The USA Baseball 15U National Team took home the gold this past Sunday, Sept. 22, at the 2019 WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup Americas Qualifier, sliding past Panama by a score of 3-1.
Since 2012, the USA Baseball organization has selected teams of baseball players age 15 or younger to join the 15U National Team and compete against other international teams. This year, the team comprised of 20 members selected from across the nation, including two of Heritage’s own varsity baseball athletes: sophomore pitcher and infielder Brandon Barriera and freshman pitcher and infielder Spencer Butt.
The team competed in Mexico at the Copabe games Sept. 13-22. They finished with a record of 8-1 en route to their victory in the Gold Medal Game versus Panama, the team that handed them their only loss of the event just two games prior by a score of 7-9.
Barriera pitched a total of nine innings, allowing two runs in five innings against Colombia and finishing his final four innings versus Panama in the team’s lone defeat.
Butt threw a no-hitter in three innings versus Honduras and allowed zero unearned runs in his four innings against Venezuela.
“Competing with the national team is an experience like no other,” Butt said. “Going overseas to represent your country and trying to bring home a gold medal is such a surreal experience. Playing with ‘USA’ across your chest gives you an edge to do your best and play to your full potential… There’s no other place I’d rather be when I’m competing for a gold medal.”
