OKLAHOMA CITY – The USA Softball Junior Men’s National team’s three-game winning streak came to an end Saturday afternoon in their second game in the Midland, Michigan tournament.
The Owen Sound, Ontario Junior Selects put up seven runs in the first inning and cruised to a 10 -2 mercy-rule victory in five innings. The only two USA runs crossed the plate in the second inning. Justin Wurtz’ (New Haven, Mo.) began the inning with a base hit. Jonathon Lynch (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) then reached base on an error and both scored later in the inning on hits byAddison Beutler (West Valley, Utah) and Jordan Mellen (Payson, Utah).
Michael Lewis (Amboy, Minn.) gave up six hits and nine runs in the first 3 1/3 innings on the mound. He walked two batters, hit two batters and struck out three. Zach Lach (Frankenmuth, Mich.) threw the final one and two-thirds innings, yielding one run on one hit with one walk. The game marked the fifth-straight contest without the services of USA pitcher Jake Rutt (Ephrata, Pa.), who has been sidelined with a skin infection.
“We came out a little flat and didn’t respond to our opponent’s aggressiveness” stated USA head coach Tim Lyon. “We need to bounce back tonight to get back on track.”
The last game in pool play will be Saturday night at 8 p.m. against the Alvinston, Ontario Indians.
Friday – July 20, 2012 – USA 8 Midland Junior Explorers 6
The USA Softball Junior Men’s National Team opened play in the 12-team Midland, Michigan tournament with a dramatic 8 -6 come-from-behind win over the Midland Junior Explorers 21-Under team Friday night.
“This was really a great win for us” said USA head coach Tim Lyon. “There is just no quit in these kids. We battled back to tie it and Mauro provided the final blow. Brent’s terrific relief work gave us a chance to win it and the team really came through.”
Battling back from a 5-0 deficit, the USA scored twice in the second inning. A walk, error, stolen base and Austin Tuttle’s (Payson, Utah) single accounted for the two scores. Lynch singled and later scored in the fourth inning to once again cut the deficit to 6 -3 . Two more runs in the fifth, scored by Nick Serrato (Corona, Calif.) and Lewis cut the lead to 6 -5 . Lynch scored again after getting on base with a single in the sixth inning to tie the score at six. Lewis the led off the seventh with a walk and Mauro Olivarria (San Diego, Calif.) blasted a two-run shot over the left field fence for the walkoff win.
Brent Meshke (Lake Crystal, Minn.) pitched five shutout innings, relieving Lach. Meshke faced 18 batters, yielding no runs and only one hit. He walked two and struck out three to get the win.
The Junior Men’s team is 8 -5 during the Michigan series of exhibitions. The games will continue through July 23 as part of a selection and training camp, which helps determine the 17 athletes who will make up Team USA’s roster for the International Softball Federation (ISF) Junior Men’s World Championships, November 1 -10 in Parana, Argentina. For more information on the Junior Men’s schedule, please visit USASoftball.com.
Courtesy of Doug Lindaman.