After dropping two of their first three pool play games, Team USA won their last two games to finish pool play at 3-2, good for second place in the Group A standings and to earn a spot in the Super Round of the WBSC Premier-12 Global Battle. On Tuesday, USA beat Panama 9-3 and South Central grad Spencer Patton saw another inning of work. Patton gave up his first two hits of the tournament, but pitched a clean inning allowing no runs in the inning and striking out one batter. After their second off day on Wednesday, Team USA wrapped up Group A play on Thursday with another big win, 12-2, over Mexico. Patton did not see action in that game as USA used just four pitchers in the shortened 7-inning game. Through the 5 group play games, Patton made three appearances, pitching an inning each time, giving up just two hits while striking out four and walking none of the 11 batters he faced.
Patton and Team USA now will head to Tokyo as they are one of four finalists in the Premier-12 Global Battle along with Group A winner Venezuela. The two teams from Group B will be decided after their group play is wrapped up over the next three days. Super Round play will begin on November 20 at the Tokyo Dome and it appears that Team USA will play their first game on Thursday, November 21 going against the winner of Group B. The WBSC schedule does say that the order of Super Round games could change.
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