Video: Reasons Report - Louisiana Powerhouse
See this 2009 update on Glenn Cecchini's program at Barbe High in Louisiana.The USA Baseball 18U National Team won its third-consecutive gold medal with a 2-1 victory over host Japan in the 2015 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup on Sunday.
Team USA had previously won the World Cup in Seoul, South Korea in 2012 and in Taichung, Taiwan in 2013. It also won the Pan American Games in Mexico in 2014.
"I can't imagine a better feeling than this," Team USA manager Glenn Cecchini of
Barbe (Lake Charles, La.) said on USABaseball.com. "I feel like I'm floating. I'm just so grateful to be part of this. It was a struggle and it was a grind but nothing worthwhile in life is easy. Just to know that we did it and to see the joy in the players' faces means so much. These are memories that will last a lifetime."
Nick Pratto of
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) picked up the win in the championship game, going 6 1/3 innings and allowing one run on six hits with nine strikeouts. He earned most valuable tournament honors for the event, striking out 17 and giving up just two earned runs in 14 1/3 innings pitched.
Reggie Lawson of
Victor Valley (Victorville, Calif.) and Blake Rutherford of
Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.) both earned all-tournament honors.
Team USA defeated Cuba 6-5 to advance to the gold medal game. It also knocked off Canada 9-5 in its final game before the gold medal contest. Team USA went 8-1 in the tournament, losing only 3-0 to Japan in the first game of the competition.
Nick Pratto, Mater Dei
Photo by Terry Jack
