PANAMA CITY – After picking up back-to-back victories, Team USA seeks two more wins as the squad is set to compete in a doubleheader on Wednesday at Estadio Municipal Andy Alonso.

The first game will be against Colombia, while the second will be Ecuador–a contest that is being made up due to inclement weather on October 20, the original date of play. Pool play resumes today as the U.S. is currently 2-0 in Group A in the 2024 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-12 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier.

First pitch is set to be thrown at 10:30 a.m. local/11:30 a.m. ET while the second game will begin thirty minutes after the conclusion of Game 1.

PITCHING MATCHUP

Game 1: TBD (COL) vs. RHP Jack Mattingly (USA)

Game 2: TBD (ECU) vs. RHP Ethan Palacios (USA)

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

After winning its opening match, Colombia (1-2) has dropped back-to-back games, losing to Nicaragua and Panama in a doubleheader on Tuesday. At the plate, Colombia is led by its starting third baseman, Leiner Moreno Jimenez, who is batting .333 with four runs scored. Six Colombian arms have been used over its three games, and have combined for a 1.73 ERA through 17.1 innings pitched.

Meanwhile, Ecuador (0-2) has competed and lost against Colombia and Panama thus far. Ecuador has yet to score a run and has a combined four hits as a team. Utility player Sameer Farra has accounted for two of his team’s four hits. Meanwhile, Ecuador’s pitching staff holds a combined 8.18 ERA while issuing 22 walks over 11.0 innings.

HISTORY AGAINST COLOMBIA

The 12U National Team has faced Colombia only two times since 2016, putting up big numbers in both contests. In the first matchup, the U.S. won 23-3 while in the second contest shutting out Colombia 12-0 in the 2018 COPABE Pan Am Championships.

HISTORY AGAINST ECUADOR

This contest marks the first time the 12U National Team has faced Ecuador since 2016, when Team USA won 24-2 in the Pan American Baseball Confederation (COPABE) Pan Am Championships in Puebla, Mexico. The U.S. is 2-0 all-time against Ecuador, and has won by a combined margin of 32-2 over those two matchups.

TEAM USA STAT LEADERS

HITS: Carlo Rivera (5)

RBIs: Joshua Park, Carlo Rivero (4)

RUNS: Josh Pierre (6)

TB: Joshua Park, Carlo Rivero (5)

BB: Jayden Portes (2)

IP: Carson Schoener (3.2)

K’s: Carson Schoener (9)

GROUP A STANDINGS

Panama (2-0)

United States (2-0)

Colombia (1-2)

Ecuador (0-1)

Mexico (1-2)

Nicaragua (1-2)

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.