MÉRIDA, Mexico – The U.S. 15U National Team is set to compete for its third World Championship title this evening against the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Baseball World Cup Finals. The match will take place at Parque Kukulcán Alamo at 5:00 p.m. local time (7:00 p.m. ET).
In the semifinals on Saturday, the United States secured its finals berth with a 4-1 victory over Japan. Noah Osterman started the game, allowing one run on four hits over 4.1 innings. He was succeeded by Noah Vrzal and Jackson McAneely, who effectively limited Japan’s scoring in relief. Significant contributions came from Raylen Hunter, Paxton Scoggin, Greyson Wuis, and Paris Head, each providing crucial two-out RBI hits.
The pitching matchup will feature right-hander Alan Félix for the Dominican Republic against left-hander Michael Ohman from the United States.
The Dominican Republic is recognized for its strong offense, boasting a tournament-leading .394 batting average and leading in extra-base hits and home runs. The team averages over 11 runs per game and features a roster with nine players who have at least six hits each. Notably, Milfree Figueroa, Axel Heredia, and Ángel Montás are excelling, all with batting averages above .500 and contributing significantly to the team’s run production.
Defensively, the Dominican Republic’s pitching holds a 3.26 ERA over 49.1 innings, managing a .232 opponent batting average while collecting 57 strikeouts. Despite some command issues, notably tied for fifth in wild pitches, their pitching has been reliable overall. Félix, who has not pitched since a recent game against Japan, will look to continue his strong performance from previous outings.
The United States has a solid record in World Cup finals, having medaled in every appearance, and winning gold in the last two tournaments held in 2018 and 2022. In total, the U.S. holds a 2-1 record in gold medal games, with past championship matches often decided by narrow margins.
This marks the first appearance in the World Cup Championship for the Dominican Republic at the 15U level, further heightening the stakes of the match.
Both teams feature leaders across multiple offensive categories, creating an exciting matchup. Team USA’s top performers include Raylen Hunter, who leads in batting average, hits, and runs, while several players tie for the team lead in RBIs.
The coaching staff for the U.S. includes seasoned veterans, with manager Casey Scott returning from last year’s gold medal team, and Drew Briese serving as pitching coach.
Fans can follow the game on platforms such as GameTime.Sport, BallySports.com, and the Bally Sports Live app. For live statistics and more information on the tournament, details are available on the USA Baseball website.
