One big inning and a few key errors were all the United States needed, as the 3-time defending champion defeated Australia 9-0 in the final Super Round game at the U18 World Cup.
That loss sees Australia finish with an overall record of 4-4 and a 5th place finish at the U18 World Cup.
QLD’s Duane Johannsen gave it absolutely everything on the mound, as he battled manfully against some of the best young hitters in the world. Johannsen mixed his pitches well, as he made the US hitters work for their hits.
The United States are aiming for their fourth consecutive U18 World Cup, and they showed today why they have been so successful at this level.
The defending champions consistently found base runners and put pressure on the Australian defence, as they broke the game open in the third inning, scoring five runs.
Ky Hampton relieved Johannsen on the mound, and made headlines almost instantly, showing cat-like reflexes to take care of a line drive that nearly took his head off.
Australian U18 Manager Steve Fish was pleased with his team’s effort throughout the tournament.
“I couldn’t be happier with how these young men have performed over the last 10 days,” Fish said.
“We showed we had the quality and the mindset to match it with the best teams in the world. Each and every member of this team went out and competed every single day, they all played for each other and I’ve had a great time managing this group of men.”
Stay tuned for a full tournament recap, final standings and much more as the U18 World Cup comes to an end in Thunder Bay, Canada.