Korea defeat Chinese Taipei, Australia outscore Italy to open Day 2 of the U-18 Baseball World Cup

Day 2 of the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup was delayed by rain. Korea opened it defeating Chinese Taipei. Australia beat Italy to make Korea the only undefeated team of Group A.

In a game started with a 2 hour rain delay, Korea defeat (8-2) Chinese Taipei playing almost perfect baseball behind effective starter Yang Changseop, who earns the win allowing only 3 hits over 7 innings.

Korea get on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the third. With one out, Chinese Taipei starter Liu Chih Jung hits left fielder Yi Inhyok. Second baseman Choi Junwoo follows with a base hit and lead off shortstop Bae Jihwan walks to load the bases. Right fielder Choi Hyunjun hits a hard liner to left that is caught but still is deep enough for Yi to score.
Korea add a run in the fourth as designated hitter Kang Baekho leads off with a first pitch home run.

Chinese Taipei second baseman Tseng Han YU plays some pretty consistent defense in the fifth as he cleanly fields a sharp roller by Choi Hyunjun and prevents Yi Inhyok (infield hit, reached third on a couple of bunts) from scoring.
Korea starter Yang Changseop keeps Chinese Taipei off balance with a brilliant mix of breaking ball and 2 seam fastball. With 2 outs in the bottom of the sixth, he allows a walk (to Tseng Han Yu) and a base hit (to Kuo Tien Hsin). After a coaching visit, he is out of the jam thanks to a beautiful diving catch by second baseman Choi Junwoo, who beats also a bad bounce on right fielder Chiu Ching Heng sharp roller and gets the force out at second.

In the seventh, Korea show how the long ball is not strictly needed to manufacture a run. Choi Junwoo singles, steals second, reaches third on a wild pitch and scores on a comebacker to the mound, beating reliever Wu Shi Hao assist to catcher Su Wei Chih.
Korea break the score open in the top of the ninth, scoring 5 runs on 4 hits (including doubles by first baseman Han Donghui, 2 RBIs, and Choi Junwoo) off reliever Gu Lin Ruei Yang, who is also plagued by a defensive error. Kim Kihoon pitches the eigth, Park Don Soo takes the mound for the ninth and allows Chinese Taipei to finally get on the board (2 runs score) on consecutive hits by Tseng Han Yu, shortstop Kuo Tien Hsin (double), Chiu Chih Heng and first baseman Li Yu Chuan. Chinese Taipei rally comes to a stop when, with runners at first and second, designated hitter Lee Cheng Ling grounds to third. Kim Jeongwoo gets the force out and throws to second to complete the double play. Left fielder Chu Mai Ko flies out to left to end the game. Korea is on top of Group A.

Yang Chang Seop pitched a gem for Korea (Christian J Stewart-WBSC)

Italy scored first, but Australia took the lead in the bottom of the first and never looked back. The biggest problem happened when rain forced the umpiring crew to suspend the game in the middle of the sixth, with Australia leading 15-1. After waiting the required 30 minutes, umpires called it a game

Australia has 11 hits against 4 italian pitchers. Starter Tucci (5) and first reliever Pizzolini (3) combined also for 8 walks and the azzurri committed 4 errors. Shortstop Williams, catcher Hall (2 RBIs), third baseman Dale (3 RBIs) all had to hits, but each Australia hitter reached save at least one time. Jacob Green went the distance to earn the win.

Australia picked an easy first win in the U-18 World Cup against Itali (James Mirabelli-WBSC)