U12 World Cup Qualifier | In the semi-finals, Team USA shuts out Cuba 6-0 to advance to the championship. Cuba will play for bronze against Panama this Saturday

In one of the U-12 Pre-World Cup semifinals held in Panama City, Panama, right-handed pitchers Carlo Alessandro Rivero and Jayden X. Portes limited the Cuban national team to only one hit, leading the United States to a 6-0 victory over Cuba in a shutout.

Box score

In the second semifinal match, the Dominican Republic triumphed over Panama in extra innings by scoring three runs in the seventh inning, securing a 4-2 victory against the host team. The Dominicans are set to compete against the United States this Saturday at 2:00 pm local time. Both teams are undefeated. Meanwhile, Cuba will contend for the bronze medal against Panama on the same day, commencing at 11:00 am at the Rod Carew Stadium.

Right at Rod Carew Stadium, the reigning world champions in the category proved to be too strong for the Cuban team. The Cuban team had a hard time deciphering the pitches thrown by the two American pitchers, particularly the starter Rivero. They only managed to get one hit in the game, which came from Daibel Barrero in the first inning.

Starter Carlo A. Rivero silenced the Cuban team in the semifinals. (Photo: WBSC)

Following that, pitcher Rivero managed to retire 13 out of the subsequent 15 batters he faced, striking out 9 of them. His impressive streak was briefly halted by two walks, one to Alfredo Despaigne Jr. at the beginning of the third inning and the other to Jeison A. Pérez in the fifth inning with already one out. Rivero delivered an outstanding performance against the Cuban team, throwing a total of 84 pitches, 50 of them being strikes. He concluded his 4 2/3 innings with three walks and 11 strikeouts, securing the victory.

Reliever Jayden X. Portes secured the shutout for the North Americans by pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings. He walked two and recorded two strikeouts.

Rivero contributed to his own success at the plate. Facing right-hander Asnel A. Tornés, Joshua D. Pierre kicked off the game with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice, and then Rivero smashed a two-run homer for a 2-0 lead that proved sufficient for the win.

During the second inning, Team USA increased their lead with two outs. Christian Steele singled, advanced to second base in a wild pitch, and subsequently crossed the plate on a center field single by Adam Rod González, making it 3-0.

The final runs were scored in the third inning when the Cuban starting pitcher was replaced. Joshua Park was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, Rivero advanced him to second with a single to center, and then Jack Mattingly's hit brought Park home as Rivero advanced to third on the throw. Mattingly stole second base, and a sacrifice fly increased the lead to 5-0, with the score reaching 6-0 on a sacrifice hit by Clayton Z. Ratliff.

Tornés continued to face two more batters in the inning, issuing walks to both before being substituted by Osvani Palma. Ultimately, the Cuban starting pitcher had a 2 2/3 inning outing, conceding six hits with two walks allowing six earned runs and only one strikeout. He was charged with the loss.

Both Palma and Cuba's second reliever, Frank Luis Cañizares, kept the American offense from getting any hits for the remainder of the game.

Cuba secured their spot in the World Cup after defeating Venezuela 4-3 in the final Group B qualifying match. With a 4-2 record in the qualifiers, Vladimir Vargas' team will compete for the bronze medal this Saturday.