Update taken from press release... USA beats Mexico 19-0. Sounds like the Texas boys are getting it done....
BARQUISIMETO, Venezuela – After leading the charge to fix a rain-soaked field and an hour and 17 minute delay to the start of the game, the Youth National Team routed Mexico, 19-0, on Sunday afternoon, getting a combined one-hitter in the win.
When the team arrived for batting practice, the field was in no condition for a baseball game. The Youth National Team then went out and got the field ready, almost entirely by themselves, so that the game could be played.
USA starter Zach Lee (McKinney, Texas) struck out six batters and held Mexico to one hit in five scoreless frames, while Colton Cain (Waxahachie, Texas) had a pair of strikeouts in the sixth inning and Jacob Tillotson (Lake City, Fla.) fanned one in the seventh.
Team USA came out of the gate hot, scoring five runs in the top of the first. Rightfielder Robert Refsnyder (Laguna Hills, Calif.) and centerfielder Andrew Aplin (Suisun, Calif.) were both hit by pitches to start the inning. Catcher Luke Bailey (La Grange, Ga.) then singled to short and when the throw from Mexico shortstop Gerardo Diaz sailed over the head of first baseman Angel Rios, Refsnyder scored, Aplin advanced to third and Bailey moved to second. Two batters later, third baseman Richie Shaffer (Charlotte, N.C.) sent an RBI-single up the middle, scoring Aplin and moving Bailey to third. Shaffer would then steal second and Bailey would score on a sacrifice fly to left by Cain. After Shaffer advanced to third on a passed ball, second baseman Justin Charles (Galt, Calif.) turned on a 3-1 pitch and sent a two-run homer over the wall in right center to cap the frame.
In the top of the second, Lee helped his own cause, hammering a 1-0 offering over the wall in left center for a leadoff home run that put Team USA up 6-0.
Team USA added three runs in the top of the fifth to extend their lead to 9-0. Leftfielder Max Stassi (Yuba City, Calif.) singled to left to begin the frame. Shaffer then sent a first-pitch double to left to move Stassi to third. Mexico would appeal the play and throw to first and Shaffer was called out after missing first base. Stassi then scored on an RBI-groundout to second by Cain. Charles followed with a walk and scored from first when shortstop Nolan Fontana (Winter Garden, Fla.) doubled off the wall in center. Lee then capped the frame with an RBI-single to center to drive in Fontana.
In the top of the sixth, Shaffer lined a two-out single to left before advancing to second when Cain was hit by a pitch. Charles then drew a walk to load the bases. Zach Vincej (Saugus, Calif.) came on to pinch hit and cleared the bases with a three-run triple to the gap in right center, giving Team USA a 12-0 advantage.
Team USA would then put up seven runs in the top of the seventh to take a 19-0 lead. Rightfielder Randal Grichuk (Rosenberg, Texas) belted a 3-2 pitch to deep center for a leadoff home run. Aplin was then hit by a pitch and catcher Nate Gonzalez (Clermont, Fla.) drew a walk. Two batters later, Shaffer drew a walk to load the bases. Tillotson followed with a bases-loaded walk that scored Aplin. Charles then sent an RBI-single to right to plate Gonzalez. Vincej followed with a sacrifice fly to right to score Shaffer and first baseman Matt Davidson (Yucaipa, Calif.) laced a two-run double down the left field line to drive in Tillotson and Charles. Grichuk then capped the inning with an RBI-single through the left side to score Davidson.
Charles led Team USA at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and four runs scored. Lee went 2-for-3 with a solo jack and an RBI-single, Shaffer finished 2-for-4 with an RBI-single and three runs scored and Vincej was 1-for-1 with a triple and four RBI. Grichuk went 2-for-2 with a solo homer and an RBI-single, Fontana was 2-for-2 with an RBI-double and a run scored and Davidson finished 1-for-2 with a two-run double and a run scored. Bailey went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored, Stassi was 1-for-4 with a run scored and Cain finished with a pair of RBI and a run scored. Tillotson had an RBI and a run scored, while Aplin scored twice and Refsnyder and Gonzalez both scored a run in the win.
Team USA will wrap up play in Pool A against Japan on Monday at 2 p.m. The top two teams from Pool A and the top two teams from Pool B will resume play in Barquisimeto on Wednesday, while the three and four seeds from each pool will play in San Cristobel.
