GAMEDAY: Team USA Takes on Panama in Battle of Unbeatens

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PANAMA CITY – The 18U National Team will wrap up group play at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier on Wednesday, taking on fellow unbeaten Panama under the lights on Wednesday.

First pitch from Estadio Nacional Rod Carew is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. local/8:00 p.m. ET.

LAST TIME OUT

Team USA bounced back from an early 1-0 deficit to score 11 unanswered runs and beat Brazil, 11-1, in a run-rule victory on Tuesday night. Kayson Cunningham and Gavin Fien combined to drive in seven of Team USA’s 11 runs, as Cunningham collected a pair of RBI doubles and Fien roped a bases-clearing, three-run triple in the win. Eli Willits added an RBI hit and scored twice, giving him a tournament-leading seven runs scored. Additionally, Slater de Brun crossed home three times in the victory.

On the mound, Ethin Bingaman got the start and pitched the first two innings. He issued a trio of walks in the opening inning which allowed one run to score before he settled down for three strikeouts in the second. Josh Owens got the win in relief, facing the minimum over the final three innings, aided by a Trent Grindlinger caught stealing.

SCOUTING PANAMA

Panama is the only other remaining unbeaten team in Group B, bringing a 4-0 record to Wednesday night’s contest. The host nation kicked off the tournament with a 9-5 win over Puerto Rico before knocking off Venezuela, 3-1. An 8-1 win over Costa Rica and a 2-1 defeat of Brazil were the other two victories for Panama. Offensively, the team is led by Jael Escobar, who is 6-for-13 with four RBIs in the tournament, and Julio Casas, who has two doubles and a pair of RBIs. Panama owns a team ERA of 1.75 and has struck out 36 batters in 28 innings of work. Anthony Ortega has turned in 8.1 innings and allowed just one run for Panama.

HISTORY AGAINST PANAMA

Since the two nations first met in 1987, Team USA is 24-2 at the U-18 level against Panama. The U.S. has won 19 of the 20 matchups between the two countries at the World Cup Qualifier and most recently beat Panama, 6-4, at last summer’s U-18 Baseball World Cup in Taiwan.

GROUP B STANDINGS

**UNITED STATES (4-0) **Panama (4-0) Puerto Rico (2-2) Brazil (1-3) Costa Rico (0-3) Venezuela (0-3)

INSIDE THE ROSTER

The U.S. roster features four players who have previously donned the stars and stripes. Grady Emerson has played for the 15U National Team in each of the past two summers, helping Team USA win a World Cup in 2022 and a friendship series in 2023. He is joined by a pair of teammates from the 2022 World Cup-winning squad: Ethan Holliday and Brady Murrietta. Additionally, Gavin Fien returns to Team USA after playing for the 2019 12U National Team. Eight total players on the roster have also previously participated in a USA Baseball development program, including three-time participant Kayson Cunningham.

MEET THE COACHING STAFF

The 18U National Team is led in 2024 by Rick Eckstein, a five-time Professional National Team coach and former MLB hitting coach. Eckstein served under longtime big-league manager Davey Johnson for several U.S. professional teams, winning three medals. He secured USA Baseball’s “Doc” Counsilman Science Award in 2008 and the 2023 Coach Educator of the Year Award. Eckstein began his coaching career in 1997 and held stints as the hitting coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Nationals. He is joined on staff by his brother, 2006 World Series MVP David Eckstein, along with two-time MLB All-Star Brad Penny and longtime high school coach Steve Stone.

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