The inaugural WBSC Baseball5 World Cup moved into top gear with the start of the Super Round and Placement Round at El Zocalo in Mexico City on Friday.
The Super Round started off in tremendous fashion with Japan (1-1 Super Round win-loss record), in superb defensive form, beating Venezuela 1-0, 6-1 in the opening game on centre court before Cuba proved too good for Tunisia 10-1, 11-1 and Chinese Taipei beat Mexico 3-1, 6-0.
The win by Asia
vice champions Japan provided Venezuela (2-0), one of the tournament favourites,
with their first defeat of the tournament and moves Japan level with Venezuela
at 2-1 in the Super Round standings.
There were
two golden innings for Japan. In the top of the fifth, Takuya Shima scored to
give them the lead and with Japan playing so well in defence, they were able to
defend the lead and win the first match 1-0. Japan continued where they left
off with a blistering start to the second match, opening a 5-0 lead in the top
of the first.
One more
run in the top of fourth saw Japan extend the lead to 6-0 before Venezuela
finally got on the board in which turned out to be the final score 6-1.
After that
superb game, Cuba (2-0), another of the tournament favourites, was in
impressive form against Tunisia (0-2) with Orlando Amador opening the scoring
in the first innings for a 1-0 lead and Cuba didn’t look back. They crossed four
times in the second to lead 5-0 before Tunisia pulled one back to 5-1 in the
top of the third with Mahmoudi Baligh getting home before Amador (twice), Briandy
Molina, Roivelis Nunez and Eliani Castellanos all scored for Cuba to lead 10-1
in the bottom of the third inning.
A great
double play from Tunisia with loaded bases at the bottom of the fourth kept the
score at 10-1, which was the final result of match 1.
Cuba were
quick out of the blocks again in match two, scoring six runs in the first and
another three in the third. Molka Jlajla scored for Tunisia in the top of the
fourth but Cuba soon closed it out with Cristian Basabe and Lietis Arcia scoring
for Cuba to win the second match 11-1.
The third
game on centre court saw Asia champions Chinese Taipei (1-1) prove too good for
the hosts Mexico (0-2) with Yu-Hao Tu and Chun Chiu scoring at Chinese Taipei’s
first turn at bat to lead 2-0.
Mexico’s Antonio
Ayon clawed one back in the top of the third but Tu scored again on a misfield to
make it 3-1 before Ayon pulled off a superb double play, tagging Chi-Ting-Hua Shih
at home plate before running to tag out Chi Lin between second and third base.
Chinese Taipei scored three more in the fourth to close out the match 6-1. And continued the moment in the second match, with Tu, Shih and Lin all scoring in the first inning.
Shish scored again in the second inning before Chinese Taipei scored two more in the fourth to win the second match 6-0.
Super Round Standings after the morning games are: Cuba (3-0), Japan (2-1), Chinese Taipei (2-1), Venezuela (2-1), Mexico (0-3), Tunisa (0-3).
Meanwhile in
Placement Round action, Korea beat Hong Kong 2-0 (7-3, 8-3) in the clash
between the two winless sides before France beat Lithuania in a repeat of the
European Championship final 2-0 (5-1, 6-0) and South Africa beat Kenya 2-1 (1-0,
0-3, 5-2) in what as also a repeat of the African Championship final.
Placement Round Standings are: South Africa (3-0), France (2-1), Kenya (2-1), Lithuania (1-2), Korea (1-2), Hong Kong (0-3)