U-15 Women’s National Team Clinches 2023 WBSC Pan American Championship Gold Medal Behind Undefeated Record Sealed With 9-0 Run-Rule Over Mexico

LIMA, Peru – The first-ever U-15 Women’s National Team (WNT) dominated the 2023 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Pan American Championship, posting an undefeated 8-0 record through the week-long event to clinch the gold medal and earn a spot in the 2023 WBSC World Cup slated to take place in Tokyo, Japan later this year. 

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Capping the tournament with its eighth-straight shutout, Team USA met Mexico for a rematch in the gold medal contest after facing off in the final game of super round yesterday where the U.S. posted a 14-0 (four-innings) run-rule. Once again proving victorious, the U-15 WNT posted its eighth consecutive run-rule with a 9-0 victory (five-innings) over Mexico to finish atop the podium. The Eagles combined for nine hits in the gold medal win – six of which came in the bottom of the fourth inning – with Anabela Abdullah tallying a perfect 2-for-2 performance at the plate behind a double and a home run. Getting the start in the circle for the U.S. was Madi Doty, who limited the Mexico offense to two hits through three innings before Macie Bryant stepped in to close out the game with six strikeouts through the fourth and fifth innings. The U.S. pitching duo combined for 10 strikeouts in the win while leading the Eagles to its eighth shutout.

The Mexico defense looked to force a slow start for the U.S., but Abdullah had other plans as she sent a two-out solo home run over the left field fence to give the Eagles a one-run edge. The second and third innings saw solid pitching and competitive glove work from both squads with the score held at 1-0 until Team USA busted the game open in the bottom of the fourth with an eight-run inning to threaten the run-rule. Brooklyn Paratore got the bats started for the Eagles with a double through the left side, followed by another double from Johnsen and a triple from South to plate three and extend the U.S. lead, 4-0. Boulware and Abdullah kept the bats alive with back-to-back doubles to bring two more runs in before a walk and a hit-by-pitch set the stage for Sofia Hernandez to deliver a sac-fly for another run followed by a double from Lermann to score two and put the U.S. ahead 9-0. Bryant – who entered the circle in the top of the fourth – continued to stun the Mexico bats with three K’s in the top of the fifth to seal the run-rule and earn the gold medal for the U-15 WNT.

The U.S. offense soared through its quest to the gold medal, accumulating a .562 batting average and a combined 91 hits while outscoring its opponents 113-0. Leading the U.S. at the plate was South with a .684 batting average, followed by Abdullah (.650) and Addison Otto (.625). The U.S. pitching staff of Doty, Lily Pullen, Lermann, Bryant and Otto proved to be superior throughout the tournament with five no-hitters and a combined 64 strikeouts, while only allowing a low of five hits through eight games.

Earning the Tournament MVP award with three wins, 22 strikeouts and a .000 ERA was Doty, while South was named the Tournament Batting Champion. Also earning recognition following stellar performances was Abdullah with the Most Runs Batted In award and Boulware with the Most Stolen Bases and Most Runs Scored awards.

The U-15 Pan American Championship gold medal marks the first for its age group, with Team USA making its mark in history.

The U-15 WNT will return to action June 2-4, 2023 at the Utsugi Cup in Takasaki, Japan. Additional information for this event will be announced at a later date.