PANAMA CITY – After a tournament opening win, Team USA continues pool play and is set to compete against Mexico in the 2024 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-12 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier Tuesday morning.

First pitch is set to be thrown at 10:30 a.m. local/11:30 a.m. ET at Estadio Nacional Rod Carew.

PITCHING MATCHUP

LHP Nelson Cantú (MEX) vs. RHP Clayton Ratliff (USA)

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

Mexico is currently 1-1 after beating Nicaragua, 3-1, in its opening game of the World Cup Americas Qualifier. Mexico is coming off of short rest, as the squad fell to Panama Monday night, 4-1. A left-handed pitcher, Nelson Cantú, gets the nod against Team USA, the second straight game the stars and stripes have faced a southpaw starter.

At the plate, Mexico has only collected three hits as a team, including a walk-off three-run home run by Carlos Cruz Acosta in Game 1. Offensively, the team is led by Cruz Acosta who has a hit, three RBIs and two runs scored. Four pitchers have seen action and have a combined 1.00 ERA.

HISTORY AGAINST MEXICO

This will be the 10th time the 12U National Team and Mexico have played, with Team USA owning a 6-3 all-time record. In the last matchup, the U.S. defeated Mexico by a slim one-run margin, 6-5, in the 2022 WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup in Tainan, Taiwan. In these teams’ nine prior matchups, five games have been decided by three runs or less.

TEAM USA STAT LEADERS

HITS: Josh Pierre, Clayton Ratliff, Carlo Rivera (3)

RBIs: Carlo Rivero (3)

RUNS: Josh Pierre, Clayton Ratliff (3)

TB: Clayton Ratliff (4)

BB: Daylon McCants (1)

IP: Carson Schoener (3.2)

K’s: Carson Schoener (9)

GROUP A STANDINGS

Colombia (1-0)

Panama (1-0)

United States (1-0)

Mexico (1-1)

Ecuador (0-1)

Nicaragua (0-2)

INSIDE THE ROSTER

The 2024 12U National Team features players from eight different states with more than half of the squad hailing from California or Florida, as those states boast five representatives apiece. Arizona, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Nevada, and Texas are responsible for the other eight players named. The 18-player roster features a range of bats offensively, as a third of the team bats left-handed while the squad proves its versatility on the mound with 13 players listed as viable arms. More information on the 2024 12U National Team roster can be found here.

AT THE HELM

Managing Team USA and at the forefront of the charge is Bryan Madsen, who will be making his first appearance as manager and second time on staff. Madsen previously helped lead the 2023 12U National Team to capturing gold in 2023. Assisting Madsen is Roger Wright, who will be on the 12U National Team staff for the second consecutive year. Making their first appearances as an assistant coach will be Josh Ellison and Wes Brooks; Brooks has made stints as 12U National Team Training Camp coach and as USA Baseball Task Force in the past while Ellison has helped coach in 2023 at 18U National Team Training Camp.

HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG

Fans can watch the game here and also follow live stats, while highlights and updates can be found on the 12U National Team Twitter. The schedule can be found here.

SOCIAL MEDIA

To follow along with all the action with the 12U National Team, be sure to follow @USABaseball12U on Twitter and @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.