Australia shut out Canada, Argentina eliminate USA #2018jrworlds

A dominant performance by pitcher Layton Reid led Australia to win, 2-0, a close game against Canada. The National Teams played in front of a raucous crowd at the end the first day of play off play at the WBSC Junior Men’s Softball World Championship. Reid, who worked the game with left handed catcher Jacob Donalds, went the distance and allowed only 4 hits and 3 walks, striking out an impressive 17.

Aussie pitcher Layton Reid would have been too much for anybody tonight

Canada’s first hit against Reid came only in the bottom of the fourth. Reid survived a defensive error and took himself out of the jam striking out dangerous first baseman Kosmynka with a nasty changeup.
In the top half of the frame Australia had scored the go ahead run. Center fielder Ludkin reached on a walk by Canadian starter David Watson. Australia bunted him to second against reliever Torrie. Ludkin then reached third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch. On the very next pitch, Torrie struck out right fielder Nussbaum to end the inning.

Australia added an insurance run in the top of the seventh as pinch hitter Cristopher Plain tripled off Riley Manion, the third Canadian pitcher.
With a 2-0 lead, Reid didn’t need to care too much about the stand up double by Kosmynka that opened the bottom half of the frame. He cruised to the end of the game with a couple of strike outs and inducing a pop fly.

Scialacomo of Argentina slides into secondo against USA

Argentina outscored, 9-2, and outhit, 8-3, USA in five innings and earned another chance to advance to the medal round of the WBSC Junior Men’s Softball World Championship. USA are eliminated.

Argentina’s Juan Pepe threw three perfect innings and got run support from the start. Argentina wasted no time and scored the go ahead run in the first, thanks to a triple by right fielder Lucio Retamar and a base hit by center fielder Lautaro Machuca.
Argentina displayed more power in the second. A double by second baseman Gian Marcos Scialacomo and a triple by third baseman Alejo Munoz sent USA starter Landry to the showers and made it a 5-0 game. Argentina added one run on a defensive error.

USA stranded their first runner (Jeffrey Lewis, hit by pitch) on a steal attempt, then they loaded the bases. Argentina gave the call to Marcelo Martinez, who began allowing a 2 RBI single to USA first baseman Marcelo Martinez. It was all USA could get.
In the top of the fifth Argentina got to reliever Craig Lewis with an RBI double by Machuca. A sacrifice fly by left fielder Leonel Dardanelli added another run. It was enough to end the game.