Baseball: USA 18U team wins gold medal behind Hans Crouse, Hagen Danner, Nick Pratto, Royce Lewis

A group of elite Southern California high school baseball players helped the USA 18U national team win the gold medal on Sunday in the championship game of the COPABE “AAA” Pan American Championships in Monterrey, Mexico.

USA defeated Cuba, 6-1. Hans Crouse, a top pro pitching prospect from Dana Hills, struck out 11 and allowed one hit in seven shutout innings.

Hagen Danner, a senior catcher from Huntington Beach, had a two-run double. Nick Pratto, a senior first baseman from Huntington Beach, had two doubles and an RBI. Royce Lewis, a senior third baseman from JSerra, had a single and RBI double.

All are headed home with gold medals, along with Hunter Greene of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

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