Americas nations perfect on Day 1 of U-15 Baseball World Cup

DAVID/CHITRÉ, Panama – Americas nations went a perfect 5-0 on Day 1 of the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup 2018. Two-time defending World Champions Cuba topped Netherlands; USA scored big against China; Dominican Republic used the long ball and strong pitching to defeat South Africa; Brazil no-hit Germany and host Panama thrilled the hometown fans at Estadio Kenny Serracín in David with an easy win over Chinese Taipei. Japan was the only non-Americas squad to earn a victory, defeating Australia earlier in the day.

Opening Ceremonies were celebrated at Serracín Stadium.

USA 27, China 0

No. 1 USA showed why they’re the top ranked nation in the world as they took advantage of ten errors and used 12 hits to defeat No. 22 China, 27-0. Gage Ziehl was credited with the win on the mound tossing a perfect inning in relief but it was starter Samuel Dutton who fired three scoreless innings scattering two hits and recording six strikeouts.

After taking a 3-0 lead in the first, USA took control in the second putting up 14 runs before adding ten more in the final three frames. Joshua Hartle drove in six runs on a 3-for-5 day at the plate that included a pair of doubles while Brady House hit a two-run triple in the second to collect two of his four RBI on the game.

China starting pitcher Huadanzhaxi took the loss.

Cuba 5, Netherlands 1

Brander Guevara Valdes went five innings with seven strikeouts to earn the win and lead No. 4 Cuba over No. 9 Netherlands, 5-1.

Netherlands’ only run came when Valdes issued a bases loaded walk in the fifth, but was otherwise masterful in allowing just five hits and three walks over seven innings of work.

Cuba got to Netherlands starter Arlison Rodriguez with two out in the first as Cesar Hernandez Marrero tripled and scored on a Frank Gonzalez Cuellar single before Edgar Quero Aguila’s single brought in the second run of the inning.

Cuba chased Rodriguez – who took the loss- from the game after the second inning and added insurance markers in the third and fourth.

Dominican Republic 5, South Africa 3

A two-run home run off the bat of Ronny Polanco Moreno highlighted a three-run fifth inning and broke a 2-2 tie as No. 12 Dominican Republic got by No. 26 South Africa, 5-3.

Four Dominican Republic pitchers combined to no-hit South Africa and strikeout nine batters.

Cristofer Gomez Cruz tossed 2.2 innings of scoreless relief and struck out three South Africa batters to record the win while Alexander Levkov took the loss.

With the Dominican Republic lead by two in the fourth, South Africa scored twice to tie in the bottom half of the inning with Taariq Adams recording an RBI on a ground out.

Panama 9, Chinese Taipei 1

No. 14 Panama scored twice with two in the bottom of the second getting an RBI double from Mauricio Pierre Alvarez followed by a run scoring single from Kenin Pinto Vega en route to a 9-1 victory over No. 6 Chinese Taipei.

Panama starting pitcher Eduardo Tejada Ortega allowed just two hits and struck out five over 4.2 innings of work and was replaced by Rance Pinilla Vargas who earned the win.

Chinese Taipei starter Kuan-Yu Chen took the loss.

Panama’s offense produced 13 hits with five players recording multi-hit games including Carlos Gonzalez Cissio who came within a home run of hitting for the cycle and contributing two RBI.