lambert (San Dimas, Calif.) fired a three-hit, five-inning shutout as it run-ruled Argentina, 22-0, in the opening game of the 2014 COPABE 18U Pan American Championships at Arturo C. Nahl Stadium in La Paz, Mexico.
“Peter Lambert just got after it on the mound,” USA Baseball 18U National Team manager Andy Stankiewicz said. “He threw a bunch of strikes and attacked them and then we had a really good offensive day. We were kind of relentless. We just kept bringing quality at-bats to the plate and I think that is what you have to do. We were fortunate to jump out pretty big early and put them on their heels. From then on I think they were just trying to get through it. One on the board and we’ll take it.”
Lambert was able to ignore multiple pre-game schedule changes and delays, as well as numerous long breaks between innings and stay focused as he struck out seven batters in five shutout innings.
Offensively, Trenton Clark (Fort Worth, Texas) paced a 19-hit U.S. onslaught, finishing 2-for-3 with a solo home run, three runs scored, five RBIs and a walk. Luken Baker (Spring, Texas) also hit a longball, a three-run shot, and was 3-for-5 with four RBIs at the plate.
Daz Cameron (McDonough, Ga.) had three hits as well, while Mitchell Hansen (Plano, Texas) was 2-for-2 with five RBIs and Lucas Herbert (San Clemente, Calif.), Ke’Bryan Hayes (Tomball, Texas) and Blake Rutherford (Simi Valley, Calif.) all had two hits each.
The U.S. opened with five runs in the game’s opening frame before putting up a 10-spot in the second inning. It would cruise from there, plating three runs in both the third and fourth before tacking on a single tally in the fifth to round out the scoring.
Team USA will return to the diamond at 10 a.m. local time (12 p.m. ET) on Saturday when it takes on a familiar foe in Canada at Arturo C. Nahl Stadium in La Paz. The U.S. swept a four-game series against their border-rivals in Houston prior to arriving in Mexico. Kyle Molnar (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) will get the start on the mound for the Red, White and Blue.
“We played well in the States against Canada but they are going to be prepared to play in this environment,” Stankiewicz said. “We are going to have to play as good or better than we did back in Houston. They have some thump and some nice hitters but we just have to continue to stick to our game plan.”
Follow the 18U National Team throughout Trials and during international play by visiting USABaseball.com or by following @USABaseball18U on Twitter.
QUOTE BOOK
Right-handed pitcher Peter Lambert
(On throwing a complete game against Argentina)
“It was my first time pitching internationally and it was obviously a great experience. The offense did a great job today and they made it easy for me.
(On dealing with multiple schedule changes and delays)
There were a lot of changes to the schedule this morning, but you just have to be ready to go when coach says it is time.”
Outfielder Trenton Clark
(On the team’s offensive explosion)
“We just did our job today. The pitching wasn’t quite what we are used to so you had to fight to stay back. We executed as a team and stayed locked in the whole five innings. It was a good win for us.”
(On playing Canada on Saturday)
“We feel pretty confident. We played them for four games already so we have a pretty good scouting report. We are ready to go but we still have to play our best game. It is going to be fun.”
UPDATED SCHEDULE (All times local)
Sat., 9/6 Canada 10 a.m. La Paz
Sun., 9/7 Brazil 4 p.m. La Paz
Mon., 9/8 OFF --- ---
Tue., 9/9 Cuba 8 p.m. La Paz
Wed., 9/10 Mexico 8 p.m. La Paz
Thur., 9/11 Panama 6 p.m. Constitucion
Fri., 9/12 Guatemala 4 p.m. La Paz
Sat., 9/13 Ecuador 6 p.m. Los Cabos
About USA Baseball
USA Baseball is the national governing body for the sport of baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee and the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The organization selects and trains the World Baseball Classic, World Cup and Pan Am teams (and all other USA Baseball Professional Teams); the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team; the USA Baseball 18U, 15U and 12U National Teams; and the USA Baseball Women’s National Team, all of which participate in various international competitions each year. USA Baseball also presents the Golden Spikes Award annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country. For more information, please visit USABaseball.com.
18U: TEAM USA WINS 11-2, COMPLETES SWEEP OF CANADA
Luken Baker, Ke’Bryan Hayes launch home runs in the victory
from Cameron Harris, USA BASEBALL 18U
HOUSTON – The USA Baseball 18U National Team scored eight unanswered runs over the final four innings, highlighted by home runs by Luken Baker (Spring, Texas) and Ke’Bryan Hayes (Tomball, Texas), to complete a sweep of the four-game series against Canada with an 11-2 victory at Cougar Field on the campus of the University of Houston on Tuesday.
The contest marked the final tune-up for both squads which will now head south for the 2014 COPABE 18U Pan American Championship in La Paz/Los Cabos, Mexico, Sept. 5-14. The top four finishers will qualify for the 2015 IBAF 18U World Cup in Koshien, Japan.
Team USA opens the tournament with an 11 a.m. ET/9 a.m. local time contest against Argentina at Arturo C. Nahl Stadium in La Paz on Friday.
“The encouraging thing today was that we were down going into the fourth inning and the guys stuck to the game plan, started getting better at-bats and chipping away until we were able to break it open,” USA Baseball 18U National Team manager Andy Stankiewicz said. “We showed some sock with the bat today and you can tell that the guys are starting to feel a little bit more comfortable and playing together well.
“We are excited to get down [to Mexico] and play somebody else. We played each other in trials and then Canada for four, so we’ll be excited to see somebody else in the other dugout. I believe that if we can stick to what we’ve done here and our game plan we are going to have some success.”
Canada jumped on the scoreboard early, scoring a run in the bottom of the first, and held a 1-0 lead through the first three innings of play. It was almost entirely Team USA from that point as it scored in each of the game’s final four stanzas, including three in the fourth and a six-spot in the sixth, to cruise to victory.
Austin Smith (Boynton Beach, Fla.) started on the mound and was able to settle down after a tough first inning to give the U.S. three strong frames. He allowed two runs – one earned – on three hits and a walk while striking out five.
The bullpen was absolutely dominant after that with Max Wotell (Marvin, N.C.), Joe DeMers (Martinez, Calif.), Gray Fenter (West Memphis, Ark.) and Austin Bergner (Windermere, Fla.) throwing one shutout inning each to close out the win.
Offensively, both Baker and Xavier LeGrant (Charlotte, N.C.) drove in three runs while Hayes finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a walk, an RBI and three runs scored. Trenton Clark (Fort Worth, Texas) added two RBIs as well.
The U.S. finished with 10 hits in the contest, four of which went for extra bases as Michell Hansen (Plano, Texas) had a double and Clark tripled to go along with the home runs by Baker and Hayes. The team finished .349 batting average (45-for-129) in the four-game series, out-scoring Canada, 34-5.
Follow the 18U National Team throughout Trials and during international play by visiting USABaseball.com or by following @USABaseball18U on Twitter.
QUOTE BOOK
Right-handed pitcher Austin Smith
(On pitching for Team USA for the first time)
“It was amazing. It was the best experience of my life. I am so happy to represent my country.”
(On settling down after a hard-fought first inning)
“In the first inning, I was just a little over anxious to go out there and pitch for my country. After that I knew I just had to settle down, focus on throwing strikes and go out there and get the job done.
(On what the team needs to do to continue having success)
“We just have to work as a team. Through these four games against Canada we have been getting a connection together. We’re like a family now so we just have to work hard and stay together.”
Infielder Ke’Bryan Hayes
(On his approach at the plate)
“I’ve been working on trying to hit the ball up the middle and the opposite way. I’m not a big power guy but when the time comes I can do it.”
(On the team’s strong start against Canada)
“We started off really well in these four games against Canada and we just want to carry it down to Mexico and make a statement there when we arrive.”
(On playing for Team USA)
“It is amazing. It is the best team you can play for and it is an honor to go out there to represent your hometown, your family and your country wearing USA across your chest.”
About USA Baseball
USA Baseball is the national governing body for the sport of baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee and the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The organization selects and trains the World Baseball Classic, World Cup and Pan Am teams (and all other USA Baseball Professional Teams); the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team; the USA Baseball 18U, 15U and 12U National Teams; and the USA Baseball Women’s National Team, all of which participate in various international competitions each year. USA Baseball also presents the Golden Spikes Award annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country. For more information, please visit USABaseball.com.
Ke'Bryan Hayes, TAPPS 5A Tomball Concordia ---- Luken Baker UIL 6A Oak Ridge
USA BASEBALL announces 18U National Team Roster
The 18U Team will compete in the COPABE Pan American Championship in Cabo San Lucas/La Paz, Mexico, from Sept. 5 through Sept. 14. TexasPrepBaseball.com is well represented on the National roster landing four spots (Luken Baker-Oak Ridge; Trenton Clark-Richland; Mitch Hansen-Plano; Ke'Bryan Hayes-Concordia).
Name, Position, Hometown
Kolby Allard, LHP, San Clemente, Calif.
Luken Baker, IF/RHP, Spring, Texas
Austin Bergner, IF/RHP, Windermere, Fla.
Kale Breaux, LHP, Sulphur, La.
Daz Cameron, OF, McDonough, Ga.
Trenton Clark, OF, Fort Worth, Texas
Joe DeMers, RHP, Martinez, Calif.
Gray Fenter, RHP/IF, West Memphis, Ark.
Mitch Hansen, OF, Plano, Texas
Ke’Bryan Hayes, IF/RHP, Tomball, Texas
Lucas Herbert, C, San Clemente, Calif.
Peter Lambert, RHP, San Dimas, Calif.
Xavier LeGrant, IF, Charlotte, N.C.
Nick Madrigal, IF, Elk Grove, Calif.
Elih Marrero, C, Miami, Fla.
Kyle Molnar, RHP, Aliso Viejo, Calif.
Blake Rutherford, OF, Simi Valley, Calif.
Austin Smith, RHP, Boynton Beach, Fla.
Logan Tolbert, IF/RHP, Piedmont, S.C.
Max Wotell, LHP, Marvin, N.C.
USA BASEBALL(TM) - National Team Trials are in town this week. The 40 man split trials rosters (Red & Blue) features six TexasPrepBaseball.com stars from across the state including two H5AB standouts, Ke'Bryan Hayes (Concordia), and Luken Baker (Oak Ridge). Other Texas standouts include; Mitch Hansen (Plano), Trenton Clark (Richland), Cole McKay (Smithson Valley), Beau Burrows (Weatherford). The group will be conducting activities at the University of Houston's Cougar Field, Rice University's Reckling Park, Houston Astros Urban Youth Academy, and Minute Maid Park. At the conclusion of the trials, the USA BASEBALL Staff will pair the rosters down to a 20 man final roster that will compete in the upcoming COPABE 18U Pan American Championship in Cabo San Lucas/La Paz, Mexico.
Below you will find schedule, & roster links for their activities while they are in Houston. You can also find updates at USABaseball.com or by following @USABaseball18U on Twitter.
USA BASEBALL NATIONAL TEAM 18U SCHEDULE
