Seoul (Korea). Italy stayed in competition for half of the game against Australia, then the guys from Down Under took a forceful lead and won with a score of 11-2 to end in ninth in the 18U Baseball World Championship in Seoul, Korea, leaving the Europeans the 10th position.

The Azzurri went first on the scoreboard during the second inning, out of two singles in a row by Mineo and Benetti, a wild pitch from the Australian starter Wilson and a grounder by Maestri.

A triple by Hoschke and two singles by Hass and Kennelly in the fifth tied the game and led to the substitution of Gradali with Taschini on the Italian mound. The reliever could not stop the Australian bats: two sac flies from Hargreaves and Warner and bases loaded walks to Leslie and Hoschke meant a five-run big inning.

A single by Pulzetti, followed by a double by Mineo made Italy score the second run, but Australia, against Silvestri and Quattrini had a second big inning, this time scoring six times, that gave a virtual end to the game, as the Aussie bullpen did not leave any chance for coming back by the Italian lineup.