The victory sends Team USA, still the lone unbeaten team in the tournament with a 7-0 record, to the gold-medal game at 6:30 p.m. (EDT) at Telus Field on Sunday. The Americans' opponent for the title will be defending champion Korea (6-1). Korea upended Cuba, 6-1, in the other semifinal game to advance to the final.
"It feels awesome to be in the gold-medal game," USA Head Coach Mark Elkins said. "The players deserve this opportunity. I credit them for their preparation in getting to this point. But we know we have to be ready to play against a very good Korea team."
The USA-Korea affair will be a rematch of the 2006 World Championship title contest when Korea rallied from a 3-2 eighth-inning deficit with a pair of runs, including the winning run with two out in the bottom of the ninth, to defeat the USA, 4-3, for the gold medal in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba.
The gold-medal contest will also be a rematch of the teams' pool-play contest earlier in the tournament. In that game, Team USA rallied for two seventh-inning runs on July 30 to earn the No. 1 seed in the pool.
The USA seeks its sixth gold medal overall and first at the 18U level since claiming the 1999 crown in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The Americans have also garnered titles in 1995, 1989, 1988 and 1982. Meanwhile, Korea will be in search of its fifth world title. Besides the 2006 title, Korea captured crowns in 2000, 1994 and 1981.
Team USA's win against Australia (4-3) also assured the Americans of securing a medal from this year's Worlds. Only once in the 24-year history of the World Championships has the United States failed to capture a medal. Entering the game with Korea, the 18U Team has earned five gold medals, 10 silver medals and seven bronze medals in World Championship competition.
The USA turned in a workmanlike performance against Australia (4-3) led by the pitching efforts of Turner and Barrett. Turner (1-0) struck out 12 and issued only one walk in seven innings. He allowed an unearned run in the first inning when a single, wild pitch and a fielding error by USA second baseman David Nick (INF; Cypress, Calif.) accounted for Australia's only run.
After allowing one hit in the second and two more in the third inning, Turner cruised through the Australia lineup permitting only one base runner during the remainder of his seven-inning stint.
"I tried to concentrate on pounding the zone," Turner said. "I threw a lot of fastballs and worked my curve in, too. I wanted to throw strikes and give our defense a chance to make the plays. I felt strong throughout the game."
Barrett followed up his three-inning scoreless relief outing against Korea in pool play with two more scoreless innings against Australia to get his second save of the tournament. He recorded three strikeouts in the eighth inning, then worked out of a two-on, two-out jam in the ninth by fanning Mitchell Nilsson for the final out of the game.
"Jacob and Jake really pitched well today," Elkins said. "We needed a strong pitching performance, and that's what we got."
By not allowing an earned run, Team USA's staff ERA dropped to 1.07 for the tournament. USA hurlers have allowed just 38 hits and seven earned runs while fanning 83 in 59 innings on the hill.
Team USA managed 11 hits in the game, with every starter in the lineup getting at least one base hit. Despite the balanced hitting, the Americans managed to touch home plate just three times. The squad stranded 11 runners, including leaving the bases loaded in both the sixth and seventh innings.
"We hit the ball hard all day," Elkins said. "But their defense made some great plays and we hit the ball right at them several times. When we needed runs, though, we were able to get them."
After Australia took its 1-0 lead in the opening inning, Team USA tied the game with a two-out rally in the third. Nick Franklin (OF; Longwood, Fla.) singled to right field and moved to second when Australia right fielder Sean Williams misplayed the ball. Jeff Malm (INF; Las Vegas, Nev.) knocked in Franklin with a single to right.
The Americans then turned to the bunting game to take the lead for good in the fifth while adding an insurance run in the sixth. In the fifth, a one-out bunt single by Nolan Fontana (INF; Winter Garden, Fla.) and a balk by Australia starter Adam Spencer (1-1) preceded Franklin's RBI single to center and a 2-1 USA lead. An inning later, Austin Maddox (DH; Jacksonville, Fla.) drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a bunt single by Max Stassi (C; Yuba City, Calif.) and then came home on a run-scoring single by Andrew Aplin (OF; Suisun City, Calif.).
"Our bunting provided some big hits," Elkins said. "I thought we laid down some good bunts today at key times."
Franklin and Malm logged two hits each for Team USA, which is batting .348 as a team in seven tourney games.
Aug. 3 Medal Game Schedule (All times EDT)
Bronze: Australia (4-3) vs. Cuba (5-2), 3:15 p.m.
Gold: Korea (6-1) vs. USA (7-0), 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 3 Consolation Round Schedule (All times EDT)
7th place: Mexico (2-5) vs. Puerto Rico (3-4), noon
5th place: Chinese Taipei (4-3) vs. Canada (5-2), noon
Aug. 2 Medal Round Semifinal Results
Korea (6-1) def. Cuba (5-2), 6-1
USA (7-0) def. Australia (4-3), 3-1
Aug. 2 Consolation Round Schedule
11 place: Czech Republic (1-6) def. Russia (0-7), 7-1
9th place: Netherlands (3-4) def. Italy (2-5), 8-4
Chinese Taipei (4-3) def. Mexico (2-5), 1-0
Canada (5-2) def. Puerto Rico (3-4), 9-6
