MINNEAPOLIS - Two home runs off the bat of Brandon Dieter (Covina, Calif.) and stellar pitching performances by Slade Cecconi (Oviedo, Fla.) and Kumar Rocker (Watkinsville, Ga.) led the Stripes to a series-clinching 6-4 victory in the fourth game of the USA Baseball 18U National Team Trials on Wednesday at Siebert Field on the campus of the University of Minnesota.
In addition to his pair of longballs, Dieter added a pair of singles to finish 4-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs scored. He is now 8-for-15 (.533) and leads all players in hits through the first four games of trials.
His two home runs were both two-run shots and came in the first and second innings of the game, respectively. That staked the Stripes to a quick 4-0 lead which gave his team's pitching staff plenty of room to work with.
Cecconi and Rocker took full advantage, working quickly and efficiently to post three shutout innings each, yielding just one hit and striking out seven between them.
An RBI ground-rule double by Nolan Gorman (Glendale, Ariz.) and a run-scoring groundout by Triston Casas (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) pushed the Stripes' lead up to six as the game hit the seventh-inning stretch.
The Stars refused to go quietly, however, plating two runs in the bottom of the seventh and two more in the ninth to move within striking distance.
The tying run would even come up to the dish with two outs in the final frame but JT Ginn (Brandon, Miss.) induced a groundout to second to end the game and clinch the series for the Stripes.
Trials will conclude on Thursday with the final game of the Stars and Stripes series which will be held at Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT. The contest will be streamed online at MLB.com with Steve Lenox, Benji Gil, and Steve Phillips on the call.
Following the game, MLB.com will also broadcast the selection of the final 20-man roster for the 18U National Team. Those 20 players will then play four exhibition games througout Minnesota, starting with a 7 p.m. ET contest against Iowa Western Community College at Target Field on Saturday.
Team USA and Iowa Western will then square off again at noon ET on Sunday at Siebert Field. The Minnesota Blizzard will be up next for the U.S. at 6 p.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 28, at Chaska Athletic Park before a 7 p.m. ET showdown with Madison College on Tuesday, Aug. 29, at Mayo Field in Rochester closes out the exhibition schedule.
The 18U National Team will then travel to Thunder Bay, Ontario, where it will compete in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup from September 1-10.
QUOTES
USA Baseball 18U National Team Manager Andy Stankiewicz
(On day five of trials)
"The Stripes did a nice job today. They put together some nice quality at-bats, they made some quality defensive plays, and the pitching staff pounded the zone. I think our pitchers are starting to realize, even as good as they are, that they still need to make pitches. Just like they are the best pitchers in the country, they are facing the best hitters in the country, so when they don't make quality pitches the hitters take advantage of it."
(On Brandon Dieter)
"Dieter had another fantastic game today. As impressive as the two home runs were, I was just as impressed by his other at-bats. He puts down a bunt for a base hit, gets a good dirt-ball read to get to second and scores a run. His mentality is that he has other dimensions to his game, which is exactly what we need. From an offensive standpoint we need guys who have multiple facets and he certainly showed that today."
(On what he saw from the pitching staff)
"The big man, Kumar Rocker, has to be fun to work behind because he works fast. He attacks the strike zone and just gets after hitters. He did a terrific job. I also liked the job (Mason) Denaburg did in his second inning. He left a little early as a precaution and hopefully he is fine. He got hit a little in his first inning but jumped back on the horse and got after it. Slade Cecconi had a nice outing as well. We are
starting to see some guys who can certainly pitch and are finding their rhythm a little bit."
(On closing out trials tomorrow)
"We just have to stay on it. We have one more day here before we have to get to 20 and there are still some tough decisions to make. And that is the goal. We told them the first day to make it hard for us to decide. Everyone is here for a reason, they are really good baseball players. Everyone has a shot. We have one more day to get after it."
Stripes IF Brandon Dieter
(On his impressive day)
"In BP and in the cages, our coaches have been talking a lot about gold-medal execution. Coach (Jack) Leggett always says that the little things are the 'diff,' the difference. I am just trying to come out here and do those little things because I know these coaches notice that and that is what wins ball games."
(On taking pride in his versatility)
"I think being versatile is very important. Say you are a shortstop, there might be a situation where you have to go out and play somewhere else so you have to do anything you can to make that team or get that starting spot because that is the ultimate goal in the long
run."
(On his experience at trials)
"It has been an amazing experience. Just the knowledge I have gained from being around these coaches is incredible. I can learn so much and take this with me wherever my career goes or whatever happens after this. I can take that back home and share that with
everyone."
(On what it would mean to make the final roster)
"It would be a total honor to represent my country. Only 20 guys in the whole country get to make this team. To be able to go out there and wear the USA across my chest would be the ultimate honor."