Costly loss for Mexico in the super round of the U-12 Baseball World Cup

Nicaragua beat (9-7) Mexico to earn their first win in the super round of the U-12 Baseball World Cup. The loss may prove costly to Mexico’s ambition to play the gold medal game on Sunday.



Mexico starter Gastelum opens with a couple of walks and then doesn’t get any help as a catchable pop by Nicaragua second baseman Torrentes becomes a double and 2 runs score, from second and third.
Gastelum himself leads off the bottom half of the first with a double and scores Mexico’s first run. Nicaragua starter Montealto is helped by hazardous base running by left fielder Macias (out at second, running at miscalculated risk on an infield fly play) and can maintain the lead.
Mexico ties it in the bottom of the second. First baseman Gallegos and relief pitcher Fornue both single, while rightfielder Saldana walks. Third baseman Cano grounds to shortstop. Gallegos scores from third, but Nicaragua comes up with a double play.

Mexico can anyway reverse the lead in the top of the third. Center fielder Tirado reaches on an error and second baseman Monjaras uses Montalto fifth pitch to deliver a 2 run homer that puts Mexico ahead 4-2.
It won’t last for long. In the top of the fourth Nicaragua loads the bases, scores one on a walk and cleares the bases on back to back hits: a double to left by right fielder Tito Martinez and a bloop single to right by shortstop Machado. Fornue game is over as Machado steals second and scores on a base hit by first baseman Bravo. Mexico hands the ball to Iker Gallegos to close the at bat, but the lead is back to Nicaragua: 8-4.
Nicaragua makes it 9-4 in the fifth. Collado doubles and then makes room for pinch runner Tobal. Catcher Benavides gets a base hit to right. The ball goes over Mexico rightfielder Saldana, who was trying a diving catch, and Benavides rounds bases for a triple. Gallegos prevents further damage with a couple of ground outs.
Torrentes takes over for Montealto in the bottom of the frame and Mexico gets to him right away. One run scores on a bases loaded sacrifice fly to right by Gallegos. Then Torrentes strikes out pinch hitter Hernandez. Fornue singles to left to score one more and Cano tries to make things really interesting with one more base hit. Unfortunately for Mexico, he overruns second base and is caught by the throw of the cut off man (pitcher Torrentes) for the third out.

The loss against Mexico is a huge disappointment for Mexico

Torrentes walks Gastelum to open the bottom of the sixth. To protect the 9-6 lead, Nicaragua sends Bryant Machado
to the mound. Tirado welcomes him with a base hit that sends Gastelum to third. On a nasty pop by Monjaras, Nicaragua right fielder Tito Martinez manages to get the second out with a brilliant running catch. Gastelum scores from third. It looks like game over on Nava grounder to third, but Tobal overthrows to first and Gallegos steps to the home plate representing the potential winning run. His fly to right is caught by Tito Martinez and Nicaragua wins.