Cuba crowned U-15 Baseball World Champions with 6-3 victory over USA in World Cup final

MAZATLAN, Sinaloa, Mexico — Cuba defeated USA, 6-3, in the gold medal finale of the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup 2014 to earn the title of U-15 World Champions.

Cuba’s Adrian Morejon, who pitched a complete game and was clocked at 89 mph/143 kmh in the final inning of the gold medal final (and as high as 91 mph/146 kmh in the event), earned the Most Valuable Player award. Morejon was also a member of the Cuban National Team that took silver at the first-ever U-12 Baseball World Cup in Taipei City, Taiwan, in 2011.

The United States had entered the gold medal contest with a perfect record of 9-0, including an earlier victory over Cuba in the Super Round Robin.

USA’s Bryce Turang was the leading hitter of the II U-15 Baseball World Cup.

Earlier in the day, U-15 Baseball World Cup 2012 champions, Venezuela, defeated Chinese Taipei by a score of 13-3 (7 innings) to earn the bronze medal.

Venezuela’s Maximo Castillo, who recorded the fastest pitch at the U-15 World Cup — at 93 mph/149.6 Kmh –will add the bronze medal in Sinaloa to his other bronze medal that he earned at U-12 Baseball World Cup 2011. Sources have indicated that professional clubs have expressed heavy interest in Castillo and are willing to offer in excess of $US 2.0 million for the Venezuelan National Team star to eventually play professionally. It was also confirmed that Castillo will continue to represent his country in international play.

III U-15 Baseball World Cup 2016 heads to Japan

It was also announced in Sinaloa that the hosting rights of the III U-15 Baseball World Cup — which will be staged in 2016 — have been awarded to Japan.

The U-15 Baseball World Cup platform — the highest level of competition in baseball for this age group — is staged every two years and features the most elite selection of 15-year-old baseball players in the world, competing on their National Teams for baseball’s official world championship.

FINAL STANDINGS

Gold	CUB
Silver	USA
Bronze	VEN
4	TPE
5	MEX
6	PAN
7	JPN
8	BRA
9	GER
10	AUS
11	ARG
12	ITA
13	CZE
14	GUA
15	NZL
16	RSA
17	HKG
18	LTU