VI WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup Day 5: Mexico, USA win respective Groups as two Super Round tickets yet to be claimed
Chinese Taipei and Venezuela finished second and third in group A. The result of the Japan-Dominican Republic game will determine the final two super round spots out of group B.
Despite a heavy thunderstorm that hit the Tainan area in the morning of Tuesday, 2 August, the VI WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup played all games scheduled on Day 5.
Mexico's win against Venezuela is worth first place in group A, with Chinese Taipei second and Venezuela third as per the Team Quality Balance (TQB) rule.
In Group B action, the United States defeated Korea to move into the Super Round as the only unbeaten team. Dominican Republic (2-1) and Japan (1-2) will face off in the final game of the Opening Round, as Korea (2-1) looks on -- two of the three will head into the Super Round.
Day 5 offered some big performances.
Mexico-Venezuela 7-1 BOX SCORE Dominican Republic-Czechia 17-2 BOX SCORE USA- Korea 8-5 BOX SCORE Panama-South Africa 27-0 (4 innings) BOX SCORE Chinese Taipei-Italy 15-0 (4 innings) BOX SCORE
Italy managed to stay in the game for a couple of innings. The defending World Champions opened the score in the third and went on to win in four innings, 15-0.
Chinese Taipei took an early lead against starter Anita Bissa. The Italian defense limited damage thanks to a great running catch by left fielder Mathieu Silva.
A nine-run bottom of the third opened the score. Chinese Taipei reached the 15-run difference in the fourth before Italy could get an out.
The United States defeated Korea, 8-5, to earn their fifth conecutive win and finish group B in first place.
Korea used a balk by Anthony Frausto to get on the scoreboard first, but the US came right back an reversed the lead on a grand slam by left fielder Colin Anderson.
Korea came back thanks to a base hit by Seungwoo An and an error to tie the game at four in the top of the second.
The US regained the lead with a four-run second at bat, capped by a three-run home run by Anderson.
Panama needed only four innings to defeat South Africa, 27-0.
Panama outslugged South Africa with two home runs, including a grand slam by DH Gabriel Gonzalez, one triple and a double in the first couple of innings.
Mexico outscored Venezuela, 7-1, and will head to the super round as the number one seed out of group A.
Mexico's Ezequiel Rivera keeps making an impact. He hit a two-out double against starter Jose Ramos to put Mexico ahead and added another RBI double in the top of the third to make it 2-0.
Trailing 4-0, Venezuela got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run by first baseman Samuel Torres.
It was only Venezuela's second hit against Mexico's starter Ivan Suarez. The right-hander had some support from his defence.
Suarez gave himself three insurance runs in the top of the sixth, blasting a home run himself.
