USA wins 18U BWC Americas Qualifier

Team USA has won the Americas Qualifier for the IBAF 18U Baseball World Championship in Seoul, Korea next summer. The squad of manager Scott Brosius scored seven runs in the first inning to defeat Canada 12-2 in the final game of the tournament in Cartagena, Colombia on Sunday. Addison Russell went 2-for-3 with a grand slam and three runs scored. Carson Kelly pitched six innings for the win.

Team USA finished the Americas Qualifier with a perfect 9-0 record. Canada followed in second place with six wins in eight games. Both teams are now qualified for the 2012 IBAF 18U Baseball World Championship. Venezuela and Panama also claimed a ticket, beating Mexico and Colombia 2-1, respectively 7-6 in their final games on the last game day.

The Netherlands Antilles, Brazil, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Aruba, Bahamas and Argentina also sent teams to the Pan American 18U Baseball Championship in Colombia.

Results:

Round 1

November 17th
Canada 7 Panama 3
USA 15 Aruba 0
Colombia 3 Mexico 2
Venezuela 7 Guatemala 1
Puerto Rico 5 Argentina 1

November 18th
Venezuela 3 Antilles 2
USA 3 Mexico 1
Colombia 8 Argentina 0
Aruba 15 Bahamas 0
Canada 6 Brazil 1

November 19th
Mexico 7 Bahamas 0
Panama 5 Brazil 1
Colombia 2 Puerto Rico 0
Antilles 5 Guatemala 1
USA 16 Argentina 2

November 20th
Argentina 4 vs Bahamas 0
Venezuela 11 vs Brazil 2
Panama 7 vs Antilles 3
Mexico 9 vs Aruba 1

November 21st
Canada 2 vs Antilles 0
Venezuela 3 vs Panama 2
Puerto Rico 15 vs Bahamas 0
Brazil 3 vs Guatemala 2

November 22nd
USA 4 vs Colombia 0
Puerto Rico 4 vs Aruba 3
Panama 8 vs Guatemala 3
Antilles 5 vs Brazil 4

November 23rd
USA 16 vs Bahamas 0
Mexico 7 vs Puerto Rico 2
Canada 4 vs Venezuela 3
Aruba 9 vs Colombia 1

November 24th
Mexico 8 vs Argentina 2
Canada 11 vs Guatemala 0
USA 8 vs Puerto Rico 2
Colombia 23 vs Bahamas 2

Round One Standings

Group A
Team            GP W L RF RA
yx Canada (1A)   5 5 0 30  7
x Venezuela (2A) 5 4 1 27 11
x Panama (3A)    5 3 2 19 17
Antilles         5 2 3 15 17
Brazil           5 1 4  8 27
Guatemala        5 0 5  7 34

Group B
Team          GP W L RF RA
yx USA (1B)    6 6 0 62  5
xColombia (2B) 6 4 2 37 17
xMexico (3B)   6 4 2 34 11
Puerto Rico    6 3 3 17 21
*Aruba         5 2 3 18 29
*Argentina     5 1 4  9 37
Bahamas        6 0 6  2 80

*Game between Aruba and Argentina was rained-out and will not be made up.
x Clinched berth in Round 2
y Clinched 1st place

Round 2

November 25th
Mexico 3 vs Canada 2
Venezuela 3 vs Colombia 2
USA 9 vs Panama 0

November 26th
USA 5 vs Venezuela 1
Canada 4 vs Colombia 3
Panama 6 vs Mexico 1

November 27th
USA 12 vs Canada 2
Colombia 6 vs Panama 7
Venezuela 2 vs Mexico 1

Round Two Standings

Team     GP W L
USA       5 5 0
Canada    5 3 2
Venezuela 5 3 2
Panama    5 2 3
Colombia  5 1 4
Mexico    5 1 4


All Tournament Team

• Pitcher: Jesse Winker (USA)
• Catcher: Raphael Barbosa (BRA)
• First Base: Daniel Pinero (CAN)
• Second Base: Gavin Cecchini (USA)
• Third Base: Alex Bregman (USA)
• Shortstop: Addison Russell (USA)
• Left Field: Brett Sidall (CAN)
• Center Field: Albert Almora (USA)
• Right Field: Carlos Arroyo (VEN)
• Coach: Scott Brosius (USA)