A walk-off grand slam from Ryuga Umeda in the bottom of the eighth inning gave Japan the 2023 U-18 Men's Softball World Cup title in an 8-4 extra-inning thriller against hosts Mexico in Hermosillo on Sunday. The win was Japan's fourth World Championship in the history of the event, and the second in a row after claiming the honours in 2020.
It was an extremely close game between the two best teams of the tournament. A back-and-forth battle that finished on a high note with Umeda's home run.
Japan sent two different pitchers to the circle. Kanta Aso started the game and tossed the first two inning, leaving his place to Rio Takahashi, who worked 3.1 innings. Aso came back to the game to pitch the last 2.2 frames. He allowed three hits and two runs with two walks and three strikeouts.
The last innings of the game were thrilling. With the game tied at three, pinch hitter Eito Yodogawa gave Japan a one-run lead with a single. However, in the top of the seventh with one out on the scoreboard, Mexico's captain smashed a solo homer over the center field fence to tie the game that gave Mexico hope again.
In the extra inning, starting with a runner on second base, Aso retired the side on two grounders and a strikeout to keep the game tied.
In the bottom half of the eighth, Mexico loaded the bases with a pair of intentional walks, and as Umeda stepped into the batter's box with one out, he sat on a 1-1 high pitch and sent it over the left field wall to end the tournament with a walk-off grand slam.
Japan, the programme with most medals in the history of the event, added a fourth world title to their previous 11 medals.
For Mexico, the silver medal became their second medal ever since earning bronze in the inaugural edition of the event in 1981. Counting the senior World Cup, this is the fourth medal for Mexico, tying their best performance ever of second place in the first edition of the World Cup in Mexico City in 1966.
How it Happened
Bottom 8th - Mexico loaded the bases with a pair of intentional walks, but Ryuga Umeda hit a walk-off grand slam to give Japan the World Championship win. Japan clinched back-to-back U-18 Men's Softball World Cup titles.
Top 8th - Kanta Aso retired the side on two grounders and a strikeout to head into the bottom of the eighth with a tied score of 4-4.
Bottom 7th - Mexico hung the zero, sending the game to extra inning!
Top 7th - The crowd went into a frenzy as Mexico captain David Diaz with the no-doubter that tied the game at 4-4. What a game!
Bottom 6th - Japan's Ruito Matsuo and Ren Hashimoto hit back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners and no outs. Derek Anceno replaced Carlos Parra in the circle for Mexico and struck out Ryuga Umeda for the first out of the inning; but pinch hitter Eito Yodogawa hit an RBI single to left field that gave again the lead to Japan. The game was 4-3 for Japan. Japan are three outs away from the world title.
Top 6th - With one out, Kanta Aso re-entered the game as Japan's pitcher. Takahashi pitched 3.1 innings, giving up four hits and two runs.
Bottom 5th - Japan tied the game again. With a runner on second base, Ryuki Tsuda singled with the game-tying run. Five innings have been completed; the game is tied at 3-3.
Top 5th - Mexico's Jorge Rivera walked and one out later Manuel Zepeda hammered a two-run shot over the right field fence that gave Mexico a 3-2 lead. The home crowd went wild in Hermosillo.
Top 3rd - Pitching change in Japan. Rio Takahashi replaced Kanta Aso in the circle. Aso pitched two innings, giving up two hits, two walks and one run.
Bottom 2nd - Yuito Matsuo hit a high bouncer that went over Mexico's second baseman head to the right field and went into the right field for a double. He scored five pitches later on an RBI single from Ren Hashimoto to the right field. With two outs, Rikuto Yamamoto hit a triple to the right centre gap to give Japan the 2-1 lead.
Top 2nd - Mexico put runners on the corners with two outs. Jose Garza hit a hard line to second base, and Yuito Matsuo ended the threat with a nice grab. Mexico still in front, 1-0.
Top 1st - Mexico struck first. Jose Garza started the game with a single and moved to second on a sac bunt. Mexico's second baseman advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a high bouncer to shortstop. Mexico leading 1-0.
More than 2,000 fans filled the Fernando Ortiz stadium to watch the World Championship Final. People on top of the buildings and even buses surrounding the stadium are watching the game. Another amazing atmosphere today.
Preview - Both teams met last night, in the final game of the Super Round, with the Asians winning the game, 7-4. This win sent Japan to the World Championship Final. Mexico qualified for the decisive match two games in advance.
Japan, the defending World Champions, will play their eighth final in the history of the event. They won it three times - 1981, 2016 and 2020 - and collected the silver medal in 2001, 2005, 2012 and 2018. They have also won four bronze medals totalling 11, the most for any national team programme in the world.
For Mexico this will be their first-ever final. They earned the bronze medal in the first edition of this event in 1981. This will be their second final in Men's Softball World Cups, since they lost the World Championship Game of the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 1966, the only previous Men's Softball World Cup hosted by Mexico.
