GOLD MEDAL GAMEDAY: Team USA Looks for Seventh Consecutive Qualifier Gold Against Panama

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PANAMA CITY – The 18U National Team will take on Panama in the gold medal game of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier, searching for its seventh consecutive gold medal at the event. First pitch from Estadio Nacional Rod Carew is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. local/2:00 p.m. ET.

LAST TIME OUT

Team USA scored four runs in the third inning and got five innings of shutout relief from Josh Owens en route to a 6-3 semifinal win over Puerto Rico on Saturday. Owens entered in the third with Team USA trailing 3-2 and kept Puerto Rico off the board for the remainder of the contest, setting his offense up to take the lead and hold onto it. Team USA scored its first run on a sacrifice fly by Nico Partida before Gavin Fien came around to score on an error.

Then, trailing 3-2, the U.S. rattled off four runs in the third to take control of the game. The first run was plated on an error before Brayden Jaksa singled through the left side to put the stars and stripes in front by a run. Grady Emerson followed with a two-run hit past a drawn-in infield to plate two more and make it 6-3, which was all Owens needed. The righty finished his day with five innings pitched, allowing five hits and striking out five.

SCOUTING PANAMA

Panama brings a 6-1 record into the gold medal game on Sunday, with its only loss coming to the United States. The host nation beat Nicaragua in the quarterfinal before taking down the top seed in Group A, Cuba, in Saturday night's semifinal round. Offensively, Panama is led by tournament OBP leader Luis Rivera, who brings a .650 on-base percentage to the title game. Jael Escobar is the team's hits leader with seven. On the mound, Panama has a 1.79 team ERA. They have struck out a combined 55 batters in 47 innings.

HISTORY AGAINST PANAMA

The U.S. and Panama have met 27 times at the U-18 level, with Team USA owning a 25-2 record. Sunday's contest will be the third consecutive time that the U.S. and Panama will play in the World Cup Qualifier title game, with the stars and stripes winning each of the last two (17-2 in 2018, 11-1 in 2022). The two nations most recently met on Wednesday night, a 5-0 win for Team USA.

QUALIFIER GOLD MEDAL RESULTS

1993: Cuba 5, Team USA 1 2001: Cuba 3, Team USA 2 2003: Cuba 8, Team USA 4 2005: Cuba 2, Team USA 1 2009: Team USA 6, Cuba 1 2011: Team USA 12, Canada 2 2016: Team USA 6, Cuba 1 2018: Team USA 17, Panama 2 2022: Team USA 11, Panama 1

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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