Korea, Australia win to open Day 4 of the U-18 Baseball World Cup

Australia and Korea open Day 4 of the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup with wins against Chinese Taipei and Nicaragua.

Australia wins (4-0) in the rematch of the gold medal game of the 2010 U-18 Baseball World Cup against Chinese Taipei despite being outhit (11-8). Australia played a very good game behind starter Ky Hampton, who went the distance allowing no walk and striking out 5 to earn a shut out win.The Aussie are now in a very good position to qualify for the super round since they beat both Italy and Chinese Taipei, other teams that can end with a 3-2 record.

Chinese Taipei have an early chance to score. In the bottom of the first. Second baseman Tseng Han Yu (single to shortstop) and center fielder Kuo Tien Hsin (drag bunt) surprise Australia defense. Righfielder Chiu Chih Heng singles to right and Tseng tries to score from second. A very accurate throw by Australia right fielder Amos gets to home plate leaving plenty of time to catcher Hall to apply the tag for the out.

Aussie outfield is not so good in the top of the second. Anderson-Vine misplays a fly ball by designated hitter Tai Pei Lin (scored a hit) and runs all the way to third on a single to right by catcher Su Wei Chin. Left fielder Chu Mai Ko sends a comebacker to the mound, allowing Australia starter Hampton to ignite a double play with a throw to second.

Australia gets on the scoreboard in the third and Amos is once again the man. The right fielder leads off with a solo homer to left on the second pitch by starter Gu Lin Ruei Yang.
Australia make it 2-0 in the second. Anderson-Vine walks and then steal seconds. With one out, third baseman Dale singles to left and scores him.

Wan Chao Ching relieves Gu in the top of the fifth and Amos welcomes him with a line drive to left center that is worth a double. Second baseman Fritsch grounds out to shortstop and allows Amos to reach third but, with center fielder Bedggood at bat, something doesn’t work as far as communication for Australia. Amos takes off for home plate as if a squeeze play was on but Bedggood doesn’t put the ball in play and Amos is tagged for the out as he tries to recover to third base.

An error by Australia second baseman Fritsch gives Chinese Taipei another chance in the bottom of the eigth. Kuo Tien Hsin reaches first, steals second and reaches third on a 2 out comebacker by first baseman Li Yu Chuan that Hampton cannot play. Hampton fields cleanly next comebacker (by Tai Pei Lin) and the inning is over.

Australia add a couple of insurance runs in the ninth. Shortstop Williams leads off with a line drive triple to right and scores on a hard comebacker by Anderson-Vine that gets by Wan Chao Ching and rolls to second baseman Tseng. First baseman Wingrove works the count full and then hits a bullet to center field for an RBI double.
Left fielder Anderson-Vine closed the game with a spectacular diving catch.

Jacob Amos (number 8) broke the tie with a solo homer in the third (James Mirabelli-WBSC)

Korea outscored (12-4) Nicaragua and will qualify to the super round as the number one seed in group A.

Nicaragua get on the score first, thanks to a double by left fielder Hurtado off Korea starterKim Youngjun in the top of the first.
In the bottom half of the frame Korea strike right back with 5 runs against Nicaragua starter Budier. Left fielder Yi Inhyok hits a rare inside the park grand slam.

Korea had just 6 hits (this includes a second home run: a 2 run shot by center fielder Jang Junhwan) but capitalized on 3 defensive errors. Kim Kihoon and Kim Min pitched 2 innings each to complete Kim Youngjun effort.

Yi Inhyok swings for the inside the park home run (Christian J Stewart)