Team USA strikes Gold!

USA 6 at Cuba 3

WP: Shell (1-0) LP: Marti (1-1) SAVE:Stevens (2)
HR: USA: Nix

It was evident fairly early on in the tournament that Team USA and Team Cuba were the baseball power houses, so it was really no surprise to see them square off for the gold medal. Cuba has owned this tournmant over the years, so perhaps it was a bit of a surprise to see Team USA come away with the gold.

But that is exactly what happened, as Team USA doubled up Team Cuba 6-3 to take home the coveted hardware.

Singles to Delwyn Young (LA Dodgers), Justin Ruggiano (Tampa Bay) and Jason Jaramillo (Philladelphia) put USA on the board in 2nd inning with one. Brian Bixler (Pittsburgh) would be walked by Cuban starter Yadel Marti to load the bases with just one out. Colby Rasmus (St Louis) drew walk off Cuban reliever Norberto Gonzalez as did Jayson Nix (Colorado), making the score 3-0 before Yuniesky Maya came in for team Cuba to retire the side.

The Americans added another run in the 3rd with Evan Longoira (Tampa Bay) leading off a single which was followed 1 out later by Ruggiano's second of the game was well. Jaramillo's double plated Longoria.

Nix make it 5-0 USa with a solo home run, his second of the tournament.

Minesota's Brian Duensing took the start for Team USA and was near perfect through 4 innings. with 2 outs on the board and a runner on 1st, Young over-ran a single in the outfield putting runners on 2nd and 3rd. Alfredo Despaigne then ripped a single to right, scoring the runners, making the score 5-2. Duensing was lifted in favor of Steven Shell (LA Angels) who got Cuba to hit into a ground out to end the inning.

A Longoria single and a Young double gave Team USA their 6th run in the 7th inning.

Shell would give up a double to Yulesky Gourriel and a single to Alexander Mayeta to make it a 6-3 game in the 8th.

Jerry Blevins (Oakland) and Jeff Stevens (Cleveland) finished off the game for the States.

Duensing would allowed 5 hits and strike out 2 during his time on the mound, only one of his runs was earned.

Cuba took home the silver with Japan earning the Bronz with a 5-0 win over the Netherlands. Minnesota Twins prospect Loek Van Mil pitched 1.2 innings for the Dutchmen, allowing 1 earned run on 2 walks while striking out 2.

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Team USA

Korea 6 at Australia 2

WP: Cho (1-0) LP: Wiltshire (1-1) SAVE:Hyun (1)

Korea would drop the Aussies 5-2 to pick up 5th place in the tournament with the Boys from Down Under having to settle for 6th.

Minnesota's Trent Oeljen would be 2-for-5 at the plate, Glenn Williams as 1-for-5 and Luke Hughes was 1-for-3.

Following an ejection yesterday, Josh Hill (Minnesota) would pitch for .2 innings in the 8th.

Australia got on the board first in the bottom of the 1st when Oeltjen singled, then stole 2nd. Brad Harman (Philadlephia) would draw a walk and the pair would then pull a double steal of 3rd and 2nd respectively. Justin Huber's (Kansas City) single plated Oeltjen, and Ben Risinger (San Diego) ground into a fielder's choice that allowed Harman to score. Williams would hit into a double play to end the inning.

Adam Bright (Colorado) allowed a triple to Si Hyun Son in the top of the 6th that contributed to a 4 run inning for team Korea. The would tack another run on in the 8th with Ji Hwan Son doubling in Si Hyun Son off Adrian Burnside.

Andrew Wiltshire (Independant) took the loss, working 5.1 innings and being tagged for 3 earned runs on 4 hits, and 1 walk while striking out 5.

Mexico defeated Chinese Taipei for the 7th and 8th placement in the tournment.

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Australian Baseball

Team USA going for the gold!

Netherlands 0 at USA 5

WP: Wright (2-0) LP: Bergman (1-1)
HR: USA: Colby Rasmus

While Team USA was the favorite in this semi-final game, it should be noted that it wasn't until the 8th inning the Americans blew the game open.

Leadoff man Colby Rasmus (St Louis) hit a home run in the first inning to give Team USA the early lead, but David Bergman settled down the Dutchman, going 7 inning.

Rasmus played 53 games for the FSL Palm Beach Cardinals in 2006, spending 2007 with the Double A Springfield Cardinals of the Texas League.

The bottom of the 8th started out with Brian Bixler (Pittsbugh) taking a walk, followed by Rasmus and Jayson Nix (Colorado) with back-to-back singles to bring him in. Bergman would be lifted from the mound in favor of Dorotheus Drajer, who issued an intentional walk to Andy LaRoche (LA Dodgers) to load the bases. Steve Pierce (Pittsbugh) would single to bring in Rasmus and Nix and a sac-fly by Justin Ruggiano (Tampa Bay) would bring in LaRoche to make it 5-0.

Matt Wright (Kansas City) worked 6 innings for Team USA, allowing 4 hits and walking 2 while striking out 6. Neal Musser (Kansas City) and Lee Gronkieweicz (Toronto) eached worked an inning of relief, and Chris Booker (Washington) handled the 9th, striking out 2 to finish up the game.

Predicatabley, Team USA will face off against Team Cuba for the gold Sunday at Tien-Mou Stadium. Team Netherlands will face Team Japan for the bronze medal round. Cuba topped Japan 5-3 in the other Semi-Final game played Saturday.

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Team USA*

* Not updated as of this writing.

Australia 7 at Mexico 1

WP: Blackley, A. (1-0) LP: Cardenas Cortez (1-1)
HR: Aus: Williams

Team Australia used a big 3rd inning to get on top and kept Team Mexico quiet through most of the game to pick up a 7-1 win in one of the minor round consolation games on Saturday.

Glenn Williams (Minnesota) went yard at the top of the 2nd inning to put the Boys from Down Under up by one.

Justin Huber (Kansas City) singled to start of the top of the 3rd, and Ben Risinger (San Diego) drew a walk to advance the runner. Brett Roneberg (Pittsburgh) doubled Huber in. Jose Jimenez would take over the mound for the Mexican's at that point, replacing Humberto Cardenas. Williams drew a walk to greet the new pitcher then Tom Brice (Independant) doubled to bring in two. Mathew Kent (Boston/2006) would hit a triple to give the Aussies 2 more runs, making it 6-0 for Team Australia.

Team Mexico would turn to Gabriel Alvarez to get 3 outs, which he did, all on gounders.

Brice would single and Kent would be hit by a pitch putting Brice on 2nd. He's be singled in by Brad Harman (Philadelphia) to make it 7-0 Aussies.

Adam Blackley (Boston) pitched six innings for Team Australia, allowing 4 hits and walking 5. He'd be on the mound in the fifth, issuing back to back walks to Humberto Sosa and Jose Felix, and a follow up double to Alejandro Ahumada to give the Mexican's their one run of the game with 1 out. He'd get Octavio Sandoval to fly out and then issued a walk to Lorenzo Buelna, who he then picked off at 1st base to finish the frame.

Josh Hill (Minnesota) would come into the game at the top of the 7th, but last only through only 1 batter, Sosa, who he hit with a pitch. This would earn him an ejection, when the home plate umpire ruled that he'd intentionally thrown at the batter, and Richard Thompson (Indepentant) came in for the remainder of the inning.

Thompson would work 2 innings for Team Australia, and Tristan Crawford (Minnesota) mopped up in the 9th to finish off the game.

Trent Oeltjen (Minnesota) would go 2-for-5 at the plate, Williams finish up 2-for-4 and Luke Hughes (Minnesota) was 1-for-5.

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Baseball Australia
Aussie Play-by-play

A note on Hill's ejection from Sandlot Swashbucklers: Tempers flared in the 7th inning, when Trent Oeltjen (Twins) was hit by a pitch, and the usually-mild-mannered Oeltjen had a few words to say to the Mexican pitcher. After two pick-off attempts at first, Oeltjen stole second base, and the Mexican team had a few words too. Then Oeltjen was picked off second base, and everyone had words for everyone else. Oeltjen also “reminded” the Mexican players of the score, pointing to the scoreboard, as he walked off the field. Both benches emptied, and those who can read lips can see some non-family-friendly words flying back and forth on the video. No one was ejected, at least not until the bottom of the inning, when Australian pitcher Josh Hill hit the first Mexican batter with a pitch and was immediately ejected.

Team USA progresses to Semi-Final Round

Aussies Fall to Japan, play consolation game on Friday


Trent Oeltjen

Korea 1 at USA 3

WP: Karstens (2-0) LP: Chang (1-1) SAVE:Stevens (1)
HR: USA: LaRoche

Team USA took an early lead and hung on to it to defeat Team Korea 3-1 in the first round of Semi Finals Friday.

Jayson Nix (Colorado)singled to lead off in the bottom of the first inning. Andy LaRoche (LA Dodgers) then went yard over the left field seats for his 3rd home run of the tournament.

Nix would lead off for USA in the 3rd as well, this time with a double. Following a walk to LaRoche, Nix would be plated by Steve Pearce's (Pittsburgh) single to left field.

Jeff Karstens (NY Yankees) would throw 7 innings for Team USA, striking out 7 and allowing 5 hits. Two of those hits came back-to-back in the 6th inning with Joo Chan Kim and Seaung Hwa Lee helping Korea to their sole run of the game.

Lee Gronkiewicz (Toronto) pitched the 8th while Jeff Stevens (Cleveland) mopped up in the 9th for the save.

Team USA will face the Netherlands in Tien-Mou Stadium on Saturday. Team Netherlands took a 6-3 win over Chinese Taipei, which may silence some of the doubters who felt that Cuba dumped their last game against the team to let the Dutchmen into the Semi-finals over Canada.

The game would go to through 11 innings, with Team Netherlands getting 4 runs in the final stanza to secure the win. Minnesota prospect Loek Van Mil pitched 3.2 innings for the Dutch, allowing 1 hit and 1 walk while striking out 2.

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USA Baseball

Japan 3 at Australia 0

WP: Settsu (3-0) LP: T. Blackley (0-1)
HR: JPN: Chono

Things did not go so well for the Aussies, who were blanked by Team Japan, 3-0, in Friday's Quarterfinal Round.

Minnesota prospects Trent Oeltjen and Glenn Williams were both 1-for-4 in the game, while Luke Hughes was 0-for-3.

Williams and Brett Roneberg (Pittsburgh) hit back-to-back singles with 2 outs in the 3rd, but Hughes flew out to strand the men.

Team Japan would get their first run in the 3rd inning with 2 outs when Hisayoshi Chono went yard over the left field fence off Travis Blackley (San Francisco). Blackley would go on to pitch a total of 5.2 innings, allowing 5 hits and 3 walks while striking out 4.

Another pair of back-to-back hits, this time by Tom Brice (Independent) and Williams in the bottom of the fourth with 1 out gave the Boys from Down Under a chance to tie the game, but Roneberg and Andrew Graham (Detroit) both flew out to finish the stanza. Brice last played state-side in 2006 for the St. Paul Saints.

Oeltjen's single came in the bottom of the 5th, but he went nowhere with it, as he was caught stealing.

Former Lakeland Flying Tiger Brendan Wise (Detroit) replaced Blackley with 2 outs and 2 men on base in the 6th, but got Kanichi Yokoyama to ground out to keep Japan at bay.

In the top of the 7th, Kenji Suzuki singled then advanced to 2nd on Tsutomo Sasaki's ground out. Kanya Suzuki would plate Kenji Suzuki with a single, but would then be taken down at 2nd base.

Michael Collins (LA Angels) came in as a pinch hitter for Team Australia in the bottom of the inning and singled with 1 out, but Hughes and Oeltjen both struck out to end the frame.

Adam Bright (Colorado) would replace Wise with one out in the top of the 7th and allowed a single to Toshiyaki Hayashi after getting Yasuyuki Saigo to ground out. Tristan Crawford (Minnesota) would then step on the mound to get the final out.

Crawford would stay on the mound for the start of the 9th, allowing a single to Sasaki, who would then advance to second when the umpires called a balk on Crawford. Takashi Yoshiura would be issued an intentional walk, and Kanya Suzuki would single to load the bases. Dushan Ruzic (Cincinnati) was called into the game to replace Crawford, and got Hisayoshi Chono to strik out, but then walked Yasuyaki Saigo to force in Japan's 3rd run of the game.

The Aussies will play a consolation match on Saturday against Team Mexico, which replaced Panama in the semi-final round after it was determined that 5 players on Team Panama did not have insurance coverage during 2 of the games, and were therefore ineligible to play. Team Cuba thumped the Mexican's 6-0 during their Quarter-final game.

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Australian Baseball

USA places 1st, Aussies 2nd in respective divisions

Josh Hill

USA 10 at Chinese Taipei 7

WP: Gronkiewicz (1-0) LP: Shen (0-1) SAVE:Booker (3)
HR: USA: Nix, (2) Ruggiano

Josh Outman (Philadelphia) struck out 8 over 5 innings, limiting hosts Chinese Taipei to 1 earned run on 3 hits to help Team USA to first place in the Group A Division standings.

Both teams played well, and the game was not determined until Team USA used a 3-run 7th inning to take the lead for good.

Jayson Nix (Colorado) cruashed a 0-2 fastball over the left field wall in to top of the 1st for the early lead. But Chinese Taipei answered back, with Chh-Sheing Lin singling his way onto base and then coming home on Chin-Feng Chen's double to center.

Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay) and Delwin Young (LA Dodgers) hit back-to-back doubles in the 4th and Justin Ruggiano (Tampa Bay) followed up with a single give Team USA a 2 point lead. They'd not hold it long though as a throwing error by Longoria combined with 2 singles and a double brought one, with a second runner coming in off Chai-Hsien Hsieh's sac fly.

Colby Rasmus (St Louis) lead off walk in the fifth was following up by Nix's single. The pair then pulled off a double steal before Andy LaRoche (LA Dodgers) knocked a ball into the right-center field gap to score the pair. Longoria would plate LaRoche to give Team USa a 3 run lead.

Chinese Taipei would not answer back until the bottom of the 6th, when Steve Shell (LA Angels) took over and got into trouble, hitting a batter and then giving up a single before issuing a walk to load the bases. Shell would be lifted in favor of Jerry Blevins (Oakland) to get Chai-Shien Hsieh to work to a full count before he ripped a double into left-centerfield to clear the bases and tie up the game again. Lee Gronkiewicz (Toronto) would come into shut down Chinese Taipei before they could do more damage.

Longoria kicked off what would be the decisve 7th inning with a line drive, and Young walked to follow him one bases. Ruggiano then hit a home run to bring in 3.

The teams would exchange 9th inning runs with Ruggiano hitting his second home run of the night for Team USA.

The tournament heads into elmination rounds on Friday. There is a note up that fourth ranked Panama is being reviewed for eligibilty issues.

Panama defeated South Africa 13-3, Mexico would defeat Italy 11-2 and Japan downed Spain, 4-3 to pick up 3rd place in Group A.

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Team USA

Australia 7 at Canada 6

WP: Bright (2-0) LP: Richmond, S. (0-2)

Team Australia captured 2nd place in Group B with a 7-6 win over Team Canada.

Trent Oeltjen (Minnesota) reached on Matt Rogelstad's (Washington) fielding error, then stole 2nd to open up a back-and-forth game between the two teams. Brad Harman (Philadelphia) then ground out but moved Oeltjen to 3rd. Justin Huber (Kansas City) singed Oeltjen in, then came home on Ben Risinger's (San Diego) double to give the Aussies a 2-0 lead.

Team Canada took one run back in the bottom of the 2nd when Jimmy Vanorstrad singled and Jamie Romak (Pittsburgh) walked. A Chris Robinson (Chicago Cubs) double brought in Vanorstrand with 1 out, but starter Adrian Burnside (San Diego) got Sebastian Boucher (Baltimore) to ground out and Rogelstad to strike out to end the inning.

Burnside found trouble in the bottom of the 3rd though when he hit Kevin Nicholson (Independant) by a pitch. Jeremy Ware (Independant) gound into a fielder's choice that took out Nicholson, then advanced to 2nd on Mike Saunders (Seattle) bunt single. The pair then stole 3rd and 2nd respectively. Vanorstrand would single to bring in Ware, tying up the score. Romak would single to bring in Saudners, giving Canada a 3-2 lead before Taylor Green (Milwaukee) would ground into a double play.

Josh Hill (Minnesota) came into the game for the bottom of the 5th, striking out Ware. Saunders would double and advance to 3rd on Vanorstrand's right field fly out, but Romak ground out to end the scoring threat.

Harman lead off the top of the 6th when he reached on a throwing error, advancing to 2nd on the play. Huber's fly out moved him to 3rd. Risinger would get hit by a pitch. Glenn Williams (Minnesota) ground into a fielder's choice which brought in Harman to tie the score up. Team Canada would switch pitchers, bringing in Mike Kusiewiecz with 2 outs on the board. A fielding error allowed Brett Roneberg (Pittsburgh) to reach for Team Australia, moving williams to 2nd. Tom Brice singled to load the bases, but Scott Richmond would come into the game for Team Canada, getting Andrew Graham (Detroit) to ground out to retire the side.

Bourcher would reach on a throwing error by Harman in the bottom of the 6th with 2 outs and would come home on Rogelstad's follow up single to give the lead back to team Canada.

Oeltjen doubled in the top of the 7th, then came home on Huber's line drive with 2 outs to tie the score up again. Greg Wiltshire replaced Hill on the mound for the bottom of the inning, getting three quick outs.

The 8th would see Adam Bright (Colorado) coming in to pitch for Team Australia, but no change in the scoring.

With one out in the 9th, Luke Hughes (Minnesota) doubled and then Oeltjen walked. Harman doubled in Hughes and Huber was issued an intentional walk as well to load the bags. Mike Johnson (Independant) would come into the game for Team Canada to try to hold the Aussie's at bay, but Risinger would single off him to score Oeltjen and Harman, making it 7-4 for the Boys from Down Under.

Bright would walk Rogelstad before Brendan Wise (Detroit) would take over the mound for the the Aussies. Emerson Forstaad would walk and Nick Werglaz singled to bring in Rogelstad as the Canadians began a rally. Brad Thomas (Seattle) was brought into shut down Canada, but would give up a single to Sanders that scored Frostaad. But after a sac-bunt by Vanorstrand and a walk to Romak, Emmanuel Garcia (NY Mets) would hit into a double play, ending the game with the Canadians still down by 1.

The win means that Team Australia will face off with 3rd placed Japan for the initial round of cross over play. Australia has won 2 of the last 3 games between these 2 countries in international play and will manage to avoid both USA and Chinese Taipei for the first of the elmination rounds.

In other Group B play 4th ranked Korea downed Team Germany 8-1. Fomer Miracle Tim Henkenjohann took the loss, giving up 5 runs (all earned) on 9 hits and 3 balls while striking out 5 over 6 innings. Current Minnesota prospect Rodney Gessmann allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits and 2 walks in 1 inning worth of play.

Team Netherlands would hand 1st place Team Cuba it's first loss of the tournament, defeating them 2-1 and earning 3rd place in Group B, and Venezuela would knock off Thailand 17-3.

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Aussie play-by-play
Australian Baseball

Wins boost USA, Team Australia into Quarterfinals

South Africa 2 at USA 4

WP: Stevens (1-0) LP: Eckermans (0-2)

Team USA remained in first place in Group A play, tied with host Chinese Taipei, each with a 5-1 record.

Andy LaRoche (LA Dodgers) went 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs to lead the USA offense over South Africa.

Colby Rasmus (St Louis) lead off in the bottom of the first inning with a single, then stole 2nd base. Michael Hollimon's (Detroit) grounder to short moved Rasmus to 3rd, and LaRoche doubled him in. Delwyn Young (LA Dodgers) walked to put LaRoche on second. Steve Pierce (Pittsburgh) would eventually plate him.

Rasmus and Brian Bixler (Pittsburgh) hit back-to-back singles to sent the stage in the bottom of the 2nd. LaRoche would bring Rasmus in on a sac fly. South Africa had put a run across the plate in the top of the 2nd though, making it 3-1 Team USA.

Rasmus walked in the fourth, moved to 2nd on a Holliman fly out and to 3rd after South Africa's Ian Butcher threw the ball into the first base dugout. LaRoche then hit a bloop single to center to bring him in, making it 4-1.

South Africa would try to rally in the 8th, but only managed one run on 3 hits.

Cleveland's Jeff Stevens picked up the win, striking out 2 in 1 innings worth of work. Chris Booker (Washington) took home the save for the States.

The victory clinched a spot in the Quarter finals for Team USA, with Chinese Taipei picking up another berth, by blanking Panama 10-0. Japan shut out Italy 10-0 as well, and Spain fell to Mexico 19-1 in other Group A action.

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USA Baseball

Australia 4 at Germany 2

WP: Mitchinson (1-0) LP: Marquez (0-2)

The Aussie's also picked up a berth in the Quarter Finals along with undefeated Team Cuba, after the downed Germany 4-2.

Trent Oeltjen (Minnesota) opened the game with a line drive and advanced to second on a wild pitch off Ramirez Marquez. Brad Harman (Philadelphia) would draw a walk and Justin Huber (Kansas City) singled to load the bases. Glenn Williams (Minnesota) would strike out, but a Michael Collins (LA Angels) sac-fly would plate Oeltjen. Harman would adance to 3rd and Huber to 2nd on a throwing error, but Mathew Kent (Independent) ground out to end the inning.

Still it was a good start as pitchers Dushan Ruzic (Cincinnati) and Scott Mitchinson (Philadelphia) kept the Germans off the board for 7 innings.

The Aussies would add to their lead in the 4th when Williams singled, and Collins walked. Kent ground into a fielders choice that took Collins out at 2nd, followed by Gavin Fingleson's (Independent) pop out. Tom Brice (Independent) then singled to bring in Williams and Luke Hughes (Minnesota) followed that up with a line drive to plate Kent. Oeltjen hit a line drive as well, but Brice would be taken out at home to end the inning.

In the bottom of the 7th, Oeltjen singled to lead off, and advanced to 3rd on Huber's line drive to left. Williams ground ball single brought in Oeljen to make it 4-0 for the Boys from Down Under.

Mitchinson would get into trouble in the 8th when Jendrick Speer (Independent) singled his way onto base. Jens Heymer (Independent) would draw a walk before Mitchinson was replaced on the mound by Tristan Crawford (Minnesota). Crawford would allow a double to Kai Gronauer (Independent) to score the pair, but got Simon Guring (Independent) to fly out and Dominik Wulf (Independent) to ground out to end the inning and the German threat. Brad Thomas (Seattle) finished off the game to pick up the save.

In other Group B play, Cuba tamed Thailand 11-1, Canada defeated Canada 6-3, and the Netherlands downed Korea 5-1. Minnesota's Loek Van Mil picked up the save for the Dutch team, allowing 2 hits and striking out 1 in 3 innings worth of work.

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Aussie Recap
Australian Baseball

Team USA pounds Spain, Aussies double up Korea

USA 12 at Spain 2

WP: Trahern (1-0) LP: Rizo (0-1)
HR: USA: LaRoche (2), Anderson, Pearce, Longoria, Rasmus

A seven run 7th inning by Team USA finished off Spain early under the International Baseball Federation's mercy win rule.

Jayson Nix's (Colorado) triple was followed by an Andy LaRoche (LA Dodgers) home run gave Team USA 2 runs in the first. Brian Bixler's (Pittsburgh) error in the bottom of the inning allowed Spain to get on the board, cutting the lead in half.

But Justin Ruggiano (Tampa Bay) lead off with a single in the 2nd inning before catcher Brian Anderson (St Louis), who was 4-for-4 in the game, crushed one over the wall. That was followed up in the 3rd by a solo shot over the left field wall by Steve Pearce (Pittsburgh).

Spain starter Miguel Rizo came off the mound after the 3rd, and the game remained scoreless for the next three innings.

Delwyn Young (LA Dodgers) led off the 7th with a walk that was followed by Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay) putting one over the left field bleachers. Ruggiano walked and Anderson followed him onto base with a single before Colby Rasmus (St Louis) sent one deep into left for an in-the-park home run. Pinch hitter Michael Holliman (Detroit) would draw a walk before LaRoche hit his second home run of the game.

Starter Dallas Trahern (Detroit) was solid, scattering six hits and giving up only one unearned run through four innings of work before giving way to Jerry Blevins (Oakland) in the fifth. Blevins pitched two perfect innings while striking out two.

The win gives the Team USA a 4-1 record and 1st place in Group A, with Chinese Taipei and Italy both .5 games back. One or the other will draw even with Team USA following Monday's game between the two.

The Americans take Monday off before facing South Africa on Tuesday and Chinese Taipei on Wednesday.

In other Group A play, Mexico defeated Chinese Taipei 9-5, Italy shut out South Africa 8-0, and Japan downed Panama, 6-2.

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Recap
Game Notes

Korea 1 at Australia 2

WP: Bright (1-0) LP: Hwang (0-1)
HR: AUS: Hughes

Benjamin Risinger (Independant) was 2-for-3 with 1 RBI for Team Australia and Justin Huber (Kansas City) went 2-for-4 as the Boys from Down Under defeated the Korea, 2-1.

Luke Hughes (Minnesota) went yard in the bottom of the sixth to give the Aussies an earlier lead.

Korea took it back in the bottom of the 7th when Si Hyun Son singled, then came home on San Song's double.

It appeared that the game might go into extra innings through when Brad Harman (Philadelphia) struck out to start the bottom of the 9th. Huber doubled out to right field however. After Glenn Williams (Minnesota) struck out, Risinger singled out to center and Huber came home to give Team Australia the win.

Williams and Trent Oeltjen (Minnesota) were both 0-for-4 in the game. Harman was 1-for-4, but did not factor into the scoring.

The amazing Aussies take Monday off as well.

In other Group B play, Canada downed the Netherlands 7-1, Cuba blanked Venezuela 10-0, and Germany shut out Thailand, 2-0.

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Australian Baseball
Aussie Play-by-play

Teams USA, Australia both post wins

Luke Hughes

Team Japan 1 at Team USA 5

WP: Duensing (1-0) LP: Kawawaki (0-1)
HR: USA: Young

Team USA got back into the win column Saturday with Minnesota's Brian Duensing pitching 5 innings, surrendering 1 earned run on 3 hits and 1 walks while striking out 2.

Jason Jaramillo (Philadelphia) caught Tsutomu Sasaki trying to steal 2nd base, helping Duensing escape from a two-hit first inning.

Jayson Nix (Colorado) and Andy LaRoche (LA Dodgers) drew walks to get on base in the bottom the inning, before Delwyn Young (LA Dodgers) crushed one over the centerfield fence to give the Team USA a 3-0 lead.

Duensing would walk Ken Suzuki in the top of the 6th before Neal Musser (Kansas City) came into the game with no outs. Takashi Yoshimura would bring him home on a sac-fly, with the inherrited run being charged to Duensing.

Nix doubled to lead off the 8th, and LaRoche walked. They moved around on Young's pop up to center, then a double by Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay) brought the pair home.

Team Usa takes on Team Spain on Sunday.

In other Group A action, Chinese Taipei took a 8-4 win over Spain, Mexico posted a 13-3 mercy rule win over South Africa, and Panama shut out Italy, 6-0.

Chinese Taipei, Panama, Team USA and Italy all have 3-1 records in the the Group A Division for a 4-way tie for first place.

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Team Australia 26 at Team Thailand 1

WP: Fingleson (1-0) LP: Tongthong (0-1)
HR: Aus: Williams

The IBaF mercy rule states that if a team is leading by 10 or more runs after 7 innings, the game is final. Seven innings was a just a little too long to suffer for Team Thailand.

Thailand's lone run came in the 4th inning when Apichat Nganying and Wataphob Sampahangsit hit back to back singles. Following a line out to center, Somsake Sarnwit doubled to to right to plate Nganying.

It was the height of Thailand's day however. Team Australia actually waited until the 2nd inning to get going, leading off with Glenn Williams (Minnesota) single. Michael Collins (LA Angeles) reached on a fielder's choice that took Williams out at 2nd, but Collins replaced him there when Wachira Thongthong uncorked a wild pitch. Tom Brice (Independant) would ground out, but Collins advanced to 3rd on the play. Philadelphia's Brad Harman was then hit by pitch before Mathew Kent (Independant) doubled the pair in.

Oeltjen singled and advanced to second an another wild pitch by Tongthong. Gavin Fingleson (Independant) doubled, but Oeltjen only moved to 3rd. Justin Huber (Kansas City) hit a second double off Tongthong bring Oeltjen in. Williams single to right scored Fingleson and Huber. Williams advance to home on Michael Collins' (LA Angels) ground ball single, then came home on Tom Brice's (Indepentant) grounder to 3rd. Harman and Kent would both single before Hughes poped out to shallow right field to get the first out of the inning.

The offensive onslaught however, continued. Oeltjen Walked followed by Fingelson, who was hit by a pitch. Thailand replaced Thonthong on the mound by Nattapong Meeboonrod, who gave up a single to Huber and a 2-run homer to Williams, making the score 14-0 Australia. Collins and Brice then both flew out to end the inning.

The Boys from Down Under picked up another run in 4th, 5 in the 5th and 6 in the 6th before the game was finally completed. They record a total of 30 hits in contest.

Oeltjen finished up 4-for-5 with 3 RBIs, Williams was 3-for-4 with 4 RBIs, and Luke Hughes (Minnesota) was 3-for-5 with 2 RBIs. Harman, a former Clearwater Thresher, was 4-for-5 with 2 RBIs.

The Aussies take on Korea on Sunday. A win would virtually guarantee Australia's progression to the next stage of the tournament. Undefeated Cuba is expected to finish first in Pool B play, with the Aussies looking to lock up 2nd place in the Division.

Cuba defeated Korea 7-2, while Canada defeated Germany 10-0, and the Netherlands downed Venezuela, 7-4 in rest of the Group B competition. Canada, Korea and the Netherlands all trail the Aussies by 1 game with a 3-2 record so far in the tournament.

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Aussie play-by-play

Aussies victorious again, Team USA stumbles

Usa 2 at Italy 6

WP: D'Angelo (1-0) LP: Outman (0-1) SAVE:Maestri (1)
HR: USA: Ruggiano

In what was probably one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, Team Usa fell to the underdog Italians, 6-2.

Former Clearwater Thresher Josh Outman (Philadelphia) got off to a slow start, walking the first two batters he faced, but double play and a strike out kept Team Italy of the board in the first inning. It would be a different story in the second inning though as back-to-back singles put runners in the corners. When Leonardo Zileri knocked a grounder to short, it looked like an easy out, but Brian Bixler (Pittsbugh) booted the ball which went a runner of the plate for Team Italy. A pair of singles later, Italy would take a 3-0 lead.

Team USA came back in the top of the third with Justin Ruggiano (Tampa) hitting for his first home run of the tournament. Colby Rasmus (St. Louis) doubled, and Jayson Nix (Colorado) would be hit by a pitch to get on base. Adam LaRoche (Dodgers) then doubled to bring in Rasmus, but Team USA came up one run short and could not tie the game.

Bixler's second error of the game, combined with a bad pick off attempt by southpaw Jerry Blevins (Oakland) lead to 2 unearned runs when Steven Shell (LA Angels) gave up back to back hits to Maximilliano Di Blaise and Mario Chinini in relief. Italy would exit the inning with a 6-2 lead and the Americans could find no offense through the rest of the contest.

Outman would work 3 innings, allowing three runs (none earned) on 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2. Shell pitched through 3.2 innings, allowing only 1 earned run on 2 hits while striking out 3.

Team USA takes on Team Japan on Saturday. In other group A action, South Africa defeated Spain, 7-4, Chinese Taipei took out Japan, 6-1, and Panama defeated Mexico 3-2.

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Baseball USA

Venezuela 4 at Australia 7

WP: Wiltshire (1-0) LP: Artega (0-1)
HR: Aus: T. Brice

Team Australia continued to roll, taking a 7-4 win over Venezuela in Group B play. Former Miracle Josh Hill (Minnesota) took the start for the boys from down under, giving up 4 earned runs on 4 hits and 4 walks while striking out 4 in 3 innings worth of work. Glenn Williams (Minnesota) was 2-for-4 with a walk and Luke Hughes (Minnesota) was 1-for-2 with 3 RBIs.

Hill struggled with his fast ball, hitting Luis Alen with a pitch to start the 2nd inning then advancing him to 2nd on a wild pitch. After getting Saul Torres to strike out, Hill then walked Jean Centeno. Following a Jose Aponte fly out, Hill issued another walk, this time to Dirimo Chavez to load the bases. Liu Rodriguez drove a 2-1 pitch deep into right centerfield for a 3-run triple, then came home on Lino Connell's single for the 4-0 lead.

Back-to-back doubles by Brett Roneberg (Independant) and Tom Brice (Independant) got Team Australia on the board in the fourth. Williams hit a double start off the sixth then came home on a throwing error by Chavez to cut the Venezuelan lead in half. Brice's single-shot home run gave the Aussies another point.

Another former Thresher, Brad Harman (Philadelphia), hit a double to start off the 7th and then came in when Justin Huber (Kansas City) hit a double to tie up the game.

In the 11th inning, Roneberg lead off with a double. With one out, Mathew Kent (Independant) was intentionally walked. New Britain's Luke Hughes (Minnesota), who came into the game as a late inning defensive replacement, then crushed a 2-0 pitch over the left field bleachers to give the Aussies their second consectutive walk off win.

Trent Oeltjen (Minnesota) continued his offensive onslaught, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a walk, but he did not figure into any of the scoring.

Former Miracle Tristan Crawford (Minnesota) pitched part of the 8th inning for the Aussies, walking Jose Labraton.

In other Group B play, Team Korea took a 18-2 mercy rule win over Thailand, Cuba defeated Team Canada 6-3, and Team Netherlands fell Team Germany 15-5.

Tom Stuifbergen's brother Nick pitched 2 innings for the Netherlands, giving up 1 earned run on 2 hits and 1 walk while striking out 2.

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Baseball Australia

Duensing, Outman shut out Saguaros

Team USA 3 at Peo Saguaros 0

W: J. Outman (1-1, 3.95); L: W. Wright (0-1, 6.08); SV: N. Musser (1)
HR: None.

Brian Duensing (Minnesota) and Josh Outman (Philadelphia) combined to hold the Peoria Saguaros to 7 hits over 8 innings in a blanking at the Peoria Sports Complex on Thursday.

This was Team USA's last warm up game before heading to the IBaF World Cup tournament in Chinese Taipei which starts Novemember 6th.

Duensing, a member of the 2006 Miracle, pitched 4 innings allowing 4 hits while striking out 2. Outman, who spend part of the 2007 season with the FSL Clearwater Phillies, allowed 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 3 in 4 innings.

The game was held scoreless until the top of the sixth inning. Jason Jaramillo (Philadelphia) singled off Saguaros Wesley Wright (LA Dodgers) to get on base. Colby Rasmus (St Louis) hit a double out left which put Jaramillo on 3rd. He'd cross the plate on Jayson Nix's (Colorado) ground out.

Team USA then added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the 7th. Delywn Young (LA Dodgers) and Andy LaRoache (LA Dodgers) both singled off Wright to get things moving. After Evan Longaria (Tampa Bay) lined out, Tyler Colvin (Chicago Cubs) would hit a soft line drive to center that brought in Young. LaRoche came home on Jaramillo's sac-fly to right.

Neal Musser (Kansas City) picked up the save in the game, shutting down the Saguaros in the ninth with a ground out and 2 fly outs.

Duensing pitched a total of 6 innings against AFL Teams, posting a 1.50 ERA and allowing only 1 run off 6 hits while striking out 3. The lefty from Marysville, Kansas, is not the only Twins prospect participating in the tournament. New Britain infielder Luke Hughes and right handed pitcher Josh Hill were named to Team Australia for the tournament. (Note: I could not find rosters for the other countries, so there could be several more prospects on the European teams.)

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Former Miracle Alexi Casilla is batting .238 with 3 runs off 5 hits in 21 at bats (5 games) for the Gigantes del Cibao in Domincan Winter League Play. Former Miracle Julio DePaula is also on the team, but has only pitched .1 inning since the Giants began play on October 17th. Hurricane Noel has taken it's toll on the team schedule, as the last 5 games have been postponed due to rain.

International Play does not agree with Dogs

Phoenix 2 at Team USA 3

W: N. Musser (1-0, 0.00); L: D. Haehnel (1-2, 9.45); SV: C. Booker (1)
HR: None.

L.A.Dodger Delwyn Young was 3-for-4 at the plate with a 1 run as Team USA slid past the Phoenix Desert Dogs Saturday.

The Dogs got onto the board first, in the 4th inning, when Jeff Baisley (Oakland) singled out to center with one out and then moved over to 2nd on Matt Macri's (Minnesota) ground ball to left. A wild pitch by former Miracle Brian Duensing (Minnesota) put Baisley on 3rd. He'd come home on Andrew McCutchen's (Pittsburgh) ground out to short. Ryan Sweeney (Chicago White Sox) would pop out to end the inning.

With Jesse Chavez (Pittsburgh) on the mound for Phoenix in the bottom of the 5th, Jason Jaramillo (Philadelphia) drew a walk. Jayson Nix (Colorado) hit into a force out which took Jaramillo down at 2nd. Nix then moved to 2nd on a Colby Rasmus (St. Louis) single and to 3rd on a wild pitch. After shortstop Brian Bixler (Pittsburgh) stuck out swinging, a combination of a single by designated hitter Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay) and a throwing error by Macri, put Nix and Rasmus over the plate to give the lead to Team USA.

Phoenix tied it up again in the top of the sixth when Jason Delaney (Pittsburgh) doubled with 1 out. After Baisley struck out swinging, Macri's line drive out to center brought Delaney over the plate.

It would stay that way until the bottom of the 8th. David Haehnel (Baltimore) came into the game and took Longoria out on strikes. Young's single deflected off Cliff Pennington (Oakland) to put the Dodger's prospect onto base. Andy LaRoche (LA Dodgers) then doubled him in, giving Team USA the go ahead run.

Chris Booker, who played for Columbus of the International League last season, came in for the top of the ninth, taking Baisley out on strikes and getting Macri to ground out. He'd walk McCutchen to get at Sweeney, who struck out swinging to end the game.

Macri was 3-for-4 at the plat with 1 RBI, catcher Drew Butera was 0-for-3 at the bottom of the batting order.

Duensing finished the game with 1 run on 2 hits while striking out 1 in 2 innings, as did former Clearwater Thresher Josh Outman, who struck out 2 during his tenure on the mound.

The Dogs rest on Sunday after a tough week, and will take on the Rafters in Surprise on Monday at 12:35 PM MST.

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