PANAMA CITY – The 18U National Team will face Puerto Rico in the semifinal round of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifiers on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. local time/10:30 a.m. ET from Estadio Nacional Rod Carew.

GOING OUT FOR THE LAST TIME

Aiden Stillman played six-inning one-hit baseball and Cooper Rummel He got the save in Team USA’s 1-0 win over Mexico in the quarterfinals on Friday. Stillman was dominant from the jump in the win, retiring the first eight batters he faced and allowing just two runners the entire game. The left-hander had four strikeouts and got tremendous help from his defense, including a standout Kayson Cunningham, Gavin HotAnd Brayden Jaksa.

At the plate, it was Cunningham who hit the only home run of the game with a single with two out in the third. The RBI was Cunningham’s team-leading 11th and he brought home Trent GrindlingerThat hit was one of only four hits that day for the Stars and Stripes, and they also had strikeouts. Grady Emerson, Ethan HolidayAnd Nico Partida.

WATCHING PUERTO RICO

Puerto Rico advances to the semifinals with a 4-2 win over Group A’s No. 2 seed Canada in the quarterfinal round on Friday. The win improves Puerto Rico’s tournament record to 4-2, with wins over Brazil, Venezuela, Costa Rica and Canada, and losses to Panama and Team USA. Puerto Rico is led at the plate by Jonathan Matos, who has a team-leading seven hits, including four doubles. Matos and Misael Maldonado each brought in five runs. Puerto Rico has a 2.72 team ERA with 34 strikeouts and 18 walks in 36.0 innings on the mound.

HISTORY AGAINST PUERTO RICO

The U.S. and Puerto Rico have played seven times at the U-18 level, with Team USA owning a 6-1 record. The two countries first met in 2005 and last played on Sunday, resulting in a 7-3 win for the stars and stripes.

SHARPENED

With Friday’s results, Team USA secured its spot in the 2025 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup.

SEMI-FINAL MATCHES

#1 Team USA – #3 Puerto Rico
#1 Cuba – #2 Panama

IN THE SQUAD

The U.S. roster includes four players who have previously worn the stars and stripes. Grady Emerson played for the 15U National Team the past two summers, helping Team USA win the World Cup in 2022 and a friendly series in 2023. He is joined by two teammates from the 2022 World Cup-winning squad: Ethan Holliday and Brady Murrietta. Gavin Fien also returns to Team USA after playing for the 2019 12U National Team. A total of eight players on the roster have participated in a USA Baseball development program, including Kayson Cunningham, who has participated three times before.

MEET THE COACHING STAFF

The 18U National Team is coached by Rick Eckstein, a five-time Pro National Team coach and former MLB hitting coach who will be inducted into 2024. Eckstein served under the longtime major league manager Davey Johnson He has won three medals for several U.S. professional teams. He received USA Baseball’s “Doc” Counsilman Scholar Award in 2008 and the 2023 Coach Educator of the Year Award. Eckstein began his coaching career in 1997, serving as hitting coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Nationals. He is joined on the staff by his brother David Eckstein, who was the 2006 World Series MVP, two-time MLB All-Star Brad Penny and longtime high school coach Steve Stone.