USA Softball U-17 National Team Wins Pan-Am Championship

The USA Softball U-17 women's national team captured the gold medal at the first-ever Pan-American Championship with a 2-0 win over Mexico on Saturday.

The American squad, which posted a record of 8-0 at the 10-team tournament, hit .430 as a team with five home runs and 67 RBIs in eight games.

“I am speechless and truly blessed by the opportunity to get to know each of these amazing young women,” the team's head coach Kyla Holas said in a press release. “They are the future of this sport and represented their country with outstanding class. They accomplished something as a team that will be with them for the rest of their lives. Thanks to all for making this an amazing experience.”

During pool play, Team USA earned wins over Peru, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina. With their perfect record in pool play, the Americans advanced to the Super Round and downed Canada, Colombia and Puerto Rico before defeating Mexico in the final.

The tournament was a qualifier for the first-ever World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Women's Softball World Cup, which will take place next year. The top five squads in the Pan-American Championship final standings earned spots in the 2020 World Cup.

The 2019 U.S. team, which was coached by Holas, Becky Snow and Ernie Yarbrough, was comprised of 15 players from around the United States.

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