USA Beats Japan 4-1 to Reach U-15 World Cup Gold-Medal Game
Team USA beat defending champion Japan 4-1 behind Noah Osterman to reach the 2026 U-15 Baseball World Cup gold-medal game.
World Baseball News Editorial Team , 2 min read 
The United States beat defending champion Japan 4-1 on Saturday in Mérida, Mexico, earning first place in the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup Super Round and a place in Sunday’s gold-medal game against the Dominican Republic.
Noah Osterman delivered the longest start by a U.S. pitcher in the tournament, and Team USA produced all four of its runs with two outs. The result gave the Americans their first U-15 victory over Japan since the 2018 World Cup and moved them to 7-1 overall.
Osterman sets the tone against Japan
Osterman worked 4 1/3 innings at Parque Kukulcán Alamo, allowing one run on four hits. He kept one of the tournament’s strongest offenses scoreless through four innings and left with the United States still in front.
Noah Vrzal took over in the fifth and stopped Japan’s best chance to rally. The 6-foot-5 right-hander struck out four, walked one and did not allow a hit in 2 1/3 innings. Jackson McAneely recorded the final out for his third save of the tournament.
Together, the U.S. staff limited Japan to four hits and one run, matching Japan’s lowest totals in both categories during the World Cup.
Two-out hitting sends Team USA ahead
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the third. Paris Head opened the inning with a walk, and Raylen Hunter drove him home with a two-out double down the left-field line. Paxton Scoggin followed with an RBI single to score Matti Di Maggio and make it 2-0.
Japan cut the lead in half in the fifth when Juri Koike singled through the right side. Vrzal immediately shut down the inning, retiring the next two hitters on three pitches.
The United States restored its cushion in the sixth. Greyson Wuis singled home Tyler Early, who had stolen second after reaching on a fielder’s choice. Head then doubled to deep center field for the final run.
Hunter’s hit extended his on-base streak to eight games and lifted his tournament-leading batting average to .552. His 16 hits also led the field entering the medal round.
Gold-medal rematch with Dominican Republic
The United States finished the Super Round 4-1 and will face the Dominican Republic for the championship on Sunday, October 4, at 5 p.m. local time in Mérida. It is a rematch of Thursday’s Super Round meeting, which Team USA won 8-6.
The Americans are seeking their third U-15 World Cup title after championships in 2018 and 2022. Japan, which won the most recent edition in 2024, will play for bronze.
