2016 Jr. Men’s Softball World Championship Day 3 Game Summary

The day’s game schedule was back on track after rain showers on the first day shifted play around for the first two days.

Argentina and Japan are the only undefeated teams left and could possibly finish pool play with no losses. Teams must finish in the top four places to advance to the playoff round and stay in medal contention. The lower half of the pools will continue in the placement round.

Argentina (4-0) vs. Botswana (1-3)
6-2
Box Score

Argentina stands as the only team undefeated in Pool A as they won over Botswana 4-0. Argentina is on track to advance to the playoffs, while Botswana will need to win their final game tomorrow for a chance to finish fourth in Pool A.

Argentina scored first, though the sixth inning caused a scare to them as Botswana tied the game up. Juan Platner was key in the victory going 3-4, scoring twice while driving in another.

In the first inning, Teo Migliavacca homered to right field, plating Platner for the 2-0 lead. Argentina had more opportunities in the second as they loaded the bases, but two straight strikeouts ended the inning with no harm to Botswana.

Neither team could get anything going until the top of the sixth as Botswana scored two runs on Thabang Tshipa’s double to right field to tie the game at 2-2.

But Platner came up big and brought home the go-ahead run to give Argentina the lead in the seventh inning. Migliavacca hit a two-run homer to widen the lead as Argentina scored four in the inning and hung on to defeat Botswana 6-2.

Win: Julian Fernandez
Loss: Gideon Puakaa

Next Up
Argentina: Wednesday at 7:00pm vs. Czech Republic
Botswana: Wednesday at 12:00pm vs. Australia

Australia (1-1) vs. Czech Republic (2-1)
3-2
Box Score

Australia had to come from behind to beat the Czech Republic 3-2. After the 9-1 loss to Argentina the previous day, the Aussies needed to beat the Czech Republic to record their first win of the tournament.

When the Czechs scored an unearned run in the fourth inning and took a 1-0 lead into the fifth, that ambition seemed shaky. But some speedy base-running soon changed that. Luke Ollerenshaw’s two-out single was followed by two stolen bases by courtesy runner Mitchell Woodworth, who then scored on a wild pitch to tie the score at 1-1.

In the sixth inning, the Australians took the lead for the first time.  A walk to Alex Cleary, an RBI single by James Purcell, a passed ball, and an RBI ground out by Blake Bell added up to two runs and a 3-1 lead.

Even then the game wasn’t safe, as three walks and a fielding error gave the Czech Republic a run and loaded bases. The key play of the game came when the next batter, Petr Kucirek, hit the ball back to pitcher Shaun Lanaghan, who threw home to get the out on what would have been the tying run.

Lanaghan then struck out the final batter to give the Junior Steelers their first win of the tournament.

Win: Luke Ollerenshaw
Loss: Michal Holobradek

Next Up
Australia: Today at 7:00pm vs. Denmark
Czech Republic: Today at 8:00pm vs. United States

United States (2-1) vs. Denmark (0-4)
9-2 (5 innings)
Box Score

Scoring a run in all but one inning in their first game of the day, the United States combined for 10 hits en route to a 9-2 (five innings) win over Denmark.  Led by veteran Justin Perez, who had a 2-for-3 outing with three RBI, the U.S. also had a strong performance by Jeff Lewis in the circle.

USA was retired in order in the top of the first inning on three-consecutive ground outs.  Lewis returned the favor in the bottom of the frame, issuing a leadoff strikeout while retiring the next two with groundouts to keep it a scoreless ballgame.

A leadoff walk to Isaac Hormann in the top of the second inning got the U.S. offense going.  After stealing second, Hormann was in scoring position as Perez ripped a ball to left field, allowing Hormann to cross the plate for the first run of the game.

The U.S. opened up the game in the top of the third, scoring three runs off a string of hits.  A single from Bryce DuCharme put a runner on for the U.S., who then stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball.  Derek Martin picked up an RBI with a double to center field before Peyton Hall sent the ball out of the park for a two-run shot.

Another four runs crossed the plate in the top of the fourth inning for the U.S.  A single from Brady Parker and a walk to Jonathan Broadbear put two on and a single from D. Martin plated the first run of the inning.  Hall collected an RBI off a hard hit ball to right field and the final two runs of the inning came from a single by Perez to make it 8-0.

Denmark would get their sole run of the game in the bottom of the fourth.  After USA issued a leadoff walk to Duncan Milne, he would later be batted in off a sac fly.

In the fifth, Michael Douds doubled to left field and moved to third on a wild pitch.  Two batters later, Douds would score on another wild pitch, making it a 9-1 lead for the U.S.

Down to their final at-bat, Denmark threatened to plate a couple of runs after a shaky start by the U.S. in the bottom of the fifth.  An error allowed Nicolai Elsner to reach base and Theodor Bergenstof Gilhoj was hit by the pitch put two on with no outs.  A ground out to Hormann at shortstop recorded the first out of the at-bat, but a ground ball to M. Martin at second base allowed Elsner at third to score.  USA’s Lewis did not back down, securing the win with a strikeout to give the U.S. the 9-2 win.

Win: Jeff Lewis
Loss: Mikkel Aarestrup Nielsen

Next Up
United States: Today at 8:00pm vs. Czech Republic
Denmark: Today at 7:00pm vs. Australia

South Africa (1-2) vs. Israel (0-4)
12-1 (5 innings)
Box Score

South Africa easily defeated Israel 12-1 in five innings to receive their first win of the world championship. The win moves them into 4th place in Pool B and on the bubble to advance to the playoffs.

Israel struck first as Adi Leon scored on error by the South African catcher in the first inning.

But South Africa got the scoring going in the second and never looked back.  Kamogetswe Makolomakoe singled to center field with two outs and was later driven in by a ball hit by Jade Morkel to tie the game 1-1.

South Africa went up for good in the third, scoring three runs on an RBI double by Dale Freemantle, a sacrifice fly by Armand Van Den Berg, and an RBI single by Makolomakoe.

South Africa brought home four runs in the fourth inning, and matched that run total in the fifth. In the fourth, Janko Bardnardt, Vonschell Adams, Rian Hatting, and Dale Freemantle all crossed home for the 8-1 lead. In the fifth, Reece Nyland tripled to score Ronaldo Kekana and Adams. Nyland and Hatting also scored for the 12-1 eventual win.

Win: Kwena Nkune
Loss: Seth Ross

Next Up
South Africa: Wednesday at 1:00pm vs. New Zealand
Israel: Wednesday at 2:00pm vs. Canada

Japan (4-0) vs. Canada (1-2)
9-1 (6 innings)
Box Score

Japan defeated Canada 9-1 to remain undefeated in pool play and the leader of Pool B.  The loss moves Canada into 4th place in their pool and on the bubble to advance to the playoffs.

Pitching his third game in as many days, Tyler Randerson held the Japanese bats in check for a good portion of the game before they broke things open late in the game, scoring four runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings in the run rule victory,

Japan opened the scoring in the top half of the first inning, hitting a one-out single with Tomoyuki Konno advancing to second on an error and to third on a ground out before scoring on a passed ball.

Randerson sat Japan down in order in each of the second, third and fourth innings, and Canada looked poised to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth. Avery Arsenault earned a leadoff walk and was sacrificed to second by Alexandre Lemieux followed by a walk by Jake Bricknell to put two runners on base. However, the next two batters struck out as Japan escaped the inning.

In the fifth, Randerson struck out the first two batters, but Kazumasa Shirabe singled, followed by a Taichiro Ikeda triple and Ayumu Takemori single to plate two runs. Ben Broek came on in relief of Randerson and gave up a triple to Sho Ashida, which allowed Yuki Imai to score on an error to increase the lead to 5-0.

In the top half of the sixth, Kaito Masaki and Takaya Kawaraguchi were hit by pitches before a pair of singles brought them in to score. With the bases loaded, two more runs came in to score on a passed ball and an error as Japan increased its lead to 9-0.

Looking to extend the game, Arsenault got a leadoff walk with another walk taken by Justin Laskowski. A ground out to first by Daniel Godbout allowed Avery Arsenault to cross the plate, but the next batter struck out to end the game in Japan’s favor.

Win: Fuga Nagai
Loss: Tyler Randerson

Next Up
Canada: Wednesday at 2:00pm vs. Israel
Japan: Wednesday at 4:00pm vs. Mexico

New Zealand (2-1) vs. Mexico (2-1)
11-1 (5 innings)
Box Score

Mexico fell 11-1 at the hands of New Zealand for their first loss of the world championship.

Mexico scored in the bottom of the first off a single to right field by Jorge Alberto Martinez to plate Lenny Josue Villalvazo.

But New Zealand got things going in the third when they scored three runs on a passed ball, a ground out by Reilly Makea, and an RBI single by Jarome McKenzie.

New Zealand piled on more runs in the fifth and sixth innings with two four-run rallies.

In the fifth, New Zealand watched Jarome McKenzie score on a defensive error, followed by Reilly Makea’s two-run homer. The final run of the inning was scored by Callum Bishop off a Callum Lewis-Carson bunt.

In the sixth, New Zealand’s four runs came from a Jacob Zurcher two-run homer, Harrison Valk run on an error, and an RBI single by Zac Boyd.

Win: Bailey Hamilton
Loss: Carlos Eduardo Menchaca

Next Up
New Zealand: Wednesday at 1:00pm vs. South Africa
Mexico: Wednesday at 4:00pm vs. Japan

Australia (2-1) vs. Denmark (0-5)
17-0 (4 innings)
Box Score

Australia blasted Denmark 17-0 for their second win of the day and championship. But with only one run in the first two innings, it seemed Denmark were not going to be an easy opponent.

All that changed in the third inning, when the Australians piled on eight runs. If that wasn’t enough, they repeated the dose in the fourth inning.

Remarkably, the Junior Steelers compiled the huge run total with only seven hits, none of them home runs. They were helped considerably by Denmark’s pitchers, who allowed 11 walks, including six in one inning.

Adam Talarico led the offensive charge with three hits including a triple, three runs scored and two RBIs. Mitchell Woodworth had two hits, two runs scored and an RBI. Michael Ludkin had only one hit — a double — but four RBIs.

Pitchers Dylan Sheehan and Chris Gillies did not allow a hit between them. Sheehan was particularly impressive, striking out seven and walking one in three innings.

Win: Dylan Sheehan
Loss: Andreas Adelsbæk

Next Up
Denmark: TBD
Australia: Wednesday at 12:00pm vs. Botswana

United States (3-1) vs. Czech Republic (2-2)
3-2
Box Score

It was the USA who walked off the field victorious and handed Czech Republic their second loss of the world championship. Pitcher Derek Martin delivered 10 strikeouts and scattered two hits and two walks over seven innings of work.

It was a quick first inning for both teams as USA saw Czech Republic’s Michael Holobradek deliver three-straight strikeouts to Bryce DuCharme, Derek Martin and Peyton Hall.

With one out in the top of the second, Czech Republic would get their first run of the game fueled by a double hit by Martin Turek, who made it home after a third dropped strike and an error committed by USA.

The U.S. was unable to respond in the next half inning, as Justin Perez would be caught stealing second to make the third out.

Despite making contact in the third inning, the score would remain in Czech Republic’s favor ensuing two back-to-back ground outs by Jeff Lewis and Matthew Martin and a strikeout issued to shortstop Jonathan Broadbear.

The U.S. finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning. Following a leadoff single by DuCharme, a double by Peyton Hall advanced DuCharme to third base. After an error by Czech Republic, DuCharme crossed home to put USA on the scoreboard and moved Hall to third base with one out. A fielder’s choice led Isaac Hormann to reach first and Hall to score, resulting in the 2-1 lead.

The two teams continued to battle as no hits would come about until the sixth inning.

With two outs in the top of the sixth, Czech Republic would score on a wild pitch and tie the ballgame at two apiece. It was then that Derek Martin would issue his tenth strikeout of the game to strand Czech Republic’s Jakub Hajny at third and end the threat.

Derek Martin brought in what would be USA’s winning run. With one out, Martin singled to third base, advanced to second on a groundout by Hall, and scored on an error by Czech Republic first baseman Hajny. A groundout to first by Hormann would end the inning and take USA into the final half inning of the night.

Heading into the seventh inning, second baseman Lewis fielded the ball cleanly and threw first to get the first out, and after issuing a walk to Milan Sulc, USA put together an impressive game-winning double play to finalize a 3-2 decision in their favor.

Win: Derek Martin
Loss: Michal Holobradek

Next Up
United States: Wednesday at 6:00pm vs. Australia
Czech Republic: Wednesday at 7:00pm vs. Argentina