Korea beat Nicaragua, both follow USA to U-12 Baseball World Cup super round

South Korea defeated (5-1) Nicaragua in a game that was actually closer than the score would indicate. Korea excelled at the running game and this made the difference, even if Nicaragua had more hits (7-6). Both teams in any case will qualify for the super round. Even in case of a victory against Australia, Panama would be eliminated because of a worse Team Quality Balance.



Korea used the running game to take the lead in the second. First baseman Woo Jeonggyu reached on an infield single to third and advanced on third baseman Lee Chanseo base hit. Runners advanced further on a wild pitch. As shortstop Kim Jiwook showed bunt and was called out (struck out swinging), Nicaragua catcher Benavides didn’t have total control of the ball. He had to throw to first to get the second out and Woo rushed home and scored, avoiding the tag on first baseman Bravo return throw.
Starting pitcher Ji Seungwon escaped a jam in the bottom of the frame when, with runners at the corners, he had center fielder Montealto groundout to second.

Ji Seungweon was very effective on the mound for Korea

Korea ran more and added a run in the third. Second baseman Lee Sunwoo walked, then stole second and third and scored on a base hit by center fielder Jang Jeongu.
An error by Montealto helped Korea manufacture 2 more runs in the fourth: the first on a base hit by catcher Lee Kang, the second on a well executed (by Lee Sunwoo and runner Kim Jiwook) safety squeeze play.
After Nicaragua cut the lead, scoring a run in the bottom of the fifth, thanks to a base hit by Bravo off reliever Jang Jeongu, in the top of the sixth Korea showed also some power. Left fielder Lee Jinjung got to reliever Tito Martinez with a solo homer to make it 5-1, the final score.

Starter Erick Reyes didn’t get all the support he needed from Nicaragua defense

Panama used 2 big innings (4 runs in the first and 6 in the fourth) to manufacture an easy (16-2, on 16 hits to 4) win against Australia. Emanuel Villareal goes the distance on the mound for Panama.

Liam Padovan of Australia defends third against Panama

The win puts Panama into a 3 team tie (3-2 record) behind the undefeated USA in group B, but this won’t help them reach the superround. Due to a poor Team Quality Balance, Panama will come out as the number 4 seed.