CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA - The 15U National Team pushed its win streak to five games when it toppled the undefeated Dominican Republic, 16-1, on Thursday afternoon in the 2017 COPABE Pan Am "AA" Championships in Cartagena, Colombia.
The United States (6-1) needed only five innings and an hour and 26 minutes to reach the necessary runs to take care of business.
Mac Guscette (Nokomis, Fla.) led all hitters in the shortened game, finishing 3-for-3 with two runs while Michael Brooks (Lake Worth, Fla.) and Petey Halpin (San Mateo, Calif.) had 2-for-3 days, scoring three times apiece.
Tanner Witt (Houston, Texas) and pitcher Rawley Hector (Van Alstyne, Texas) also tallied two hits on the day, with Witt finishing with a game-high four RBIs.
Hector threw an impressive game from the mound to keep the Dominican Republic hitters from finding any rhythm. He went the entire 5.0 innings, allowing just two hits, one walk and the lone run while striking out three on the day.
The Stars and Stripes wasted little time getting runs on to the scoreboard, putting a five spot up in their first at-bat. Masyn Winn (Kingwood, Texas) walked to start the top of the first off before Roc Riggio (Simi Valley, Calif.) singled and, thanks to an errant throw by the second basemen, made it to third with Winn scoring. Michael Moore (Leawood, Kans.) then hit a groundout RBI to plate Riggio.
Halpin got his first hit of the day in his first at-bat, making it to second when Brooks drew a four-pitch walk. Guscette then beat out the throw on an infield hit, but another rushed throwing error led to extra bases, getting Guscette to second and Brooks and Halpin across the plate.
Witt then made shot a bullet through the left side before Hector doubled down the left field - the third-straight hit of the order - to bring around Guscette.
The Dominican Republic would score their lone run in the bottom of the first thanks to one of their two hits on the day.
The U.S. wouldn't be able to respond until the third inning, but responded in a big way scoring seven runs to push the lead to 11.
Guscette got his second hit of the day when he laid down a gorgeous bunt down the third-base line to load the bases with Halpin at third and Brooks at second. After Witt brought one home after drawing a four-pitch walk, Hector sliced one to right field to bring in Brooks. Winn then knocked a two-RBI single to left field to plate Witt and Guscette.
Crow-Armstrong would come through with a sacrifice fly to score Hector before Moore used a throwing error to score himself as well as Riggio.
With the 15U team knowing what was at stake in the fifth, Crow-Armstrong led off the inning with a blast to center field before Halpin reached on a fielder's choice and Crow-Armstrong scored on a throwing error by the second basemen. Dylan Crews (Longwood, Fla.) then singled through the middle to score Halpin before Witt doubled to left field, scoring Crews and Brooks and ending the game there.
The streaking 15U National Team look to remain red-hot when they move to play Brazil in the final game of the Super Round on Friday, Aug. 18. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.
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The COPABE Pan Am Championships is a World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Continental Championships and serves as a qualifier to the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup in 2018.
15U: Team USA Blasts Dominican Republic, 16-1
Five multi-hit players push win streak to five
Pete Crow-Armstrong finished with a clutch hit and an RBI in the game to help the 15U National Team down undefeated Dominican Republic, 16-1, on Thursday afternoon.|Art or Photo Credit: USA Baseball