Shelburne's Berger leads Team USA at World Cup qualifying tournament

Elise Berger knows winning.

The Champlain Valley Union High School starter was in the Redhawks’ championship-winning rotation this past spring and landed on the United States' women's national baseball roster last summer for a five-game friendship series against Team Canada.

The right-handed star was back on the mound for Team USA this summer and on Sunday went four innings, allowing just one hit in a 2-0 win against Mexico at Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The triumph, Berger’s second of the tournament, concluded Group A qualifying play for the United States (5-0) in the Women’s Baseball World Cup.

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Berger also fanned three and walked a pair in the win.

The Shelburne native, who enters her senior season with CVU this fall, collected her first group play win, going 5⅔ innings in USA’s opening contest against Australia. The hurler finished group play with a team-high 9⅔ innings pitched and a 1.45 ERA.

The United States qualified for the World Cup, which is set to be held next summer. Group B play is set to commence in Miyoshi City, Japan from Sept. 13-19 with the top three countries advancing to the finals.

For more on the tournament format, head to the WBSC website.

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Contact Jacob Rousseau at JRousseau@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter: @ByJacobRousseau.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: USA women's baseball: Berger leads Team USA in World Cup qualifiers