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Americans open Baseball World Cup with 11-1 win

Starter Ethan Hankins goes six strong, striking out 13 in leading the U.S. to a win over the Netherlands.

THUNDER BAY – It’s not like the United States needed a wake-up call.

But Ethan Hankins doesn’t mind that they got one on Friday afternoon in their Under 18 World Baseball Cup opener against the Netherlands.

The Dutch squad took an early 1-0 lead on Hankins, but the lanky right-hander found his groove after the opening run crossed the plate in the first and was unhittable from that point on.

Hankins cruised through six innings at Baseball Central, striking out six while allowing just a single hit as the three-time defending champion Americans started their title defence with an 11-1 win, Jarred Kelenic blasting a walk-off home run to clinch the win in the eighth, enacting the 10-run rule.

“I knew they were going to be good out of the gate, but I didn’t know they were going to come out firing like that,” said Hankins, a Cumming, Ga. Native who is committed to Vanderbilt when his high school career comes to a close.

“It definitely made me settle in, make some adjustments (and) do my job.”

Manager Andy Stankiewicz said it was an early eye-opener.

“That’s part of our growth as a team, understanding it’s baseball. Everybody’s good. Everybody plays the game really well … I thought our guys kind of just settled in and took some deep breaths and just started playing good baseball.”

Jeandro Tromp drew a leadoff walk in the first and scampered to third on a double by Makesiondon Kelkboom and scored on a Richgelon Juliana groundout.

Stankiewicz said Hankins delivered about what he expected the rest of the way.

“If he can get them anxious about a fastball, he’s going to get some chases on the breaking ball, which you saw today,” he said.

The Netherlands lead was short-lived.

Leadoff hitter Michael Siani doubled to centre to open the first and raced around to score on an error by Kelkboom, the shortstop.

Brice Turang tripled home a run in the second to put the Americans up 2-1, with Triston Casas plating another in the third, doubling home Nolan Gorman.

The States broke it open in the fifth, scoring five off Netherlands reliever Mic Van de Ven, Reynaldo Delgado smacking a two-RBI double that sent the pitcher to the showers, his team trailing 7-1.

Siani singled home the fifth and final run of the inning. He also hit a two-run triple in the seventh, finishing his day a home run shy of the cycle, going 3-for-5 at the plate.

Joseph Menefee and Cole Wilcox each tossed scoreless relief innings to close things out for the U.S.

Starter Christopher Koeiman took the loss for the Netherlands, going just two innings.

The Americans will take on Japan on Saturday night at Port Arthur Stadium. Next up for the Netherlands is a 2 p.m. date on Saturday with Cuba at Baseball Central.

Japan 10, Mexico 1: Taisei Inoue homered and drove in three to lead the top-ranked Japanese to victory behind seven strong innings of two-hit ball by starter Soma Tokuyama.

Italy 4, Nicaragua 2: Riccardo Bertossi tripled and had three RBI as the Italians opened with a win in Group A action.

Korea 4, Australia 1: Leadoff hitter Jihwan Bae went 2-for-3 with a walk, and RBI and a run scored for the Korean, while starter Junwon Seo allowed just two hits and a run on the mound. Jarryd Dale scored the only run for the Australians.



Leith Dunick

About the Author: Leith Dunick

A proud Nova Scotian who has called Thunder Bay home since 2002, Leith is Dougall Media's director of news, but still likes to tell your stories too. Wants his Expos back and to see Neil Young at least one more time. Twitter: @LeithDunick
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