FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 2, 2015

Devine and Miljavic power Team USA to 9-2 win against Denmark at WBSC Men's World Championship to earn a spot in placement bracket

Box Score

 

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, Canada  - Team USA wrapped up pool play at the at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Men's World Championship in a big way, capturing a 9-2 (six inning) win over Denmark.  Led by Nate Devine (Sonora, Calif.), who went 2-for-4 with four RBI, and Chris MIljavic (Easton, Mo.), who went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run, the U.S. pounded 10 hits to earn the win, moving to 4-3 in pool play and falling just one game shy of the playoff rounds.  Team USA will have a day off before entering into the placement rounds side of the bracket.

 

Click here for full coverage from the WBSC Men's World Championship

 

"I was real proud of the team. Everyone put their heads on straight and played a good ball game," said USA Head Coach Denny Bruckert (Gillespie, Ill.).  "Everyone up and down the lineup played really well.  The guys have a great mindset and their attitudes are good.  We're ready to use the momentum from this game and carry it over into the next round of play." 

 

The U.S. bats came alive in their game against Denmark as nearly every batter in the lineup recorded a hit in a 9-2 (six inning) win.  With the help of the long ball from Derrick Zechman (Watsontown, Pa.) and Miljavic, the Red, White and Blue gave a dominant performance for their final game of the pool play rounds.

 

It was a tied ball game until the fourth inning when the U.S. would jump on the board first in the game after Zechman led off the inning with a solo home run.  Matt Palazzo (Pleasant Hill, Iowa) followed with a single, prompting a pitching change for Denmark as Kim Hansen entered the circle in relief for starter Martin Simonsen.  Following the defensive switch, Rylan Sandoval (Castro Valley, Calif.) entered as a pinch runner for Palazzo, swiping second base on a steal to put a runner in scoring position.  Stepping up the plate next was Chase Turner (San Jose, Calif.), who connected for a single to plate Sandoval and give the U.S. a 2-0 lead.

 

Denmark would respond with two runs of their own in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game up at two runs apiece.  Despite U.S. starter Josh Johnson (El Paso, Texas) issuing back-to-back strikeouts, a walk, a double and a single would plate the two runs for Denmark.

 

Team USA did not let the tie last long, however, driving in four runs off three hits in the bottom of the fifth.  It all started with a leadoff single from Nick Mullins (Toms River, N.J.), who was pinch ran for by Marcus Tan (Union City, Calif.).  Tan stole second base and moved to third on a single from Miljavic before a walk to Zechman loaded the bases.  Devine came up big, connecting for a triple to clear the bases while scoring on an error by the second baseman. 

 

Johnson issued a strikeout to the leadoff batter for Denmark and was able to get the next batter to fly out to center field before issuing a triple to Franklin Fernandez.  With the hit, Gerald Muizelaar (Grand Forks, N.D.) entered the game in relief for Johnson, issuing a strikeout to his first batter faced to keep the runner at bay.

 

The U.S. would seal a walk off run-rule in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring three runs on three hits to earn the 9-2 (six inning) victory.  Chris Heinlein (Columbia, Mo.) connected for a one out single to start the scoring drive and advanced on a single from Tan.  A fly ball to left field from Pat Sagdal (Richland, Wash.) moved both runners an additional base before Miljavic sent a shot over the outfield fence for a three-run home run to earn the walk off. 

 

"It was a good bounce back game after yesterday's loss," said U.S. third baseman Zechman.  "We were in every game this week except for one.  Unfortunately we were one win away at making the playoffs. We're going to continue to look forward and build off this win today."

 

The U.S. starter Johnson earned the win, going five and two-third innings with nine strikeouts while only allowing six hits and two earned runs.  Muizelaar earned the save, pitching the final one-third inning with a strikeout.   

 

The USA Men finished pool play with a 4-3 record, falling just one game shy of the playoff rounds and will await the winner of Guatemala and Denmark for a 10 a.m. local time (11 a.m. CST) game in the placement rounds.  Team USA earned a bye in their first placement round as Indonesia, who they were slated to play against, was unable to make the tournament.  Fans at home can follow along with live stats and live streaming for the entire WBSC Men's World Championship at www.ASAUSASoftball.com. 

 

About ASA/USA Softball


Founded in 1933, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA)/USA Softball is the National Governing Body Softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. One of the nation’s largest sports organizations, ASA/USA Softball sanctions competition in every state through a network of 74 local associations and has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 165,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than 2.5 million.  ASA/USA is responsible for training, equipping and promoting the six USA Softball National Teams that compete in international and domestic competitions. The USA Softball Women’s National Team is one of only two women’s sports involved in the Olympic movement to capture three consecutive gold medals at the Olympic Games since 1996. The U.S. women have also won nine World Championship titles as well as claimed eight World Cup of Softball titles. For more information about ASA/USA Softball, please visit http://www.asausasoftball.com/.

 

About the World Baseball Softball Confederation

Headquartered in the Olympic Capital city of Lausanne, Switzerland, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) was established in April 2013 and granted recognition as the sole competent authority in baseball and softball by the International Olympic Committee at the 125th IOC Session in September 2013. The WBSC represents a united baseball/softball sports movement that encompasses over 65 million athletes worldwide. The WBSC governs all international competitions involving any of the National Teams of its 141 National Federation members.  The WBSC oversees the Softball World Championships, The Premier 12, the World Baseball Classic, and the U12, U15, U18, U21 and Women's Baseball World Cups.  For further information, please go to www.WBSC.co or follow the WBSC on Twitter at @WBSC.

 

 

Codi Warren

 

Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications

Amateur Softball Association of America/USA Softball

Office 405.425.3431 | Cell 405. 420. 2817