VENEZUELA – Phillip Pfeifer tossed a complete-game three-hitter and the USA Baseball 18U National Team set a single-game Pan Ams record with 11 doubles in an 18-2 run-rule victory Friday against Panama in the medal round semifinals of the COPABE “AAA” Pan American Junior Championships at Daniel Canonico Stadium.

Team USA (7-0) remains the only unbeaten squad in the seven-team international field, and will advance to meet the winner of the tournament’s other semifinal between Cuba (5-1) and host Venezuela (4-2) in the gold medal contest at 2:30 p.m. (Eastern time) Saturday. The Americans will be seeking their first Pan Ams gold medal. Panama (3-4) and the Cuba-Venezuela loser will clash for the bronze at 10:30 a.m. (Eastern time) Saturday.

“We’re where we want to be,” 18U National Team Head Coach Garye LaFevers (pictured) said. “Our pitching staff is very deep for the gold-medal game since we used only one pitcher today. We need to not worry about all the other things surrounding the game but keep everything in perspective and just concentrate on what happens between the white lines.”

Pfeifer permitted three hits while issuing just one walk and fanning seven in his route-going performance. The lefthander did not surrender a hit until Jorge Hernandez drove in Panama’s final run with a two-out triple in the fifth inning. Both runs that Pfeifer allowed were unearned.

Meanwhile, Bryce Harper ignited a 16-hit USA offense with three hits, three runs scored and five runs batted in. His three-run double in the second inning snapped a 1-1 tie and gave Team USA the lead for good. He then added a two-run, opposite field home run during a six-run sixth inning that ended the game because of the tournament’s 15-run rule. The homer was his second of the event.

Tony Wolters crossed the plate four times and drove in four runs with four hits. Among those hits were three of Team USA’s 11 doubles. The 11 two-baggers smashes the former single-game Pan Ams record of seven for a USA team. That total had been reached three times previously with the last occasion coming against Guatemala in 2003. Garin Cecchini joined Wolters with three doubles. The duo now share the USA’s individual mark for two-baggers in a game that was previously shared by Tony Riccio (vs. Aruba in 2007) and Matt Holliday (vs. Guatemala in 1997).

Cecchini also scored three runs as did leadoff hitter Sean Coyle and catcher Ladson Montgomery. Nick Castellanos drove in three runs, Kavin Keyes knocked in two more with a double in his lone plate appearance, Cory Hahn drove in a run with a double in his only at bat and Brian Ragira plated two runs with a third-inning homer, his second of the Pan Ams. The Americans now have eight homers in seven games.

“Today was a good day and tomorrow will be a better day,” LaFevers said.

Photo courtesy USA Baseball

Source: USA Baseball

Tags: USA Baseball