World’s top four nations open U-12 Baseball World Cup with wins

TAINAN, Taiwan – The world’s top-four ranked nations scored victories, while Mexico tossed a no-hitter to open the 2015 WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup on Friday at Tainan and Kiui-Jen stadiums.

The 2013 U-12 World Champions, No. 2 USA, used power on the mound and at the plate to avenge a 2014 loss to No. 16 Nicaragua. The two nations last met in the finale of the U-12 World Cup Americas qualifier in Matzatlan, Mexico, where Nicaragua took the title. In Tainan, a trio of U.S. pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts, while only giving up three hits to Nicaragua.

Three Samurai Japan pitchers combined for a one-hit shutout against No. 14 Australia. The world No. 1 won the bronze medal at the 2013 U-12 Baseball World Cup. For Australia, it is the first time in history that a nation from Oceania is represented at the U-12 world championship.

The 2011 U-12 silver medallists, No. 3 Cuba, defeated the 2014 European U-12 champs, Russia, 13-0, in five innings. Cuba’s starting pitcher racked up 10 strikeouts and only gave up one hit en route to the victory over the world No. 32.

In a match-up between rivals No. 4 Chinese Taipei and No. 8 Korea, the host nation used five runs in the fifth inning to break up a 2-2 tie and eventually win the hotly contested game, 7-2, in front of a crowd of more than 4,000.

No. 12 Mexico only allowed one base-runner in an 18-0, near perfect effort against No. 27 France.

In an all-South America match-up, No. 10 Venezuela scored eight unanswered runs in the final two innings to overcome a 4-3 deficit and defeat No. 15 Brazil, 11-4.  Venezuela and Brazil collected 11 and 10 hits, respectively.

All twelve nations will return to action on Day 2, with world leaders Japan and USA among the feature contests.

The top three nations from each group will advance to the Super Round Robin.

For the full schedule, results and box scores, click here.

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