Cuba, Japan secure spots in Super Round; rain postpones U-15 Baseball World Cup

DAVID/CHITRÉ, Panama – Cuba and Japan will advance to the Super Round out of Group B, following today’s wins over South Africa and Dominican Republic, respectively.

The top three squads from each group will advance to the Super Round.

Group A play in David was interrupted due to rain. The contest between Brazil and the United States was suspended in the first inning, with USA leading 4-0, while Germany and Panama didn’t see any action. Games will be rescheduled/resume Wednesday.

Cuba 10, South Africa 0

Cuba scored three runs in the first inning including an RBI single from Leyfi Llanez Castillo for all of the offense they would need and kept their unbeaten streak intact with a 10-0 win over winless South Africa.

Leonardo Reyes Lamoru tossed 4.1 scoreless innings on the mound with four strikeouts to earn the win while South Africa starting pitcher Kyle Weideman suffered the loss after being chased from the game in the first inning.

Cuba’s Frank Gonzalez Cuellar drove in two runs on a triple and sacrifice fly to improve his batting average to .545.

Japan 13, Dominican Republic 7

Seiya Fukuhara drove in four runs as Japan used 12 hits en route to a 13-7 win over Dominican Republic in a Group B showdown.

Japan reliever Shinnosuke Kanai entered the game in the fifth and proceeded to throw three perfect innings recording six strikeouts to earn the win.  Roberto Solis Ayala took the loss.

The game began with a flurry of runs with Dominican Republic leading by two after one before Japan came back and held a 9-4 advantage after three innings.

Manuel Beltre Rivas and Oscar Aude Castillo drove in two runs each for Dominican Republic.