U.S. Shuts Out Nicaragua, Picks Up Back-To-Back Wins

An eight-run outburst in the third inning powered Team USA past Nicaragua, 10-0, on the second day of group play at the 2026 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Baseball World Cup Saturday morning at Estadio Sherwin-Williams Beto Ávila in Cancún, Mexico.

After a pair of hitless innings for both teams, Paris Head torched a double for Team USA’s first hit and ignited an eight-run rally in the third. From there, the hits kept piling on. Matti Di Maggio ripped a ball through the right side to put the U.S. on the board, while a triple from Paxton Scoggin gave Team USA a three-run lead in a matter of minutes. Fourteen batters came to the plate in the third, filling the scorecard and handing the red, white, and blue a comfortable lead. The stars and stripes added another run in the fourth, while Di Maggio put the game away in the fifth with a game-sealing RBI to run-rule Nicaragua, 10-0.

Nate Handley-White’s quality start allowed the U.S. to find its rhythm on offense, as Team USA’s starter made quick work of Nicaragua through the first two innings. Handley-White kept his composure throughout, twice stranding opposing runners in scoring position. The right-hander turned in 4.0 shutout frames of one-hit ball, punching out six batters in the process. Making his tournament debut, Lathan Boddie took over on the bump in the fifth, needing just 11 pitches to strike out the side in order.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The U.S. broke through in the third when a defensive miscue put Brandon Sweeney aboard to lead off the inning. Head followed with a double down the left field line to put a pair in scoring position. With the infield in, Di Maggio ripped a pitch through the right side to break the deadlock and score Sweeney from third.

• Scoggin immediately followed with a two-RBI triple to deep center field, his second three-bagger in as many days.

• A pair of walks, a fielder’s choice, and an RBI single from Calvin Madenspacher followed, making it 5-0 and forcing a pitching change.

• Sweeney would later see his second at-bat of the inning, notching an RBI for Team USA’s sixth run.

• A wild pitch one at-bat later scored Jacob Reyes, while a bunt single from Raylen Hunter handed the U.S. an 8-0 lead.

• Pinch-hitter Bryant Ju added to the lead in the fourth with a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Tyler Early who reached on a leadoff single.

• After a single and an error in the fifth landed Hunter in scoring position, Di Maggio delivered his second RBI of the day to run-rule Nicaragua, 10-0.

NOTABLES

• The 15U National Team is now 4-0 all-time against Nicaragua and has extended its winning streak against international competition to 20 games, dating back to 2022.

• Handley-White never faced more than five batters in an inning. The right-hander faced four batters in each of the first three frames and five in the fourth inning.

• Team USA’s two pitchers combined for a 68% strike percentage, while Boddie threw 10 strikes on 11 pitches.

• Six players combined for Team USA’s seven hits, including Hunter, who recorded his second straight multi-hit outing with a 2-for-4 performance.

• Team USA’s seven hits tie the program record for the fewest hits needed to score 10 or more runs. The U.S. previously accomplished the feat against Germany in 2018 and Honduras in 2019.

• As of Saturday afternoon, the United States leads all nations with nine extra-base hits through the first two games, while Hunter leads all players in hits (5).

ON DECK

Team USA will face Group B opponent Australia (0-1) tomorrow, September 27, at 10:30 a.m. local/11:30 a.m. ET at Estadio Sherwin-Williams Beto Ávila in Cancún, Mexico.

To stay up to date with the USA Baseball 15U National Team, follow along with @USABaseball15U on Twitter/X, and @USABaseball on Instagram. For more information on the schedule including live statistics and streaming, visit HERE.