CARTERSVILLE, Ga. – The 15U National Team kicked off a five-game series against Australia and did so in outstanding fashion, winning 14-0 while notching a combined no-hitter Sunday afternoon at Georgia Highlands College. Team USA has now won 10 straight games against international competition, a streak dating back to 2022.
Contrary to Team USA’s exhibition contest against East Cobb earlier in the week, the stars and stripes got off to a flaming hot start and refused to slow down, clobbering Australia by double digits in the teams’ first matchup. Leadoff batter Jacob Seamon swung at the first pitch he saw in the first and hammered the offering deep to center field for a ground-rule double. Seamon led all players at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one RBI, four runs scored, and three stolen bags. The U.S. proceeded to bat around the order - the first of two instances - scoring three early runs and putting starting pitcher Griffin McKain in a position to succeed. Extra-base hits and lights out pitching was the story from there, as Team USA scored three or more runs in three frames and racked up double-digit strikeouts as a team through seven innings.
Not only did the offense shine in Team USA’s 14-0 route, but the squad dominated on the bump and needed only two arms. McKain set the tone for the U.S., striking out the first six batters he saw en route to posting a 4.0 IP, no-hit, nine strikeout performance. Isaac Vidal took over on the mound from there, shining in his debut as well, tossing 3.0 no-hit innings while punching out eight batters.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Rocco Maniscalco plated the first of many runs for the U.S., driving a sacrifice fly deep to center in the first inning and plating Seamon who led off with a double.
- Jared Grindlinger immediately followed up, blasting a hard ground ball up the middle to score Parker Leoff. Grindlinger later came around to score after a wild pitch permitted the right fielder to score Team USA’s third run.
- Maniscalco once again put bat to ball, this time in the second inning with an RBI single to center field. The one-two punch landed again, as Grindlinger collected a stand-up double and plated Maniscalco.
- The biggest blow was dealt in the third frame, beginning with Leoff, who took advantage of a defensive miscue and drilled a 1-2 offering for a two-RBI double.
- Team USA picked up a double-digit lead later in the third after Grindlinger collected his third base hit to score Seamon, giving the U.S. a 10-0 lead.
- Back-to-back-to-back doubles capped off the scoring as Dariel Carrion got in on the action with a two-RBI double in addition to a run-producing double off the bat of Jeremiah Hall.
- Seamon led off the fourth and sealed Team USA’s 14-0 victory, demolishing a hanging curveball deep over the right field fence for his first homer of the series.
NOTABLES
- This was the first no-hitter for the 15U National Team since 2019, when Team USA tossed a combined no-hitter and beat Honduras, 12-0, in the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier.
- Team USA's 14 runs are the most runs the 15U National Team has scored since 2022, when the stars and stripes beat Puerto Rico, 15-4, in the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup Finals.
- Nine different U.S. batters notched at least one hit, while Seamon and Grindlinger each collected a trio of base knocks. Seamon finished a triple shy of the cycle in today’s contest.
- The team’s 13 RBIs were distributed among six players, with Grindlinger leading all by driving in four runs.
- More than half of the team’s total hits (13), were extra-base hits, as six doubles were recorded in today’s win in addition to a home run.
- McKain and Vidal combined for 17 strikeouts while giving up only one free pass apiece.
- The squad swiped six bags today and Seamon led all players with three stolen bases.
ON DECK
The 15U National Team continues its series against Australia and will travel to Clemson University tomorrow, September 9. First pitch is slated for 4:00 p.m. ET while fans can follow live stats on GameChanger and the games will also be live streamed to the USA Baseball YouTube channel.
SOCIAL MEDIA
To follow along with all the action with the 15U National Team, be sure to follow @USABaseball15U on Twitter and @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.
