09/09/2022 - 18/09/2022

#U18WorldCup  

Hosted by:   USA

XXX U-18 Baseball World Cup 2021 - Official Payoff

Brazil beat Italy to finish seventh, best placement since 1997

Brazil beat Italy to finish seventh, best placement since 1997
17/09/2022
Starter Henrique Kono brought a no-hitter into the sixth inning. Brazil took the lead in the first and didn't look back.

Brazil beat Italy 5-1 to finish the Placement Round with a 4-1 record to finish the tournament in seventh place, their best placement in the U-18 Baseball World Cup since 1997.

The world No. 25 finished in ninth place in their last appearance in 2015 and in eight previous participations finished 10th, seventh, ninth (twice), fourth and sixth (three times).

Needing to beat Italy to guarantee they record their best finish since finishing seventh at the 1997 edition in Moncton, Canada, catcher Julian Takeda put Brazil on the board in the bottom of the first with an RBI single against starter Roberto Nepoti.

Brazil broke the score open with a four-run rally ignited by a squeeze bunt executed by shortstop Erick Makita in the bottom of the fourth.

Brazil's starter Henrique Kono Mazzaro took a no-hitter in the top of the sixth. Eduardo Cornelli broke the no-hitter with a two-out base hit, and Kono left soon after.

Designated hitter Williams Wong batted in Italy's only run in the top of the sixth. The Azzurri, who finished ninth in their last U-18 Baseball World Cup appearance in 2017, ended the Placement Round with a 2-3 record and could finish anywhere between ninth and 11th depending on other results on Saturday.