MINNEAPOLIS - Six dominant innings from starting pitcher Ethan Hankins (Cumming, Ga.) set the tone for the USA Baseball 18U National Team in its first game together as it defeated Iowa Western Community College, 5-1, on a rainy Saturday evening at the University of Minnesota's Siebert Field.
Hankins finished with eight strikeouts and no walks in his six shutout frames, allowing just two hits to earn the win. Ryan Weathers (Loretto, Tenn.) pitched the final three innings, adding seven punchouts of his own while yielding just one run on four hits and a walk.
After three scoreless innings to open the game, Team USA scored twice in the home half of the fourth when Brandon Dieter (Covina, Calif.) punched a bases-loaded single to left and Triston Casas (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) followed with a sacrifice fly to deep center.
An Alek Thomas (Chicago, Ill.) RBI groundout made it a 3-0 game in the seventh before the Reivers finally got on the board with a single tally in the top of the eighth.
Team USA answered right back in the bottom of the stanza though as Raynel Delgado (Miami Lakes, Fla.) picked up an RBI with a pinch-hit, check-swing double down the left-field line before coming around to score on a dropped pop-up to short.
USA Baseball will return to Target Field on Sunday with a noon ET/11 a.m. CT rematch against Iowa Western. Right-hander Landon Marceaux (Destrehan, La.) will get the start on the mound.
The Minnesota Blizzard will be up next for the U.S. at 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT on Monday, Aug. 28, at Chaska Athletic Park before a 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT 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, Canada, where it will compete in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup from September 1-10.
Team USA is the three-time defending World Cup champion and will look to become the second country to win four-straight gold medals in the tournament.
Continue to follow @USABaseball18U on Twitter and visit USABaseball.com for the most up-to-date news about the 18U National Team.
QUOTES
USA Baseball 18U National Team Manager Andy Stankiewicz
(On the team's win tonight)
"It obviously starts on the mound. Ethan Hankins did just a terrific job. He pounded the zone and kept them off balance. Then (Ryan) Weathers came in and did a nice job of closing them out. I was really, really excited about the effort on the mound."
(On improvements that need to be made)
"Offensively, I think we chased up and out of the zone a little bit. We have to take a deep breath and relax. Guys are anxious and trying to do a lot. They just have to learn to take what the game is giving you. I thought we were a little out of ourselves offensively. It was a good day one, a good start. The plan is to be a little more crisp and settle in more as a team tomorrow but we only have three more to go before the real bell rings."
Right-handed pitcher Ethan Hankins
(On his effort tonight)
"My biggest thing to keep them off balance was my fastball. I was able to move it all over the zone and still be able to control it today. I felt like I could put it wherever I wanted and that was huge. I didn't throw a lot of offspeed pitches but I was able to flip the curveballs over when I needed to."
(On coming back from his last start)
"I just wanted a little bit of redemption and to show everyone why I am here because my first outing (in trials) didn't go how I wanted it to. I went out there with the mindset to pound the zone and dare them to hit it."
(On playing for Team USA)
"It really didn't hit me until I put the jersey on today. I finally realized that I am actually out here playing for my country. It was a different feeling than I have ever had during the national anthem. This is such a blessing."