Late comeback gives Japan 7-4 win over Colombia, ticket to Super Round along with Panama

In a roller-coaster game, Japan completed a sweep of Group B with a 7-4 win over Colombia to advance to the Super Round of the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup. A bases-clearing double by Yamato Hanashima capped Japan’s comeback in the last inning.

Japan took the early lead in the third inning when Kenta Hatakenaka scored the first run of the game on a fielder's choice. 

Starter Kento Kohara tossed four no-hit innings, but was replaced by Hitaro Takahashi in the fifth. Colombia then took advantage of a series of defensive errors to score four in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead.

In the sixth, Rui Yano hit an RBI single to make it a two run ballgame. Trailing 4-3 in the seventh, Hanashima hit a bases-loaded double to put Japan in front 6-3. He then scored the last run of the game.

With the win, Japan finishes first in Group B and advances to the Super Round with a 1-0 record.

Japan's win also secured a Super Round spot for Panama as the second-place finisher in Group B, while knocking Colombia into the 7th-13th Placement Round.