ORLANDO, Fla.---The USA Softball Men’s National Team opened bracket play with 7-2 win over Venezuela to move on in the AAU Men’s International Fastpitch Tournament. Despite trailing for the first time in the tournament, the Red, White and Blue rebounded for six runs in the bottom of the third inning to take control of the game.

 

Venezuela took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second after leftfielder Radil Villalona singled up the middle, advanced to second after Harry Camejo was hit by a pitch and to third on a single by Carlos Murray. A wild pitch by starter Sonny Perkins (St. Michaels, Ariz.) moved all the runners up a base and allowed Villalona to score.

A double by Rey Garcia (North Andover, Mass.) scored Chad Boom (Barnesville, Minn.), who reached on a one out single in the bottom of the second inning, tied the game. 

 

An explosive third inning plated six runs of the U.S. to put the game out of reach. Adam LaLonde (Kentwood, Mich.) reached on a fielding error by the shortstop and moved to third on a single by Landy Rodriguez (West Haverstraw, NY). A walk to Frank DeGroat, Jr., (Ringwood, NJ) loaded the bases for Chad Boom (Barnesville, Minn.) who reached on another fielding error by Venezuela and allowed LaLonde to score. 

 

A sacrifice fly by Perkins scored Rodriguez and a single by Garcia drove in two more runs. Blake Miller (Albany, Ga.) remained hot at the plate with a double to left field to score Garcia for a 5-1 lead. Chris Miljavac (St. Joseph, Mo.) plated the final run of the game for the U.S. with a single through the right side that scored Miller.

A solo home run by Alexis Hernandez in the sixth inning was the only other run of the game for Venezuela.

Garcia led the offensive effort for the USA going 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI. Sonny Perkins picked up his second win of the tournament after a complete game effort that saw him fan 10 batters while allowing only two runs.

USA Men advance to semi-finals with 14-0 win over Texaco Pirates

 

Orlando, Fla.---The USA Softball Men’s Team continued to pile up runs at the AAU Men’s International Fastpitch Tournament with a 14-0 win over the Texaco Pirates in the quarter finals. The win sends the Red, White and Blue into the semi-finals on Sunday at 10 a.m. versus the Hallman Twins of Canada. 

 

The U.S. took an early 6-0 lead in the first inning with an RBI single by Frank DeGroat, Jr., (Ringwood, NJ) and a two RBI triple by Sonny Perkins (St. Michaels, Ariz.). Matt Darling (Waukee, Iowa) contributed an RBI single in the inning along with a two run home by Rey Garcia (North Andover, Mass.). 
Home runs by Chris Miljavac (St. Joseph, Mo.) and Landy Rodriguez (West Haverstraw, NY) highlighted the scoring for the USA in the second inning.

 

Miljavac and Rodriguez hit solo home runs and Chad Boom (Barnesville, Minn.) contributed an RBI double in the inning that scored DeGroat, Jr. who followed Rodriguez with a triple. 

 

A two out rally began in the third when Blake Miller (Albany, Ga.) reached on an error and scored on a pinch-hit home run by Chad Seeman (Chenoa, Ill.) for two more runs.

The final runs of the game came in the fourth inning on a solo home run by Perkins and RBI singles by Miller and Seeman.