Cary, North Carolina – Team USA earned its second win of its inaugural Summer League tour on Sunday at Field 3 at the National Training Complex. Pitchers Joey Borchko (Stanford University) and Dominic Vogel (Kansas University) were dominant on the mound, and the Team USA offense came out swinging late in the game.
What actually happened:
- Borchko started the game strong, striking out five batters in the first two innings with impressive pitching. He dropped three strikes to put a runner on base for Coastal Plain Select, but then scored on a wild pitch to take a 1-0 lead.
- In the second inning, the US team put a runner in scoring position for the first time when Daniel Cuvet (Miami) hit a single to center field and Justin Lebron (Alabama) reached base on an error, but they were unable to get past home plate.
- Borchko struck out two more batters in the third inning, but both were strikeouts and whiffs.
- In the sixth inning, the U.S. offense tried to get going, with Tre Phelps (Georgia) and Henry Ford (Virginia) both hitting singles through center field, but again the U.S. was held scoreless.
- The breakthrough came in the seventh inning, when LeBron and Luke Stevenson (University of North Carolina) were hit by pitches and reached base, then Jamal George (Alabama State University) hit the ball on an error to help the U.S. score, and LeBron and Stevenson rounded the bases to give the U.S. the lead.
- Vogel pitched the final four innings for Team USA as a pinch hitter for Vorchko, striking out both Coastal Plains Select batters in the eighth to secure the win.
Notable statistics:
- Vorchko and Vogel each pitched four innings and allowed just one hit during their substitutions.
- Vorchko finished the night with seven strikeouts, while Vogel struck out four batters.
- Stevenson was a standout at catcher, showcasing his skills by twice catching two Coastal Plains Select runners attempting to advance to second base.
- Ford led Team USA with a game-high two hits, recording his second straight game with at least one hit on the summer league tour. Phelps and Stevenson also recorded at least one hit in each game.
- Cuvettes’ second hit was his first on the Summer League tour.
- AJ Gracia (Duke) and LeBron both walked.
On deck:
- Team USA begins its summer league tour, heading to Pulaski, Virginia, on Monday to take on the Appalachian League East Division Selects at Calfee Park, with first pitch scheduled for 7 pm ET.
