CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA - The gold-medal game between the 15U National Team and the Dominican Republic was canceled due to rain after three-and-a-half innings of play on Saturday evening in the COPABE Pan Am "AA" Championships in Cartagena, Colombia.
With the championship game going unfinished, the United States was named co-champions of the tournament, marking the third-straight time that the 15U team has been on top at the end - winning gold over Colombia in 2015 and over Cuba in 2013.
"I really can't express how proud I am of each and every one of these 20 players," manager Rob Shabansky said. "From the very first day of Trials, they were an impressive group of athletes and people and remained so until the very last moment."
Shabansky continued, "Obviously, I'm disappointed that we weren't able to finish the gold medal game but the performance and hard work that this dedicated group of young men put in every day and in every game showed who we are as a team. The memories and experiences we all had as a team will live long after today and I am grateful to them for that. We all became brothers at the end of it all."
Finishing with a 7-1 overall record and as the No. 1 seed, the U.S. qualifies for the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Baseball World Cup in 2018.
Ten players ended the tournament hitting above .300. Masyn Winn (Kingwood, Texas) led all hitters, batting .522 with 12 hits, four doubles, 11 runs and eight RBIs. Roc Riggio (Simi Valley, Calif.) was a close second, hitting .480 with 12 hits, nine runs and eight RBIs while Tanner Witt (Houston, Texas) finished with an even .400 (12 hits, seven runs, six RBIs).
Dylan Crews (Longwood, Fla.) also finished 5-for-6 in his time at the plate, finishing with four RBIs and two doubles.
On the mound, Nelson Berkwich (Boca Raton, Fla.) led all starters with a 0.68 ERA, allowing just seven hits, one run, one walk and a team-best 15 strikeouts in 13.1 innings of work. Rawley Hector (Van Alstyne, Texas) also finished with a sub-1.00 ERA, allowing one earned run, five hits and striking out six in 11.0 innings for a 0.82 ERA.
Michael Flores (Corona, Calif.) and Jackson Miller (Trinity, Fla.) combined to throw 9.1 hitless innings with neither of them allowing an earned run.