07/11/2022 - 12/11/2022

 

Hosted by:   MEX

Baseball5 World Cup 2022 - Official Payoff

WBSC Baseball5 World Cup Super Round: Japan, Cuba and Chinese Taipei claim wins in exciting morning session

WBSC Baseball5 World Cup Super Round: Japan, Cuba and Chinese Taipei claim wins in exciting morning session
11/11/2022
Japan, Cuba and Chinse Taipei were all victorious in the Super Round morning session on Friday.

The inaugural WBSC Baseball5 World Cup moved into top gear with the start of the Super Round and Placement Round at El Zocalo in Mexico City on Friday.

The Super Round started off in tremendous fashion with Japan (1-1 Super Round win-loss record), in superb defensive form, beating Venezuela 1-0, 6-1 in the opening game on centre court before Cuba proved too good for Tunisia 10-1, 11-1 and Chinese Taipei beat Mexico 3-1, 6-0.

The win by Asia vice champions Japan provided Venezuela (2-0), one of the tournament favourites, with their first defeat of the tournament and moves Japan level with Venezuela at 2-1 in the Super Round standings.

There were two golden innings for Japan. In the top of the fifth, Takuya Shima scored to give them the lead and with Japan playing so well in defence, they were able to defend the lead and win the first match 1-0. Japan continued where they left off with a blistering start to the second match, opening a 5-0 lead in the top of the first.

One more run in the top of fourth saw Japan extend the lead to 6-0 before Venezuela finally got on the board in which turned out to be the final score 6-1.

After that superb game, Cuba (2-0), another of the tournament favourites, was in impressive form against Tunisia (0-2) with Orlando Amador opening the scoring in the first innings for a 1-0 lead and Cuba didn’t look back. They crossed four times in the second to lead 5-0 before Tunisia pulled one back to 5-1 in the top of the third with Mahmoudi Baligh getting home before Amador (twice), Briandy Molina, Roivelis Nunez and Eliani Castellanos all scored for Cuba to lead 10-1 in the bottom of the third inning.

A great double play from Tunisia with loaded bases at the bottom of the fourth kept the score at 10-1, which was the final result of match 1.

Cuba were quick out of the blocks again in match two, scoring six runs in the first and another three in the third. Molka Jlajla scored for Tunisia in the top of the fourth but Cuba soon closed it out with Cristian Basabe and Lietis Arcia scoring for Cuba to win the second match 11-1.

The third game on centre court saw Asia champions Chinese Taipei (1-1) prove too good for the hosts Mexico (0-2) with Yu-Hao Tu and Chun Chiu scoring at Chinese Taipei’s first turn at bat to lead 2-0.

Mexico’s Antonio Ayon clawed one back in the top of the third but Tu scored again on a misfield to make it 3-1 before Ayon pulled off a superb double play, tagging Chi-Ting-Hua Shih at home plate before running to tag out Chi Lin between second and third base.

Chinese Taipei scored three more in the fourth to close out the match 6-1. And continued the moment in the second match, with Tu, Shih and Lin all scoring in the first inning.

Shish scored again in the second inning before Chinese Taipei scored two more in the fourth to win the second match 6-0.

Super Round Standings after the morning games are: Cuba (3-0), Japan (2-1), Chinese Taipei (2-1), Venezuela (2-1), Mexico (0-3), Tunisa (0-3).

Meanwhile in Placement Round action, Korea beat Hong Kong 2-0 (7-3, 8-3) in the clash between the two winless sides before France beat Lithuania in a repeat of the European Championship final 2-0 (5-1, 6-0) and South Africa beat Kenya 2-1 (1-0, 0-3, 5-2) in what as also a repeat of the African Championship final.

Placement Round Standings are: South Africa (3-0), France (2-1), Kenya (2-1), Lithuania (1-2), Korea (1-2), Hong Kong (0-3)