BOCA CHICA, Dominican Republic – Team USA is preparing to face Curaçao on Friday at 12:00 p.m. ET in their second game of the WBSC Americas U-18 Pan-American Championship. The match will take place at the IPL Academy in Boca Chica.
In their opening game on Thursday, the United States shut out Brazil with a score of 4-0. The team’s pitching staff had a standout performance, maintaining a no-hitter until the seventh inning. Starter Samir Mohammed pitched three hitless innings, recording five strikeouts, while Ethan Gustus followed with two hitless innings and three strikeouts to earn the win. Jake Ivey contributed with a strikeout in his inning, and Brogan Witcher closed out the game in the seventh.
On the offensive side, Team USA scored three runs in the first two innings, with Lubin Rincon driving in the tournament’s first run with a sacrifice fly. In the sixth inning, Jack Swanson added an insurance run with a pinch-hit RBI. Both Dylan Seward and Drake Hawpe led the team with two hits each.
As for their upcoming opponent, Curaçao’s first game against the Dominican Republic was interrupted, with the score at 13-7 in favor of the Dominican Republic. The game was halted after Curaçao scored five runs in the fifth inning and will resume following the completion of their matchup against the United States.
This encounter marks the first time Team USA’s U-18 National Team has met Curaçao in competition. The current standings in Group A show the United States leading at 1-0, while Curaçao stands at 0-0, and the Dominican Republic and Brazil each have yet to secure a win.
The U.S. roster includes notable players with past experiences in national team programs, such as Isaac Vidal, Cooper Collins, and Samir Mohammed. Several players are also ranked among the top prospects for the 2027 MLB Draft, including Dylan Seward (No. 3) and Lubin Rincon (No. 20).
The team is managed by Brian Schneider, a former major leaguer, making his managerial debut at this level, alongside pitching coach Luke Gregerson, a two-time Team USA alum. The coaching staff also includes assistants Doug Mientkiewicz and Tim Raines Jr..
Fans can follow the USA Baseball 18U National Team on social media at @USABaseball18U on Twitter and @USABaseball on Instagram for updates, including live statistics and streaming links.
