01/09/2013 2 Minute Read

Baseball defeats Rain in Taichung

Following the rainouts the XXVI 18U Baseball World Cup got underway on Sunday – Nine games on schedule on Monday

TAICHUNG. The XXVI 18U Baseball World Cup in Taichung finally got underway on Sunday afternoon, as the rain brought into the region by tropical storm Kong-Rey stopped. The first day already saw one of the first-round highlights, as a highly anticipated matchup didn’t disappointed with Japan prevailing over Chinese Taipei. Defending champion USA celebrated a shutout in their opener. Cuba edged out Korea in a nail-biter in their return to the 18U stage. Venezuela celebrated a late comeback against Mexico. Additionally Australia beat Colombia, while Canada routed the Czech Republic.

After the six games on Sunday, the competition at the 18U Baseball World Cup resumes play with nine games on Monday. The first make-up games from this weekend’s rainouts are scheduled. In the morning Canada takes on Venezuela in a matchup of Americas rivals. Also Mexico plays against Japan and the Czech Republic is up to task against Chinese Taipei. In the afternoon Korea squares off with Colombia, Cuba faces Italy and Australia clashes with USA. In the evening the matchups Japan vs. Venezuela, Mexico vs. Czech Republic and Canada vs. Chinese Taipei close out the second game day.

Czech Republic 3 – Canada 16

Tyler O’Neill and Gareth Morgan combined for six hits and eight RBI to lead Canada to a 16-3 victory over the Czech Republic at Dou-Liou Stadium on Sunday afternoon, as the XXVI 18U Baseball World Cup got underway. Seven runs in the top of the ninth turned the contest into a blowout.

Colombia 4 – Australia 9

Australia scored four runs in the opening frame en route to downing Colombia 9-4 at Taichung City Stadium on Sunday afternoon. James Philibossian and Jason Warburton had three RBI each to spark the Australian offense. Zachary Shepherd, one of the best players in the 16U Baseball World Cup in Mexico two years ago, went 4-for-6.

Chinese Taipei 1 – Japan 4

Yuki Matsui didn’t allow a hit until the sixth inning and struck out 12 in eight strong innings to lift Japan to a 4-1 win over Chinese Taipei in their opening game at Intercontinental Stadium in Taichung. Tomoya Mori broke a scoreless tie in the fourth and Japan continued to tag on runs against Tzu-Wei Lin and the Chinese Taipei bullpen to run away with the victory.

USA 8 – Italy 0

Jack Flaherty and two relievers kept Italy to two hits and six walks in an 8-0 shutout of defending 18U champion USA. Flaherty struck out nine to earn the win. On offense the US squad needed until the fourth to put the first run on the board. Four runs in the fifth and three in the eighth blew the score open. Alexander Destino and Scott Hurst drove in two each.

Venezuela 6 – Mexico 5

Venezuela erased an early 1-5 deficit en route to a 6-5 win over Mexico at Taichung City Stadium on Sunday evening. Three runs in the seventh in the span of four pitches tied the game, a RBI double by Silfredo Teran plated the game-winner one frame later. Miguel Caigua pitched 5 2/3 innings of scoreless no-hit relief to make the comeback happen.

Korea 1 – Cuba 2

The record world title holder Cuba opened the 18U Baseball World Cup with a dramatic 2-1 win over Korea on Sunday evening at Intercontinental Stadium in Taichung. A tie-breaking RBI double by Moises Esquerre decided the outcome in the seventh. Korea’s tried to even the score in the ninth, but Woo Jon Sim got called out at the plate to the end the game, trying to score from second on a single to short.

Schedule

Monday, September 2, 2013