By From Usa Baseball
Messina, Sicily, ITALY – Cuban righty Orelvis Avila (1-0) threw a complete-game, seven-hit shutout to defeat the 2002 USA Baseball National Team 6-0, giving the Cubans the first ever FISU World University Baseball Championship title Sunday at Primo Nebiolo Stadium.
Cuba posted an unbeaten 7-0 record to win the Gold Medal. It was Cuba’s fourth consecutive shutout here in Italy, as their pitching staff allowed only four runs in the entire World Championship tournament. It was also the first time Team USA has been shutout this summer. The 2002 USA Baseball National Team earned a Silver Medal and finished the year with a 23-7 overall record, after going 5-2 in Messina.
The Cubans took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second when Danny Miranda connected on a solo home run to left field off American starter Kyle Sleeth (RHP, So, Wake Forest). They scored two more runs in the third on a rbi-single to center field by Mario Vega, and when Sam Fuld’s (OF, So, Stanford) throw to third base got by Aaron Hill (IF, So, LSU), Roiniel Varona scored all the way from first.
Cuba went on top 4-0 in the fifth on another unearned run. Mario Denis led off the inning by reaching on an error by Hill and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. He then was brought home on a bloop single by Rolexis Molina that Fuld just missed on a sliding attempt.
Sleeth (7-1) lasted just five innings in his shortest outing of the summer. The Wake Forest All-American surrendered four runs (two earned) on six hits, while walking one and fanning four, suffering his first loss of the entire year. Sleeth went 14-0 for the Deamon Deacons and was 7-0 for Team USA, prior to his start here in the World Championship game.
Wes Littleton (RHP, So, CS Fullerton) relieved Sleeth in the sixth, and Cuba tallied two more times over the final four frames. Huston Street (RHP, Fr, Texas) came on to record the final two outs in the ninth.
“Cuba played a much better game than we did tonight,” said Louisville and USA head coach Lelo Prado, “you have to give them credit. Their pitcher was outstanding, and they took advantage of all of our mistakes. They had the timely hits tonight, and we did not. I’m still very proud of our team for competing hard and finishing this World Championship with a silver medal.”
