The USA Baseball National Team programme, currently the world No. 4, won five out of seven games of a U-18 friendship series with No. 9 Canada, which was played at different locations in Florida. Sarasota and Bradenton, the cities of the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2022, hosted six of the seven games.
The series started at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota on 3 September. The US outscored Canada, 16-2. Third baseman and lead-off hitter Termarr Johnson went 3-for-4, and catcher Blake Mitchell hit a three-run home run. Andrew Dutkanych and Cade Fisher pitched four innings each.
In the second game of the series, the US had another good night at the plate, combining 10 hits and earning a 10-2 win. Johnson highlighted a six-run second at-bat with a grand slam, reversing the 2-0 lead Canada had earned against starter Jackson Ferris. Louis Rodriguez earned the win pitching five innings of no-hit ball and striking out 10.
In the last game played in Sarasota, the US beat Canada, 6-2, on 5 September. Center fielder Elijah Green went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, and four pitchers (Joe Allen, Brennan Phillips, Jack O'Connor and RJ Austin) limited Canada to seven hits.
The US outscored Canada, 16-1, on 6 September in a game played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). Owen Murphy and Walter Ford outhit Canada over seven innings and the US offence thrived on eight defensive errors. Center fielder Drew Jones and catcher Karson Bowen enjoyed a multi-hit game.
Canada won a pitching duel, 3-2, on 7 September at Lecom Park in Bradenton. Alexis Gravel, Reece Usselman, Ty Hamilton, Robin Villeneuve and Jordan Woods limited the US to four hits. Canada got an early lead on started Kade Anderson and never looked back. Designated hitter Tyrus Hall had two hits and two RBIs. Right fielder Elijah Green hit a solo homer for the US.
The US shut out Canada, 9-0, on the following day. Green, who went 2-for-5, and Johnson, 3-for-4, starred at the top of the order. Cade Fisher, Andrew Dutkanych, Ferris and Gavin Guidry limited Canada to a couple of hits.
The series finale was called due to bad weather after five innings with the game locked at 1-1. Canada took the lead against Louis Rodriguez on a solo home run by second baseman Louka Daoust. Green tied it against Turner Spoljaric.
Following the friendship series, the US U-18 National Team now holds a 38-7-2 all-time record against Canada in international competition.
