Team USA pitcher Dillon Maples pitched the final inning of Sunday night's 10-0 victory over Italy in the pool phase of the 18 and under World Junior Championships being held in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

The Pinecrest senior from West End made his first mound appearance as the U.S. improved to 2-0. John Simms, of Woodlands, Texas, pitched the first six innings of the game that ended in the seventh under the 10-run rule.

"John (Simms) pitched very well for us tonight," head coach Garye LaFevers said in an account appearing on USABaseball.com. "He worked ahead in the count and could of probably finished the game, but it was good to get Dillon [Maples] an appearance."

The pool phase concludes for the U.S. with games against Chinese Taipei, Venezuela and France on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The medal rounds begin on Friday.