Czech Republic surprise USA, finish third in group B #2018jrworlds

Czech Republic beat, 6-5, USA in a thriller to finish third in group B of the WBSC Junior Men’s Softball World Championship. The Czechs survived 4 defensive errors, while USA has to regret stranding too many runners in scoring position late in the game.

Czech Republic could strike first as Buchner took full advantage of an error by shortstop Gomez.
The USA fought right back. They loaded the bases building on a lead off base hit by Jeffrey Lewis and  on struggles by shortstop Hospodka. Czech starter Lukas Kubat struck out catcher Obregon, then first baseman Wark took him deep to the gap in right center for a 3 RBI triple.

Trailing 3-1, in the top of the second Czech offense got to USA starter Nathen Landry and took the lead back. Before Landry could collect an out, Czech Republic tied the game on a base hit by left fielder Vit Koci and a double in the gap to left center by Lukas Hospodka. Vojtek Buchner took Landry deep again for a 2 RBI double before Landry got himself out of trouble with his off speed pitches.

Craig Lewis took over for Landry after the starter hit catcher Kruntorad to open the third. Czech Republic bunted Kruntorad to second and Koci got another RBI, with some help from the wind, on a fly ball that dropped in shallow center field for a base hit and extended Czech lead to 5-3.
Lewis contributed to keeping USA in the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth. Another RBI base hit, by right fielder Dalton Gray, made it a one run game.

Vojtech Buchner took over for Kubat in the bottom of the fifth. He got started hitting Wark but, with the potential tying run at third, he got out of trouble striking out center fielder Chayton Lloyd.
Czech Republic didn’t take advantage of 2 walks issued by Craig Lewis in the top of the sixth.
USA didn’t do any better, since they stranded another runner at third in the bottom half of the frame. With two outs, Jeffrey Lewis tripled off the fence to right. But Craig Lewis became the third out as he sent a chopper to third.

Catcher Obregon led off the bottom of the seventh smashing the second pitch by Buchner off the wall to left. It would have been an easy stand up double, but Obregon tried to reach third and became the first out. Wark became the potential tying run as he singled to left. Buchner hit left fielder Hecht and this brought the tying run to second. The reliever struck out shortstop Stangel and center fielder Lloyd to end the game.

Vojtech Buchner

New Zealand beat Guatemala, 10-0, in four innings to finish second in group B.
New Zealand set the tone with a seven run second inning rally. The Junior Black Sox got five singles, four in a row against Guatemala’s starter Carlos Morales. After center fielder Tyrell Packer tripled, Guatemala called Luis Xuya from the bull pen.
New Zealand added three runs on the reliever to make it a four inning game.
Guatemala reached base only two times (base hit, walk) against New Zealand’s starter Taine Slaughter, who went the distance, striking out 8.

New Zealand’s Huw Davies

Canada needed only 4 inning to beat, 10-0, Hong Kong. The hosts confirmed themselves at top of group B.
Canada’s bats combined 13 hits, including a pair of home runs by Dawson Sellick and Mackenzie Fischer. Fischer also took care of pitching duties, going the distance and allowing only one hit