04/08/2023 1 Minute Read

Abdel Vigil and Yunieski Sanchez power Panama past Australia

Panama cruised to a five-inning 13-3 win against Australia. They are now 3-1, on track for an eighth place finish.

Abdel Vigil and Yunieski Sanchez each earned three RBIs, securing their first win in the Placement Round with a 2-1 scoreline at the VII WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup on Friday.

Panama took an early lead, scoring four runs on one hit in the first. They added two in the bottom of the second on a double by Sanchez and a flyout by Roger Vasquez, extending the lead to 6-0.

At the top of the third, Australia’s Litsu Tamura’s single loaded the bases, and Archer Petersen singled to right field, helping Australia earn their first run. Oliver Allen and Harrison Thomas-McLean’s sacrifice fly added two more runs for Australia before the inning ended, trailing 6-3.

Abdel Vigil hit a two-run home run to deep left center, extending Panama’s lead again to 8-3.

Panama had the best scoring chance at the bottom of the fourth. They presented their whole lineup at-bat and started a rally, earning five runs and finishing the inning 13-3.

Elian Gordon took the mound for Panama with one out in the fifth. He struck out the side in order to end the game.

Panama (3-1) will finish the Placement Round against Germany at 18.30 local time, while Australia will play their last game against Czechia at 11.00.