Press Release International Baseball Federation, www.ibaf.org
USA four-hits Cuba 9-0 in the Finals to Defend Title
Panamerican Stadium. Lagos de Moreno. August 28, 2011.
Team USA has defended successfully its title at the 2011 IBAF 16U Baseball World Championship. They shut out Cuba 9-0 in the final game on Sunday afternoon at Panamerican Stadium in Lagos de Moreno, Mexico. It was never the expected close game between the arch rivals, as the United States decided things quickly in the beginning and cruised to an easy victory.
While the American offense clicked as usual, putting runs on the board at will, it was actually the Keegan Thompson (W, 2-0) show in the finals. The starting pitcher allowed just a leadoff single to Jolio Martinez and a walk to Yusniel Diaz in the first six innings, retiring 16 consecutive batters at one point in his start. Overall he finished with a complete game shutout, issuing just a total of four hits and a walk in nine innings. He struck out 12 batters total.
At the plate Team USA scored four runs in the first, one in the third and four in the fourth. Not even a one-hour rain delay in the second inning slowed them down. Arden Pabst got the first run in with a sac bunt. Nicholas Ciuffo, Dominic Nunez and Bryson Brigman followed with RBI singles to make it 4-0 after two innings, chasing Cuba’s starting pitcher Noel Ortiz (L, 1-1) with just two outs in the frame.
The defending champion didn’t stop there, as Thompson himself drove in the next run with a RBI single in the third. He had another one in the fourth, capping another four-run rally after Riley Unroe had a RBI single and Austin Meadows hit a two-run homerun earlier in the frame. They couldn’t score again afterwards.
Earlier Japan defeated Mexico 8-7 in a thrilling bronze medal game. Doubles by Taishi Bamba and Toshiki Fukuda decided the outcome in the bottom of the seventh inning, as the hosts had to settle for fourth place in the final standings. Chinese Taipei and Venezuela finished in fifth and sixth.
Final Standings
1.) USA
2.) Cuba
3.) Japan
4.) Mexico
5.) Chinese Taipei
6.) Venezuela
7.) Netherlands
8.) Australia
9.) Brazil
10.) Indonesia
11.) Dominican Republic
Individual Awards
Leading Hitter: Bryson Brigman (USA)
Pitcher Best ERA: Shota Tatsuta (Japan)
Pitcher Best W-L: Luis Gohara (Brazil)
Most Runs Batted In: Austin Meadows (USA)
Most Homeruns: Zachary Collins (USA)
Most Runs Scored: Riley Unroe (USA)
Most Stolen Bases: Franklin Barreto (Venezuela)
Outstanding Defensive Player: Zac Shepherd (Australia)
Most Valuable Player: Zachary Collins (USA)
All Star Team
Starting Pitcher: Luis Gohara (Brazil)
Relief Pitcher: Chris Pelaez (USA)
Catcher: Zachary Collins (USA)
First Base: Julian Leon (Mexico)
Second Base: Bryson Brigman (USA)
Third Base: Yoan Moncada (Cuba)
Shortstop: Zac Shepherd (Australia)
Outfield: Austin Meadows (USA)
Outfield: Yu Chang (Chinese Taipei)
Outfield: Leonardo Munhoz (Brazil)