Box Score & Plays | Cumulative Stats
MÉRIDA, Mexico – Paris Head delivered a four-hit, three-RBI performance and the United States downed the Dominican Republic, 8-6, in its first game of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Baseball World Cup Super Round on Thursday at Parque Kukulcán Alamo.
With the win, the United States secured its sixth consecutive victory and improved to 3-0 in the Super Round. All team records and standings can be found HERE.
Team USA outlasted the tournament’s top offensive team in a back-and-forth affair. Team USA provided the first score of the contest in the second inning when Bryant Ju launched a solo home run and then piled on five more runs in the third to take a lead it would never relinquish. The Dominican Republic outscored the United States over the next three innings, but Team USA’s pitching staff came out on top and stranded six runners during that stretch to limit the damage. Head, Ju, and Chris Worrell Jr. each posted multi-hit performances and combined for six RBIs in an electric win.
The United States pitching staff used the combined efforts of five pitchers and provided a bend-but-don’t-break approach to maneuver a potent Dominican Republic lineup. Michael Ohman made his third start of the week and allowed two runs in 2.0 innings. Noah Vrzal made his fourth appearance of the week and provided an effective outing to earn the win, firing 2.0 innings of one-hit ball. He entered in the third with the bases loaded and no outs and immediately coaxed a double play, allowing just one run in the process. Lathan Boddie made his third appearance out of the bullpen before Jaxxon Hanen brought a spark to the U.S. dugout, striking out three batters while giving up just one earned run across 2.0 clutch innings. Jackson McAneely entered in the top of the seventh with a two-run lead and hurled a hitless inning to earn his second save.
ON DECK
The United States (6-0 overall, 3-0 Super Round) will face Mexico in its second Super Round contest tomorrow, October 2, at 7:30 p.m. local/9:30 p.m. ET at Parque Kukulcán Alamo in Mérida, 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.