XXXI WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup Day 11: Korea shut out USA, earn bronze medal

The XXXI WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup is down to its final day.

Korea shut out the incumbent U-18 World Champions United States, 4-0,

Starting pitcher Taekyeon Kim was masterful, as he went the distance using 98 pitches, 64 for strikes, and allowed the US only two hits and a walk while striking out nine.

"I felt great out there, so I thought I needed to be aggressive and go right after the hitters," he said postgame through an interpreter.

Kim relied on a solid defence behind him.
"You can't have success without your defence," he commented. "The fact I trust my teammates so much made me even more aggressive."

The right-hander said he felt grateful.
"We came all the way to Taiwan to have success. I'm proud of representing Korea and thankful to my teammates and those who made this possible. I also want to congratulate the hosts and the WBSC. This has been a wonderful tournament."

Korea's leadoff hitter reached base in five out of seven innings.
"This is my idea of baseball," said manager Young Bok Lee postgame through an interpreter. When I selected the team, I looked for the fastest guys who can get regularly on base."

Lee tried to advance the leadoff runner on a bunt four out of five times, succeeding on three occasions, and scoring every time. Obviously, he wouldn't agree with the latest development of baseball strategy, using very few bunts to advance runners.

"I believe bunting is the best strategy possible in baseball. To me, the player who cannot bunt is not a very good player."

The manager credited his winning pitcher.
"Taekyeon Kim is the ace of the staff. He threw 16 pitches against the United States on Friday and returned with 24 yesterday with the Netherlands. Today, we needed his best effort, and he gave all he had. I'm proud of him."

It's Korea's fourth bronze medal in the event. They won the U-18 Baseball World Cup five times, the latest in 2008, and also earned a silver medal.

The live Blog as it happened

US starter Cooper Williams could get just one pitch past the Korean hitters.

Anseok Jeong singled and reached second on a sacrifice bunt. Tongkeoon Yeo made it 1-0 with an RBI triple and scored on Jihwan Park's successful bunt.

Korea's starter Taekyeon Kim and his catcher Yulye Lee cruised throught the first three innings.

Korean centre fielder Choongheon Lee robbed Derek Curilel of an extra-base hit with an amazing diving catch in the bottom of the fourth.

Seungmin Lee made it 4-0 in the top of the sixth as he drove the incumbent world champions' fifth pitch all the way to the wall in dead centre for an RBI triple.

Taekyeon Kim worked a complete game gem. He used just six pitches to retire the side in order in the bottom of the seventh.

Two make-up games completed the placement for places 7-12.

Placement Round Results

After the completion of the Placement Round, the standings for places 3 through 12 are final:

3. Korea 4. USA 5. Puerto Rico 6. Netherlands 7. Panama, 8. Mexico, 9. Czechia, 10. Australia, 11. Venezuela, 12. Spain

• On Day 10: Korea and United States will play for a bronze medal
• On Day 9: Chinese Taipei and Japan head to World Championship Final
• On Day 8: Chinese Taipei shut out USA, remain only undefeated team
• On Day 7: Chinese Taipei finish undefeated, two games postponed
• On Day 6: USA, JPN, NED tied, KOR to Super Round, TPE-PUR postponed
• On Day 5: Chinese Taipei, Japan, USA, Netherlands and Puerto Rico advance to Super Round
• On Day 4: Chinese Taipei and Japan lead respective groups undefeated
• On Day 3: Chinese Taipei, Japan, USA earn second win
• On Day 2: USA, Panama and Japan win, two games postponed
• On Day 1: Chinese Taipei shut out Australia