Canada is still alive, USA stay undefeated; qualifying round of U-18 Baseball World Cup will have a day 6

Canada get the win they needed to stay alive in the race for a spot in the super round out of group A. The hosts will play Nicaragua at 5 pm (local time; CET – 6 hours) in the make up game of 2 September rain out. If Canada win, it will be necessary to break a 3 team tie (with Australia and Chinese Taipei) to know which teams will make it to the super round together with Korea.
South Africa and Mexico will play at 1 pm to earn the first win of their campaigns in group B and improve their record for the consolation round.

Canada used 3 home runs in the first couple of innings to outslug (8-2) Australia.

With 2 outs (both on strikes) in the bottom of the first, Canada get to Australia starter Jackson Boyd. Third baseman Naylor walks. Catcher Brookman looks at a ball and drives the second pitch over the center field wall for a 2 run homer. First baseman Stovman works the count full and then homers to left.
Canada strike again in the second. With one out, right fielder Clarke doubles and left fielder Parente walks. Lead off second baseman Julien looks at too ball and then sends a line drive off the batter’s eye in center for a 3 run homer.

After havinng only one hit and a walk in 3 at bats against Canada left handed starter Jack Decooman, Australia gets on the scoreboard in the fourth.  Third baseman Dale leads off with a base hit. Slugging first baseman Wingrove looks at 2 balls, then delivers a line drive double (his second of the night) to right that advances Dale to third. Designated hitter Young scores Dale with a sacrifice fly to right.

In the bottom of the fifth Boyd walks Canada center fielder Keyes. He then strikes out Naylor, but his night comes to an end as Brookman reaches on an error by Willow and Keyes advances to third. Johannesen takes over to issue back to back walks to Stovman and Willow and extend Canada lead to 7-1. Johannesen goes to the showers and Wright takes the mound for Australia. Designated hitter Bremner gets immediately to him with an RBI single. Wright is out of trouble when he can throw home to start an inning ending double play on a comebacker by Clarke.

Australia score their second run in the top of the seventh off reliever Cade Smith, but the game takes a bad turn for them anyway. Williams leads off with a single and advances as Anderson-Vine earns a walk. Catcher Hall singles to right and scores Williams, while Anderson-Vine reaches third. Dale hits a bullet to left, that is caught by Canada third baseman Naylor. His throw to first doubles up Hall. The inning ends as Wingrove sends a comebacker to the mound.

Canada players pose for a Twitter selfie after the win against Australia (Christian J Stewart-WBSC)

USA complete undefeated the qualifying round with an 8-1 win against Cuba. The win earns the defending champions an advantage over the rivals in the super round. USA will start with a 2-0 record, Japan will be 1-1 and Cuba 0-2.

Cuba take the lead in the top of the second. With one out, Miguel Gonzalez walks and Cuba load the bases on an error by third baseman Delgado and another walk issued to center fielder Roidel Martinez by USA starter Wilcox Mitchell. Left fielder Mesa scores Gonzalez with a sacrifice fly to left.

USA strike right back against Cuba starter Marlon Perez. Delgado leads off with a base hit and advances to second when first baseman Casas flies out. With 2 outs, left fielder Thomas scores Delgado with a single to right.
In the bottom of the third USA take the lead. With 2 outs, designated hitter Mc Nair Seigler and shortstop Turang keep the at bat alive with back to back singles and another base hit by Delgado, with some help from a bad throw by Mesa, scores both.

Team USA add 2 in the fourth, manufacturing runs once again in a 2 out situation. Siani reaches on an infield hit and advances when second baseman Young walks. Both runners advance on a double steal to which Cuba reacts intentionally walking right fielder Kelenic. A single to right by Mc Nair Seigler scores both Siani and Young.
Casas scores the sixth run for USA in the bottom of the fifth. He singles up the middle, advances on a balk by reliever Ubert Mejias and touches home plate on single to right by Thomas.

The last 2 runs scored by USA also come out of a 2 out situation. Thomas doubles off Norge Vera Junior, third pitcher by Cuba and Siani follows with a triple to center that scores him. Also Siani touches home plate on an infield hit by Young.
Relievers Rocker and Ginn work the last 2 innings.

Cuba scored first, but it was not enough to beat the USA (James Mirabelli-WBSC)