United States And Cuba Make Baseball Finals

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) _ Just what the Americans want, a shot at the Cuban national baseball team for the Pan American games gold medal. <br/><br/>Seriously. <br/><br/>Cody Satterwhite of Mississippi

Wednesday, July 18th 2007, 6:01 pm

By: News On 6

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) _ Just what the Americans want, a shot at the Cuban national baseball team for the Pan American games gold medal.

Seriously.

Cody Satterwhite of Mississippi saved both games as the United States' collection of college players beat Brazil 7-5 and Mexico 2-1 Wednesday. When Cuba shut out Nicaragua 4-0, it set up a final between the two rivals on Thursday.

``I'm excited for us to play for the gold, an opportunity that not everyone gets, especially when it happens only once every four years,'' catcher Preston Paramore of Arizona State said. ``We're the youngest team here, so it's been a challenge all along.

``Cuba has the team that played in the World Baseball Classic and finished second to Japan. They're a solid team, but it's baseball and anything can happen''

Cuba has won the last nine Pan Ams golds by sending its top players to the event. The U.S. representatives rarely are in the same class as the Cubans, particularly in international experience.

But this group has gone through the tournament unbeaten, something not even the Cubans managed. The Americans beat Brazil , Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and Mexico, which in the opening round defeated Cuba.

So a team put together a month ago has a shot at dethroning the powerhouse. Two of the players just completed their freshman seasons: pitcher Ryan Berry of Rice and catcher Tommy Medica of Santa Clara. The rest just finished their sophomore seasons.

They didn't even have tryouts for the Pan Ams. A selection committee from USA Baseball picked players based on their performance in college. The committee contacted coaches throughout the United States, focusing on flexibility.

That flexibility was apparent against Brazil, when Jordy Mercer of Oklahoma State, who also plays shortstop, came on in relief to pitch.

``He was chosen for this type of moment to come forth,'' team leader Eric Campbell said.

The players haven't been intimidated by their surroundings, or unnerved by frequent weather and technical delays and sloppy fields.

Against Brazil, which has mostly experienced Japanese players who also have Brazilian citizenship, the Americans broke open a close game with five runs in the seventh inning. Logan Forsythe of Arkansas and Pedro Alvarez of Vanderbilt each knocked in two runs.

When Brazil came back with two runs in the eighth and another in the ninth, Satterwhite was called on to close out a game for the third time, getting a strikeout to send the United States into the semifinals.

Once there, the Americans got clutch pitching from starter Brian Matusz of San Diego, Brett Hunter of Pepperdine and Satterwhite, who got the final out on a line drive.

Both U.S. runs against Mexico came in the fifth inning, driven in by Forsythe, who had three hits, and Roger Kieschnick of Texas Tech.

For Cuba, three pitchers combined on a six-hitter, with Elier Sanchez the winner. Yuliesky Gourriel, Cuba's top hitter, knocked in two runs.

Five times in Cuba's amazing run of Pan Ams titles, the Americans finished second. They get yet another chance to win gold on Thursday.

``Add up all the parts and this was one of the best days in USA Baseball history,'' Campbell said.

After Wednesday's performances, there is only one way for the Americans to top it.