U-18 Oceania Championship set to open, winner advances to U-18 Baseball World Cup

SYDNEY — World No. 11 Australia will host No. 27 New Zealand and No. 36 Guam from 18 – 21 January at Sydney’s Blacktown International Sportspark in the Baseball Confederation of Oceania (BCO) U-18 Championship.

The winner of the continental will represent Oceania at the XXVIII WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in Thunder Bay, Canada (1-10 September).

Following the opening round-robin that will see each country play each other twice, the top two seeds will meet in the championship final. If a nation goes through the tournament undefeated, the team will be automatically declared the BCO Champion.

Host Australia will play a double-header to open the tournament squaring off against New Zealand before taking on Guam in the evening.

Ten nations have already secured their place in the U-18 world championship in Thunder Bay.

• Africa (1): TBD
• Americas (5): No. 2 United States, No. 5 Cuba, No. 6 Canada, No. 8 Mexico and No. 18 Nicaragua
• Asia (3): No. 1 Japan, No. 3 Korea and No. 4 Chinese Taipei
• Europe (2): No. 9 Italy and No. 10 Netherlands
• Oceania (1): TBD

Keep up-to-date with the U-18 BCO World Cup Qualifier by visiting the Baseball Australia website.