2016 Junior Men’s Softball World Championship Day 1 Game Summary

The 2016 Junior Men’s Softball World Championship kicked off today in Midland, Michigan, USA featuring twelve national teams from around the world A two pool round robin will be played during the first three days, then the top four teams from each pool will advance to the playoffs.

The first day did not run as smoothly as the hosts had anticipated. Rain caused all morning games to be shifted. Japan took on Israel later in the day, but the other three games were shifted to tomorrow.

Japan (1-0) vs. Israel (0-1)
8-0 (5 innings)
Box Score

Two pitchers combined to throw a no-hitter for Japan in an 8-0 victory in five innings over Israel.

Israel’s lineup had no answer for Yuto Nakajima as he held Israel hitless over three innings, while striking out eight and walking only two.

Japan scored three runs in the third as Yuki Imai, Sho Ashida, and Tomoyuki Konno scored due to a passed ball.

Japan tacked on more runs in the fourth off the bats of Fumiya Ueda for a two-run double.

Japan scored three runs in the fifth on an RBI single by Taichiro Ikeda, a fielder’s choice by Kento Morita, and a defensive error to bring the score to 8-0.

Win: Yuto Nakajima
Loss: Seth Ross

Next Up
Japan: Monday at 2:00pm vs. South Africa
Israel: Today at 8:00pm vs. Mexico

Denmark (0-1) vs. Botswana (1-0)
1-8 (5 innings)
Box Score

Gideon Puakaa was great in the circle throwing a no-hitter in Botswana’s 8-1 victory over Denmark.

No Denmark batter was able to locate Puakaa’s pitches as he struck out 15 batters and walked one to record the momentous feat. Puakaa ended the game on his own terms by striking out Oscar Trøjgård Andersen for the final out of the game.

Botswana defeated Denmark thanks to three hits, including two extra base hits. Botswana’s big inning occurred in the fourth inning as they scored four runs on a two-run double by Tumisang Moakofhi, who later stole home, and also on a passed ball. Moakofhi had a nice game at the plate racking up three RBIs on two hits for Botswana.

Win: Gideon Puakaa
Loss: Mikkel Aarestrup Nielsen

Next Up
Denmark: Monday at 12:00pm vs. Argentina
Botswana: Monday at 10:30am vs. United States

Canada (0-1) vs New Zealand (1-0)
1-3
Box Score

New Zealand opened their world championship with a 3-1 in over Canada. Canada outhit New Zealand, but the Kiwis were able to scrape together three runs to win the battle on the scoreboard.

Canada got a two-out single by Alexandre Lemieux but was unable to score, and New Zealand opened the scoring with a leadoff triple by Jarome McKenzie and later scored on a wild pitch.

The pitching took over from there, as Canada’s Tyler Randerson and New Zealand’s Daniel Chapman both retired the side in order in each of the second and third innings.

Canada got a leadoff walk in the fourth, but the runner was retired on a double play to end the inning. New Zealand got Jacob Zurcher base on a dropped third strike in the bottom of the frame, but Canada threw his pinch runner Jayden Stratford out stealing to keep the score 1-0.

Daniel Godbout notched his second leadoff single of the game to start the fifth, later followed by a single by Justin Laskowski with the runners advancing on a wild pitch. Derek Hyde drew a walk to load the bases with one out, but a strikeout and a ground out to third left three runners stranded on base. New Zealand added to its lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth when leadoff batter Zac Boyd walked, stole second, advanced to third on an error and scored on a groundout to shortstop.

In the sixth, Lemieux connected with a one-out single but was wiped out on a fielder’s choice followed by a ground out to keep Canada off the scoreboard. New Zealand added its third run in the bottom of the frame when Reilly Makea doubled and was sacrificed to third before scoring on a two-out single.

Canada mounted a comeback in the top half of the seventh with Randerson leading off with a single to left followed by a walk to put two runners on base. After a fly out to center advanced Randerson to third, he scored on a ground out. However, the next batter grounded out to end the ball game.

Win: Daniel Chapman
Loss: Tyler Randerson

Next Up
Canada: Monday at 6:00pm vs. Mexico
New Zealand: Monday at 1:00pm vs. Israel

United States (0-1) vs. Argentina (1-0)
5-6
Box Score

The two-time defending world champions were forced to come from behind to beat USA, 6-5.

In the bottom of the first, USA grabbed the early lead, 4-0 with a single up the middle from Bryce DuCharme and a single to right field by Derek Martin. With DuCharme and Martin on base, Isaac Hormann singled, scoring DuCharme and Martin. USA proceeded to add additional runs with Peyton Hall scoring on a fielder’s choice and Hormann crossing the plate on a passed ball.

After DuCharme added another run to the board in the second to extend their lead to 5-0, the USA would get hurt by a number of miscues, committing five errors, eventually leading to two unearned runs for Argentina.

In the top of the fourth inning, Argentina hit a sac fly to make it 5-1. USA was unable to answer with runs of their own at their at-bat, and had to watch Argentina cross the plate four times in the fifth to make it a tie ballgame.

Starting the sixth, Argentina’s Ferrara reached second base following a bunt and an error on the play, eventually making it home on a fielder’s choice and a single Gian Scialacomo to go ahead 6-5.

USA’s bat would go silent over the last two innings and Argentina picked up the 6-5 win.

Win: Julian Fernandez
Loss: Zane Chason

Next Up
United States: Monday at 10:30am vs Botswana
Argentina: Monday at 12:00pm vs. Denmark

Israel (0-2) vs. Mexico (1-0)
0-7 (5 innings)
Box Score

Mexico jumped out to an early lead against Israel and never looked back to capture the 7-0 victory on Sunday at Emerson Field.

The game was decided quickly as Mexico scored five runs in the first inning. A combination of hits, walks and defensive errors allowed Israel Ayala, Lenny Villalvazo, Jorge Martinez Garza, Adrian Rodriguez, and Vincente Avila Durazo to cross home.

In the fourth, Martinez Garza scored after getting on after with a hard hit ball past the first baseman.

In the bottom of the seventh, Angel Reyes Olivares homered to left field to end the game in favor of Mexico 7-0.

Win: Alexis Corona Illan
Loss: Yuval Barak

Next Up
Israel: Monday at 1:00pm vs. New Zealand
Mexico: Monday at 9:30am vs. South Africa