After Wednesday’s game against Mexico was paused mid-contest due to weather, Team USA picked up seamlessly when play resumed Thursday afternoon. Holding a 3-0 lead through three innings, the U.S. relied on a strong pitching effort from Lito Diaz to secure a six-inning 10-0 victory, putting them atop the standings at the 2025 WBSC U-15 Pan American Championship.
The 15U National Team dominated from start to finish, shutting out Mexico and breaking the game open with a six-run surge in the bottom of the sixth inning to invoke the run rule and claim the championship gold. This win also earned Team USA a spot in the 2026 WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup, marking their return to the event since their title-winning campaign in 2022.
The game resumed with Team USA maintaining offensive pressure. Despite Mexico escaping the third inning with a double play, the U.S. had already established momentum. Starter Gavin Chakar, who pitched the previous day, delivered three solid innings before handing the mound to Diaz, who quickly put away the first three batters he faced with a double play and a groundout.
Team USA’s lead stemmed largely from key early plays, including Macgraw VanWormer’s triple in the first inning, followed by a run scored on a wild pitch. Tristin Gaines added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly from Landon King, pushing the score to 2-0. Before the weather delay, designated hitter Louis Lappe also recorded an RBI.
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When the game resumed, Team USA capitalized on opportunities in the fourth inning. Catcher Nateo Victorio reached base on a walk, followed by a single from Gaines, moving Victorio into scoring position. King then delivered a bunt single, bringing Victorio home and extending the lead to 4-0.
Pitching remained dominant as Diaz struck out two and forced a groundout in the fifth inning, shutting down any Mexican comeback attempts. Though the U.S. offense cooled off briefly in the bottom of the fifth, Mexico threatened to score in the top of the sixth with a leadoff single and hit by pitch. Diaz responded with three strikeouts, preserving the shutout.
The bottom of the sixth saw Team USA explode offensively. Anthony Frausto started with a double, and after a walk to Victorio, Gaines drove in two runs with his tournament-leading seventh RBI. VanWormer followed with a double that scored two more, while King reached base on a walk. Lappe and Noah Jarolimek rounded out the rally with RBI hits, completing the six-run inning and securing the run-rule victory in just six innings.
Throughout the tournament, Team USA led in nearly every major category. The hitters posted a .408 batting average with 36 RBIs on 42 hits, while the pitching staff recorded a stingy 1.35 ERA over 26 innings, allowing just five earned runs across four games. The pitchers also struck out an impressive 30 batters, averaging 7.5 strikeouts per game.
This victory extends the 15U National Team’s winning streak to 18 games dating back to their 2022 WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup triumph in Hermosillo, Mexico. With this win, Team USA has qualified for the 2026 WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup, where they will aim to capture their third world championship title.
